The hottest Metabolism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

Is It Possible to Be Healthy at Every Size?

Cremieux Recueil • 253 implied HN points • 24 Mar 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Some people are labeled "metabolically healthy obese," but that category is defined inconsistently and applies to only a small share of people with obesity, mostly those with milder excess weight.
  2. Metabolically healthy obesity is often temporary — many people transition to metabolically unhealthy obesity over years, and even while 'healthy' they still face higher risks of diabetes, heart disease, and death than metabolically healthy lean people.
  3. Excess fat causes many harms beyond the metabolic markers (worse blood sugar control, visceral fat effects, cancer risk, sleep apnea, liver and joint damage, reproductive and inflammatory problems, and social harms), so the idea that people can be healthy at every size is not supported by the evidence.

ex150nosauce+ACV-4 review: Lost 8lbs, New All Time Low

Experimental Fat Loss • 169 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The nosauce + apple cider vinegar protocol produced steady, mostly linear fat loss and reached a new all-time low, with an initial rapid drop in water weight followed by consistent fat loss.
  2. Because the regimen reduces heavy cream, daily protein can fall below about 40 g and trigger protein‑leverage hunger; a single day of increased meat intake resolved the hunger without derailing progress.
  3. A planned tweak is to run two 14‑day bouts separated by a one‑day refeed to capture faster early losses and better manage occasional protein hunger.

1 decade of keto

Experimental Fat Loss • 212 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. A very high-fat, protein‑restricted ketogenic pattern (think heavy cream plus limited ruminant meat) produced large, mostly effortless weight loss, better sleep, and no constant hunger, while a typical high‑protein, high‑PUFA “standard keto” failed to keep weight off.
  2. Cutting linoleic acid (seed oils and other high‑PUFA foods) was a major lever — removing those oils and favoring ruminant fats seemed more important than ketosis itself for improving sleep and body composition.
  3. Find what works for you by experimenting: run ~30‑day trials of fat‑, starch‑, and sugar‑based staples, then tweak protein; individual genetics matter, so personalize and iterate based on weight, sleep, and how you feel.

If it was just linoleic acid depletion..

Experimental Fat Loss • 198 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Linoleic acid from seed oils is hypothesized to drive obesity and is stored in body fat, so tissue levels can take several years to fall after dietary change, which makes short-term studies a poor test.
  2. People on low-PUFA diets often see big early weight loss then long plateaus, and experimenting with different foods or additives (rice, sugar, vinegar, lowering salt/glutamate) sometimes produces new lows.
  3. If the linoleic-depletion model is true, further weight loss should be slow and tied to how fast adipose LA drops, but if the dietary additives are effective you should see steadier month-to-month losses; watching results over the next few months can help tell these apart.

Understanding Iron

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1997 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Iron levels inside cells can be misunderstood, leading to confusion between deficiency and overload, especially for those with certain gene variants.
  2. Neurological, psychiatric, and cognitive issues could be linked to iron levels being too low or too high, affecting dopamine and myelin synthesis.
  3. Understanding the complexities of iron metabolism can help in interpreting lab data and making informed decisions to address iron-related problems effectively.
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Maybe THIS Is Why You're Hangry

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1817 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Feeling hangry might not always be due to low blood sugar, other factors like S-sulfocysteine levels in your urine could play a role in overstimulation symptoms.
  2. Elevated S-sulfocysteine, a neurostimulant, can result from breakdown of protein when hungry for glucose and may lead to various overstimulation symptoms like anxiety and muscle tension.
  3. Testing for S-sulfocysteine levels in urine should be more widely implemented to understand its potential impact on psychological traits and neuro-psychiatric diseases.

Are Seed Oils Behind Your Oxalate Problem?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1777 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. High oxalate levels might be due to seed oils leading to glyoxal production which is a major source of oxalate.
  2. Reducing consumption of seed oils in favor of tropical oils, olive oil, and grass-fed animal fats might help lower oxalate production.
  3. Nutrients like biotin, B12, and folate play roles in detoxifying oxalate, and checking for energetic bottlenecks through comprehensive screenings can help address oxalate issues.

How I Found My Health “Super Unlock” After 20 Years of Research and 20,000 Genes Tested

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 4034 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Each person has unique health unlocks that are specific to them and can be found through whole genome sequencing.
  2. Identifying rare metabolic disease genes through personalized testing can lead to targeted health improvements.
  3. Addressing individual genetic mutations related to energy metabolism can result in significant health benefits and improved overall wellness.

