Using Caffeine to Optimize Mental & Physical Performance

In this episode, I explain how to use caffeine to enhance mental and physical health and performance, including the optimal dosages and intake schedules for caffeine. I explain how caffeine powerfully reinforces the consumption of certain foods and drinks—thereby increasing how much we like their tastes and seek them out. I discuss the mechanisms by which caffeine increases focus, alertness and mood and reduces sleepiness. I also explain many practical tools for caffeine use, including delaying caffeine intake after waking, intermittent caffeine use, during fasting, before and during exercise, and the use of theanine to curb jitters caused by caffeine. I also discuss the positive effects of caffeine on overall health and longevity and address several myths about caffeine. Since caffeine is one of the most commonly used substances (more than 90% of adults use caffeine daily!), this episode provides actionable tips for adjusting caffeine consumption to positively impact performance and health, including sleep.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Supplements from Momentous

https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Caffeine

(00:02:58) Tool: GLP-1, Yerba Mate, Satiety & Weight Loss

(00:11:22) Sponsor: LMNT

(00:15:23) Caffeine Benefits for Mental & Physical Performance

(00:20:23) Caffeine in Nature & Positive Reinforcement

(00:26:44) Caffeine Effects on Brain; Reward Pathways

(00:29:55) Caffeine as a Reinforcing Agent

(00:35:55) Sponsor: AG1

(00:38:01) Caffeine, Adenosine & Reduced Sleepiness 

(00:45:16) Tool: Caffeine Dosage, Caffeine Adapted

(00:53:44) Tool: Delayed Caffeine Intake, Afternoon Crash & Sleep

(01:04:46) Morning Exercise & Residual Caffeine Effects

(01:07:56) Tool: Theanine & Jitteriness; Fasting, Intermittent Caffeine Use 

(01:13:00) Theanine: Effects & Dosage

(01:18:41) InsideTracker

(01:19:45) Other Effects: Osteoporosis, Hormone Levels, Depression

(01:27:41) Afternoon Caffeine & Sleep

(01:31:45) Tool: Caffeine & Mental/Physical Performance; Cortisol & Caffeine Abstinence

(01:46:04) Caffeine, Performance & Menstrual Cycle

(01:47:27) Tool: Memory & Caffeine Timing; Adrenaline & Cold Exposure

(01:54:08) Caffeine & Naps

(01:56:34) Tool: Exercise, Caffeine, Dopamine & Positive Reinforcement 

(02:01:55) Dopamine Stacking

(02:06:04) Scheduling Caffeine to Maximize Its Effects

(02:08:33) Pro-Health Effects of Caffeine

(02:13:38) Tool: Sugar Cravings & Reinforcing Effects of Caffeine 

(02:20:17) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Social Media, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

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Dr. Lex Fridman: Navigating Conflict, Finding Purpose & Maintaining Drive

My guest this episode is Lex Fridman, Ph.D., a Research Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT), an expert on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, and the host of the Lex Fridman Podcast. We discuss Lex’s recent trip to the heart of the Ukrainian-Russian War, geopolitics, perspectives on people living in war zones, the shared human experience, and how information is communicated and controlled. As an experienced podcaster and public educator, Dr. Fridman offers unique insights into the art of holding conversations that grow understanding, especially when they involve people with opposing viewpoints. We also discuss the peer-review process for scientific research publications and how social media and podcasts are evolving the way science and technology are communicated. We consider how to find and follow your life’s purpose, maintain ongoing motivation and implement support systems to build and sustain momentum. Our conversation also covers capitalism, masculinity, chess and cheating, Lex’s idea for an AI robotics start-up and a Q&A from audience questions solicited on social media. As one of the main inspirations for the Huberman Lab podcast, hosting Dr. Fridman for this special centennial episode was an honor and a pleasure!

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Supplements from Momentous

https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Lex Fridman

(00:04:46) Sponsor: LMNT

(00:08:28) Podcasting

(00:12:11) Ukraine, Russia, War & Geopolitics

(00:23:17) Conflict & Generalized Hate

(00:26:23) Typical Day in Ukraine; American Military & Information Wars

(00:36:56) Sponsor: AG1

(00:38:42) Deliberate Cold Exposure & Sauna; Fertility

(00:46:44) Ukraine: Science, Infrastructure & Military; Zelensky

(00:53:33) Firearms; Violence & Sensitization

(00:57:40) MIT & Artificial Intelligence (AI), University Teaching & Pandemic

(01:05:51) Publications & Peer Review, Research, Social Media

(01:13:05) InsideTracker

(01:14:17) Twitter & Social Media Mindset, Andrew Tate & Masculinity

(01:26:05) Donald Trump & Anthony Fauci; Ideological Extremes

(01:35:11) Biotechnology & Biopharma; Money & Status

(01:45:08) Robotics, AI & Social Media; Start-ups

(01:53:50) Motivation & Competition; Relationships

(02:01:55) Jobs; A Career vs. A Calling; Robotics & Relationships

(02:12:11) Chess, Poker & Cheating

(02:22:25) Ideas of Lately

(02:24:44) Why Lex Wears a Suit & Tie

(02:27:50) Is There an AI Equivalent of Psychedelics? 