Thiamin Supplements: Not For Everyone

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1697 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Thiamin is crucial for various functions like stable blood glucose, calmness, tissue health, detoxification, and athletic performance.
  2. Thiamin deficiency can lead to issues such as mitochondrial dysfunction, nerve problems, and eyesight deterioration.
  3. Excessive thiamin supplementation may cause adverse effects and stress on metabolic pathways, so it's important to be mindful of when to supplement thiamin and when to stop.

CoQ10 Deficiency Is Sulfur Toxicity

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1358 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. CoQ10 deficiency is linked to sulfur toxicity, impacting various bodily functions and potentially causing issues like anxiety after eating meat or taurine consumption.
  2. Hydrogen sulfide, a necessary gasotransmitter, can turn toxic at high concentrations, affecting the body's ability to convert food energy to ATP.
  3. Taurine can help counteract the effects of sulfur toxicity by suppressing the trans-sulfuration pathway, which can prevent the overproduction of hydrogen sulfide and sulfite.

How Vinegar Can Kick You Into And Out of Ketosis

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1637 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The dose of vinegar is crucial for its impact on ketosis - too little may not kick you into ketosis, and too much can kick you out
  2. Vinegar works by influencing the balance of acetyl CoA to oxaloacetate, which is important for ketogenesis
  3. Careful moderation is key - excessive consumption of vinegar can lead to metabolic abnormalities and kick you out of ketosis

Is Vitamin C Destroying Your Mitochondria?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1617 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. High doses of Vitamin C can inhibit CoQ10 synthesis and decrease copper status, affecting mitochondrial function.
  2. Excessive Vitamin C intake can lead to the generation of oxalate, a mitochondrial toxin, causing potential mitochondrial damage.
  3. While high doses of Vitamin C can have benefits in specific cases, for general use, it's safer to stick to doses from a Vitamin C-rich diet.

Will Eating Protein Wreck Your Arteries?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1298 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. A new paper claims that the amino acid leucine can stimulate atherosclerosis by stimulating mTOR in immune cells, in a manner similar to its role in muscle growth.
  2. Higher protein intake may lead to adverse effects on vascular health, especially in terms of atherosclerosis development.
  3. The study highlights a potential downside of excessive mTOR stimulation due to leucine intake, emphasizing the importance of cycling through feeding and fasting states for optimal health.

The Food Group You May Be Missing

Are You Okay? • 2236 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Protein is crucial for our body's functioning - for fullness, energy, weight management, muscle mass, and more. Aim for 0.7 to 1.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily.
  2. A healthy diet is sustainable and includes protein sources like chicken, fish, eggs, yogurt, lentils, and more to fulfill metabolic needs.
  3. Prioritize meeting basic biological needs first, like hunger cues and metabolic requirements, before focusing solely on vegetables or restrictive diets.

How Many Calories Does Sulfur Have?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 878 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Calories do not only come from carbohydrate, fat, and protein, but also from sulfur through a complex metabolic process involving sulfur amino acids
  2. The caloric yield of sulfur can vary depending on how it is metabolized, ranging from 0.15 to 0.45 Calories per gram
  3. Most sulfur intake is from cruciferous and alliaceous vegetables, but the caloric value of sulfur in these foods is complex and can be quite low

ex_acv_fast review: "water" fasted 6 days, new record

Experimental Fat Loss • 148 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. A 6‑day mostly water fast (with diet soda and limited energy drinks) was used more as a metabolic diagnostic than a reliable weight‑loss strategy, and it only extended fasting tolerance by one day versus a prior attempt.
  2. Thermogenesis fell dramatically during the fast, causing extreme cold sensitivity even indoors and while bundled up, but normal warmth and heat production returned quickly after refeeding.
  3. Weight loss from the fast was modest and rapidly regained, so it didn’t produce sustainable fat loss; the slight improvement in tolerance might be from apple cider vinegar, longer linoleic‑acid reduction, or lower caffeine, but the cause is uncertain.

Your "MTHFR" Is One of 26 Nutrient Deficiencies

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1218 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. MTHFR is just one of 26 nutrient deficiencies that can impact your health.
  2. Low MTHFR activity can lead to various health issues, but can usually be addressed through dietary modifications.
  3. To address MTHFR issues effectively, consider optimizing riboflavin intake, comprehensive nutritional screening, and screening for energy metabolism.

ex_bread+butter review: Visited swamp, did not explode, gained 8lbs

Experimental Fat Loss • 99 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Fresh artisanal bread with butter is extremely easy to overeat because satiety comes slowly and fades after 4–6 hours, which led to an 8 lb gain in 11 days.
  2. Traditional, non-industrial bread did not trigger the acid reflux problems linked to earlier wheat intolerance, suggesting industrial processing or additives may be the real culprit.
  3. A bread+butter “swamp” lands in the high-carb/high-fat zone that causes bloating and gas and is worse for fat loss than a high-fat heavy-cream approach, though it produced milder hyperphagia than protein-heavy refeeds.