(02:29:06) Hardest Jiu-Jitsu Belt to Achieve

(02:32:07) Advice to Young People

(02:39:29) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

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Dr. Chris Palmer: Diet & Nutrition for Mental Health

My guest this episode is Chris Palmer, M.D., a board-certified psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He explains the important connection between nutrition, metabolism and mental health and his pioneering work using the ketogenic diet to successfully treat patients with various mental illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia. Dr. Palmer explains how the ketogenic diet is an evidenced-based treatment for epilepsy, mimics the fasted state and can offset the cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s. He describes the key roles of mitochondria in mental health, how certain conditions likely arise from mitochondrial dysfunction, and how low-carbohydrate diets increase mitochondrial turnover to improve mental health. He also explains how low-carbohydrate diets positively impact the gut microbiome and weight loss, important risk factors for mitochondrial health such as marijuana and alcohol, and the best way to increase circulating ketones depending on individual needs. We also cover how a ketogenic diet impacts mood, sleep, and fertility. Dr. Palmer’s work stands as a revolutionary approach to mental health and disease that, given the prevalence of mental health challenges, should be of interest to people of all backgrounds and ages.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Supplements from Momentous

https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Chris Palmer, Mental Health & Metabolic Disorders

(00:03:42) Sponsor: LMNT

(00:07:18) Nutrition & Mental Health

(00:20:43) Low-Carb Diets & Anti-Depression, Fasting, Ketosis

(00:27:52) Schizophrenia, Depression & Ketogenic Diet

(00:33:58) Sponsor: AG1

(00:35:38) Psychiatric Mediations, Diet Adherence

(00:42:35) Highly Processed Foods, Ketones & Mental Health Benefits

(00:46:51) Ketogenic Diet & Epilepsy Treatment

(00:56:10) Ketogenic Diet & Mitochondria Health

(00:57:05) Nutrition & Benefits for Neurologic/Psychiatric Disorders

(01:05:44) Mitochondrial Function & Mental Health

(01:15:12) InsideTracker

(01:16:23) Mitophagy, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Aging & Diet

(01:25:09) Neurons, Mitochondria & Blood Glucose

(01:31:54) Obesity, Ketogenic Diet & Mitochondria

(01:40:00) Mitochondrial Function: Inheritance, Risk Factors, Marijuana 

(01:46:34) Alcohol & Ketogenic Diet

(01:55:21) Brain Imaging, Alzheimer’s Disease & Ketones

(02:01:05) Exogenous (Liquid) Ketones vs. Ketogenic Diet

(02:06:27) Neuronal Damage, Ketones & Glucose 

(02:10:16) Alzheimer’s Disease, Age-Related Cognitive Decline & Ketogenic Diet

(02:23:45) Ketogenic Diet & Weight Loss

(02:35:47) Ketogenic Diet & Fasting, Hypomania, Sleep

(02:46:37) Low Carbohydrate Diets, Menstrual Cycles, Fertility

(02:52:23) Obesity Epidemic, Semaglutide & GLP-1 Medications 

(03:01:01) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

LIVE EVENT Q&A: Dr. Andrew Huberman at The Wiltern in Los Angeles

Recently I had the pleasure of hosting a live event in Los Angeles, CA. This event was part of a lecture series called The Brain Body Contract. My favorite part of the evening was the question & answer period, where I had the opportunity to answer questions from the attendees of each event. Included here is the Q&A from our event at The Wiltern.

Get notified when new live events are announced: https://hubermanlab.com/tour

Thank you to our sponsors

Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman

Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:00:52) Sponsors: Eight Sleep & Momentous

(00:02:23) What Occurs in the Mind/Body When You Have ADHD? Are There Ways to Address It Without Medication?

(00:11:55) As a Teenager, What Are 5 Things You Would Recommend to Physically Feel My Best?

(00:14:42) Should We Wait to Feel the Rise of Adrenaline and the Fall of It Before Bailing From Cold Water?

(00:24:03) What Is the Competing Mechanism Behind Bilateral Eye Movement (EMDR & Walking) That Helps Resolve Psychological Trauma?

(00:28:07) What New Research or Interventions Are You Most Excited About in the Health & Wellness Realm?

(00:37:30) What Lessons From Skateboarding Have You Learned That Can Be Applied to Neuroscience?

(00:39:03) Favorite Feynman Story

(00:42:10) Do You Suppose This Physiological Stress Regulator Transcends Species?

(00:47:20) Is There Any Science Behind Staying Motivated or Developing Discipline?

(00:50:48) What Would Be Your Biggest Piece of Advice for Achieving One’s Dreams?

(00:57:09) What’s Your Opinion on Psilocybin?

(01:01:07) Why Does My Desire to Eat Disappear After I Use the Sauna?

(01:02:26) Conclusion

Huberman Lab is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Dr. Layne Norton: The Science of Eating for Health, Fat Loss & Lean Muscle

My guest is Layne Norton, Ph.D. — one of the world’s foremost experts in nutrition, protein metabolism, muscle gain and fat loss. We discuss the science of energy utilization and balance, the efficacy of different diets (e.g., ketogenic, vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, omnivore), and how best to build lean muscle mass and lose fat. We also discuss optimal protein and fiber intake, the best sources of protein, the correlation between appetite, satiety signals and exercise, along with male and female-specific needs. Dr. Norton also explains how to support a healthy gut microbiome and offers insight into sugar and artificial sweeteners, processed, cooked, and raw foods, supplements, seed oils, and the relationship of LDL/HDL levels to cardiovascular health. This episode serves as a master class in nutrition, metabolism and exercise and is sure to benefit people of all ages and with different health and fitness goals.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Supplements from Momentous

https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Layne Norton, Nutrition & Fitness

(00:03:10) Sponsor: LMNT

(00:06:50) Calories & Cellular Energy Production

(00:12:35) Energy Balance, Food Labels, Fiber

(00:15:19) Resting Metabolic Rate, Thermic Effect of Food

(00:19:04) Exercise & Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT)

(00:25:49) Losing Weight, Tracking Calories, Daily Weighing

(00:29:24) Post-Exercise Metabolic Rate, Appetite

(00:34:35) Sponsor: AG1

(00:36:19) Exercise & Appetite, Calorie Trackers, Placebo Effects & Beliefs

(00:43:46) Exercise & Satiety Signals, Maintain Weight Loss & Identity

(00:56:32) Weight Loss & Maintenance, Diet Adherence

(01:03:33) Restrictive Diets & Transition Periods

(01:08:03) Gut Health & Appetite

(01:16:23) Tool: Supporting Gut Health, Fiber & Longevity

(01:23:59) LDL, HDL & Cardiovascular Disease

(01:30:31) Leucine, mTOR & Protein Synthesis

(01:37:31) Tool: Daily Protein Intake & Muscle Mass

(01:44:24) Protein & Fasting, Lean Body Mass

(01:55:38) Plant-Based Proteins: Whey, Soy, Leucine, Corn, Pea

(02:04:28) Processed Foods

(02:11:54) Obesity Epidemic, Calorie Intake & Energy Output

(02:17:33) Obesity, Sugar & Fiber, Restriction & Craving

(02:25:57) Artificial Sweeteners & Blood Sugar

(02:38:55) Artificial Sweeteners & Gut Microbiome, Sucralose, Blood Sugar

(02:50:19) Rapid Weight Loss, Satiety & Beliefs

(02:58:13) Seed Oils & Obesity, Saturated Fat, Overall Energy Toxicity

(03:08:15) Females, Diet, Exercise & Menstrual Cycles

(03:14:05) Raw vs. Cooked Foods

(03:16:32) Berberine & Glucose Scavenging

(03:19:12) Fiber & Gastric Emptying Time

(03:21:00) Supplements, Creatine Monohydrate, Rhodiola Rosea

(03:30:33) Hard Training; Challenge & Mental Resilience

(03:36:12) Carbon App

(03:47:11) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

Dr. Eddie Chang: The Science of Learning & Speaking Languages

My guest is Eddie Chang, MD, a neurosurgeon and professor of neurological surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the co-director of the Center for Neural Engineering & Prostheses. We discuss the brain mechanisms underlying speech, language learning and comprehension, communicating human emotion with words and hand gestures, bilingualism and language disorders, such as stuttering. Dr. Chang also explains his work developing and applying state-of-the-art technology to decode speech and using that information and artificial intelligence (AI) to successfully restore communication to patients who have suffered paralyzing injuries or “locked in syndrome.” We also discuss his work treating patients with epilepsy. Finally, we consider the future: how modern neuroscience is overturning textbook medical books, the impact of digital technology such as smartphones on language and the future of natural and computer-assisted human communication.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Supplements from Momentous

https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Eddie Chang, Speech & Language