Stop Measuring Glucose Without Measuring Lactate

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1338 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Measuring glucose alone is not rational; it should also be measured along with lactate and ketones for better understanding of metabolic changes.
  2. BCAAs can impact glucose levels through multiple pathways, highlighting the importance of context in interpreting metabolic markers.
  3. Having a home test for pyruvate could provide more valuable insights into metabolic health, along with glucose and lactate measurements.

A PhD's Secret Weapon: The Four Biomarkers Every Expert Should, But Doesn’t, Analyze

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1977 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Tests ordered in health space often don't go deep enough to uncover root causes.
  2. When analyzing health biomarkers, considering the main fuels of mitochondria is crucial.
  3. Understanding the ratios and interactions of biomarkers like lactate, pyruvate, and ketones can reveal important insights for mitochondrial function.

Learning about longevity from long-lived animals

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 30 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🔬 Science Metabolism
  1. Long-lived animals use different tricks — extreme regeneration, strong DNA repair and cancer defenses, and very slow metabolisms — any of which could teach us about aging.
  2. Humans already have some longevity advantages like big brains, long childhoods, social roles, and certain cancer-fighting adaptations, but these traits come with evolutionary tradeoffs.
  3. We can extend life by treating specific diseases or by targeting fundamental aging (telomeres, DNA repair, metabolism); promising approaches include telomerase work, mTOR inhibitors, diabetes drugs, and caloric restriction, but they carry risks like cancer and other tradeoffs.

Hormones Are Never In Charge

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1018 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Hormones are not the primary cause of problems and are simply messengers between tissues.
  2. Hormones can be affected by factors like nutrient deficiencies, body fat levels, and energy metabolism issues.
  3. Addressing the root causes of hormonal imbalances through optimizing body composition, correcting nutrient deficiencies, and managing energy metabolism can be more effective than relying solely on hormone treatments.

Can B12 and Folate Help Detoxify Oxalate?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 998 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. B12 and folate can help detoxify oxalate by converting it to formate and joining it to tetrahydrofolate in a two-step process.
  2. The rate of the first detoxification step exceeding the rate of the second step can lead to oxalate dumping symptoms.
  3. Nutritionally supporting the two detoxification steps requires biotin, manganese, tetrahydrofolate, B12, and various other nutrients.

ex150creamsauce+ACV review: Failure, but Why?

Experimental Fat Loss • 77 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Adding a cream sauce on top of a high‑cream diet didn’t produce fat loss — weight stayed around 214–215lbs and the trial was stopped early because of confounders and life logistics.
  2. A sudden, intense protein‑hunger episode occurred about a week in and only settled after eating substantial protein, showing protein‑leverage can trigger strong, hard‑to‑satisfy appetite at surprisingly low protein intakes, especially when activity, illness, or injury raise needs.
  3. Emulsifying rendered tallow with cream made the food much more palatable and allowed near‑infinite fat intake, creating a major caloric confounder that likely masked any effect of the sauce change.

Questions on NAC, biofilms, vitamin C and brain fog, energy metabolism driving autoimmune disorders.

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 918 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can disrupt biofilms at specific doses but may harm gut health with chronic use.
  2. Vitamin C can lead to muscle pain, joint pain, and brain fog due to oxalate crystals and energy metabolism issues.
  3. Autoimmune conditions might be linked to deficiencies in vitamins A and D impacting energy metabolism, potentially causing vitamin A activation issues.

Erythritol and Blood Clotting

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1258 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Erythritol may contribute to cardiovascular disease by increasing blood clotting propensity, especially in individuals with high erythritol levels.
  2. Understanding the polyol pathway and pentose phosphate pathway is crucial for comprehending how erythritol metabolism affects thiamin deficiency and oxidative stress.
  3. Plasma erythritol likely serves as a marker of pentose phosphate pathway activation, indicating NADPH depletion and suboptimal thiamin status.

Seed Oil Summary

The Heart Attack Diet • 199 implied HN points • 18 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. There are reasons to be suspicious about seed oils, with personal experience playing a role in shaping opinions.
  2. Being cautious about consuming chemicals not naturally found in food is a valid approach for health.
  3. Personal experimentation and observation can provide valuable insights into the effects of dietary choices.