(00:03:16) Sponsor: LMNT

(00:07:19) Neuroplasticity, Learning of Speech & Environmental Sounds

(00:13:10) White Noise Machines, Infant Sleep & Sensitization

(00:17:26) Mapping Speech & Language in the Brain

(00:24:26) Emotion; Anxiety & Epilepsy

(00:30:19) Epilepsy, Medications & Neurosurgery

(00:33:01) Ketogenic Diet & Epilepsy

(00:34:04) Sponsor: AG1

(00:36:10) Absence Seizures, Nocturnal Seizures & Other Seizure Types

(00:41:08) Brain Areas for Speech & Language, Broca’s & Wernicke’s Areas, New Findings

(00:53:23) Lateralization of Speech/Language & Handedness, Strokes

(00:59:05) Bilingualism, Shared Language Circuits

(01:01:18) Speech vs. Language, Signal Transduction from Ear to Brain

(01:12:38) Shaping Breath: Larynx, Vocal Folds & Pharynx; Vocalizations

(01:17:37) Mapping Language in the Brain

(01:20:26) Plosives & Consonant Clusters; Learning Multiple Languages

(01:25:07) Motor Patterns of Speech & Language

(01:28:33) Reading & Writing; Dyslexia & Treatments

(01:34:47) Evolution of Language

(01:37:54) Stroke & Foreign Accent Syndrome

(01:40:31) Auditory Memory, Long-Term Motor Memory

(01:45:26) Paralysis, ALS, “Locked-In Syndrome” & Brain Computer Interface (BCI)

(02:02:14) Neuralink, BCI, Superhuman Skills & Augmentation

(02:10:21) Non-Verbal Communication, Facial Expressions, BCI & Avatars

(02:17:35) Stutter, Anxiety & Treatment

(02:22:55) Tools: Practices for Maintaining Calm Under Extreme Demands

(02:31:10) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Huberman Lab Premium, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

Disclaimer

Fitness Toolkit: Protocol & Tools to Optimize Physical Health

I describe a fitness protocol that maximizes all the major sought-after aspects of physical fitness, including strength, endurance and flexibility. I discuss fundamentals of resistance training protocols, including repetitions, sets, inter-set and inter-workout rest periods and periodization of intensity and volume to improve strength and hypertrophy. I also explain how to integrate this with endurance training across the week by controlling the duration, timing and intensity of cardiovascular workouts. I also cover science-based protocols on leveraging the mind-body connection, deliberate breathing (during and after exercise), stretching, deliberate heat and cold exposure, and non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) for better workout performance and faster recovery. Further, I tackle a range of real-world issues that can affect a consistent training schedule, such as whether you should train if you are sick, have had a poor night of sleep or had a stressful event and how to start training again after a break and whether you should train in a fasted or fed state. Physical fitness is a key variable for immediate and long-term health. This episode provides a modifiable “foundational” template that can be adjusted based on your current fitness level, goals, time constraints, and access to different types of equipment.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Supplements from Momentous

https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman

Huberman Lab Premium

https://hubermanlab.com/premium

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Foundational Protocol for Fitness

(00:04:35) Tool: Soleus (Calf) Push-Ups, Glucose Utilization & Metabolism

(00:13:49) Sponsor: LMNT

(00:18:53) Core Principles of Fitness & Modifiable Variables

(00:23:37) Day 1: Long Endurance Workout

(00:34:38) Day 2: Leg Resistance Training, Strength & Hypertrophy

(00:36:13) Sponsor: AG1

(00:39:22) Key Principles of Resistance Training

(00:51:10) Day 3: Heat & Cold Exposure, Recovery

(01:00:35) Day 4: Torso & Neck Resistance Training

(01:09:55) Day 5: Moderate Intensity Cardiovascular Training, Running Alternatives

(01:16:43) Day 6: High-Intensity Interval Training, Maximum Heart Rate

(01:24:10) Day 7: Arms, Neck & Calves Resistance Training

(01:28:45) Flexibility of Foundational Protocol, Workout Spacing

(01:33:00) Tool: Mind-Muscle Contraction, Physiological Sighs 

(01:37:10) Safety & Endurance/Cardiovascular Workouts

(01:38:32) Tool: Stress or Poor Sleep & Workouts, Recovery & NSDR

(01:41:20) Should You Train Fasted or Fed?

(01:43:58) Tool: Static Stretching & Flexibility, Irradiation & Resistance Training

(01:49:10) Tool: Hanging from a Bar & Fitness Metric 

(01:50:16) Should You Train Sick?, Ramping Training

(01:53:33) Tool: Deliberate Slow Breathing & Recovery

(01:55:00) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Huberman Lab Premium, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

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