Your brain 🧠 on exercise: How movement fuels you

Brain Pizza • 1059 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Aerobic exercise is great for your brain. It helps improve mood, increases brain volume, and boosts cognitive function.
  2. Resistance training is also important. Regular strength workouts can help maintain brain health, especially as we age.
  3. Metabolism is more complex than just calories in and out. Regular exercise and what we eat play big roles in how our body burns energy.

Why Would Citrate or Malate Cause Insomnia?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 659 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Citrate and malate in supplements can cause insomnia for different people, suggesting individual differences in energy metabolism.
  2. The opposite reactions to citrate and malate indicate underlying idiosyncrasies in energy metabolism.
  3. Consider exploring metabolic issues or mold contamination as possible reasons for experiencing insomnia from citrate or malate supplements.

The First Weight Loss Drugs

Asimov Press • 251 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Mitochondrial uncouplers, like DNP, were early weight loss drugs that worked by speeding up metabolism. They can be very dangerous, leading to serious health risks.
  2. DNP showed promising weight loss results but was banned due to safety concerns after many overdose cases. Today, safer alternatives, like Ozempic, are more commonly used.
  3. Research is ongoing to find safer versions of uncouplers that could effectively boost metabolism without the associated risks, suggesting there may be a future for such drugs in weight management.

The Anti-PUFA Elevator Pitch

The Heart Attack Diet • 239 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Animal fats are considered more natural for humans to eat than polyunsaturated fats
  2. Polyunsaturated fats, though essential in small amounts, may pose risks as a staple food due to their chemical complexity and potential impact on metabolism
  3. The modern diet high in polyunsaturated fats may be linked to metabolic issues and health conditions, potentially impacting weight, body composition, and overall well-being

In case you missed my mitochondrial energy talk...

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 459 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The Mitochondrial Energy Summit is hosting an 'Encore Weekend' event starting at 6 PM eastern time tonight, allowing those who missed the original airing to catch up.
  2. Attendees have praised the talk for its valuable insights on energy metabolism and nutrition, sparking discussions on lifestyle changes like consuming superfoods more regularly.
  3. Chris Masterjohn's talk has received glowing reviews, with attendees expressing appreciation for his knowledge, dedication, and balanced approach to discussing the intersection of genetics and nutrition.

When to Consider Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 459 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Inborn errors of metabolism are rare but often go undiagnosed because they are not actively sought out.
  2. Even though these errors are rare individually, collectively they can affect a significant portion of the population.
  3. Symptoms of inborn errors of metabolism can vary widely in terms of onset, presentation, and age group affected.

Adventures in Zone 2 Cardio Training | Part 1

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1118 implied HN points • 29 Sep 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Zone 2 cardio training is essential for metabolic health and involves moderate intensity fat-burning exercise that can be sustained for an hour.
  2. Training in Zone 2 can improve endurance, fat oxidation, and lactate clearance in slow-twitch muscle fibers, benefiting overall fitness and potentially impacting fasting tolerance.
  3. Measuring lactate levels using a meter provides precise feedback for optimal training intensity in Zone 2, leading to rapid progress and efficient workouts.

My guess why potatoes creates weight loss

Metabolic Repair • 8 HN points • 24 Aug 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Eating a lot of potatoes may help you lose weight because they can reduce your appetite and cravings. This might be similar to how some weight-loss medications work.
  2. Potatoes might also increase your body temperature and metabolism, making you burn more calories just by being active. The effects can vary from person to person depending on their unique body and genetics.
  3. A mostly potato diet is low in fat and iron, which may also contribute to weight loss. This combination can change how your body feels about food and potentially help you eat less.

An Entirely Unnecessary Mom Test

The Heart Attack Diet • 119 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The author is noticing a rise in weight and is exploring the impact of their diet choices and set-point on this increase.
  2. They plan to take a break from focusing on weight, let their mom feed them generously, and see how it affects their weight over the next month.
  3. The author is prepared for their weight to continue rising but is also considering the possibility of a new set point for their weight.

Questions on plant compounds and heart disease, balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, food intolerances, nutrient cofactors for genetic defects in branched-chain amino acid metabolism.

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 519 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Plant foods and their phytochemicals can help reduce arterial plaque.
  2. Balancing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is crucial for health; consider arachidonic acid intake and cumulative EPA over years.
  3. Branched-chain amino acid metabolism requires B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and more; extra support may be needed during weight loss.