Mastering Nutrition

The alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex is marvelously complex and incredibly rich in details that are relevant to the big picture of metabolism and to many issues of health and disease. Today, we break down what actually happens so that we can spend all of Wednesday's lesson discussing the rich array of relevant principles it brings to light. For the full video, go to  chrismasterjohnphd.co...

Are you interested in working with me one-on-one so I can help you better meet your health goals? Good news! I'm now accepting new clients for both  hourly consultations  and  health and wellness packages . Here are the core things I'm best at that I would love to do for you: Help you develop actionable priorities and an overall strategy for improving your health. Discuss your experiences with you...

If you develop dry skin on a low-fat diet, especially if you're eating egg whites and throwing out the yolks, it could be a biotin deficiency. Or, it could be an essential fatty acid deficiency. Either way, egg yolks and liver come to the rescue. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to mont...

This lesson looks at the third step of the citric acid cycle in much more detail, digging into the organic chemistry concepts involved in the conversion of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate. We dive deep into this because it's the only way to explain why this step parts ways with most other decarboxylation reactions in that it does not require thiamin (vitamin B1). This, in turn, provides a basis for...

Do you get dry skin when you put on muscle mass? It could be a zinc deficiency. Here's how to take care of it. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at  https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass . Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off...

The fifth MWM Energy Metabolism lesson explores the third and fourth steps of the citric acid cycle and explains how the rate of ATP production is regulated according to the cell's need for ATP. Together with lesson four, it explains how cells regulate their ATP production according to their needs and abilities. In the course of exploring this theme, we look at the role of AMP kinase (AMPK) in pro...

This lesson explores the first two steps of the citric acid cycle and explains how the rate of ATP production is regulated according to the abilities of the electron transport chain. Together with lesson five, it explains how cells regulate their ATP production according to their needs and abilities. In the course of exploring this theme, we examine the role of reactive oxygen species in diabetes....

This lesson provides an overview of the basic objectives of using the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain to make ATP. We start here because, no matter whether we burn  protein, carbs, or fat,  these two interrelated systems are what is shared in common. Watch the full lesson at chrismasterjohnphd.com/mwm/2/3 Sign up for  MWM Pro  for early access to content, enhanced keyword search...

The second MWM energy metabolism looks at  how we use enzymes to exert exquisite control over what happens inside our bodies. If the second law of thermodynamics holds that entropy is always increasing, why don't we reach maximum entropy right away? Why do we observe any order at all?  The  activation energy  represents the resistance to change that can be found in any substance. We exploit the co...

The first MWM Energy Metabolism lesson answers the question,  why do we have to eat such an enormous amount of food? The answer is to comply with the second law of thermodynamics. If you have a chemistry background, you should recognize this as a light review of the thermodynamics unit from a general chemistry class, with its most essential concepts teased out and packed into a half hour lesson. I...

Masterclass With Masterjohn Energy Metabolism is a structured course that begins with foundational principles and progresses to advanced topics to give you everything you need to know about the biochemistry of how we break down food for energy, use the energy, and store the excess. It broadcasts FREE on YouTube and Facebook twice a week and is now in its 31st lesson. As a subscriber to the Masteri...

MTHFR is an enzyme that allows folate (vitamin B9) to support the cellular process of methylation, which is important for the synthesis of creatine and phosphatidylcholine, the regulation of gene expression, neurotransmitter metabolism, and dozens of other processes. There are two common polymorphisms that decrease its activity, A1298C and C677T, with C677T having the stronger effect. Genetic decr...

Insulin is almost universally considered a hormone whose primary purpose is to regulate blood glucose levels. Indeed, it does this. But is that the whole picture? When we look at what governs pancreatic insulin secretion inside the beta-cell, it's about total energy and the versatility of the short-term energy supply, not about glucose. When we look at what insulin does to energy metabolism, it do...

Do carbs and insulin make you fat? The argument centers on the ability of insulin to promote the conversion of carbohydrate to fat and lock fat in adipose tissue, as well as the necessity of glucose to provide the backbone to fat molecules within adipose tissue. But the argument ignores that all of these pathways are fundamentally regulated at a biochemical level by how much energy you need and ho...

Our consciousness is like a net. We want the net to be fluid enough to let thoughts that bother us pass through without grabbing our attention, but strong enough to grab on to the ideas and motivations that will drive us to achieve what we value in life. Nutrition has a big impact on this net. In this episode, learn how foods like liver, egg yolks, meat, leafy greens, legumes, collagen, bone broth...

In this episode, we look at whether fat can fuel the athlete. We begin with the physiological principles involved, then take a look at the evidence from studies swapping fat for carbs to see how it impacts athletic performance. This episode is brought to you by  US Wellness Meats . I use their liverwurst as a convenient way to make a sustainable habit of eating a diversity of organ meats. They als...

In this episode, I weigh in on the American Heart Association's new Presidential Advisory and Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease, and all the headlines that have been spinning on the supposed risks of coconut oil. This episode is brought to you by US Wellness Meats . I use their liverwurst as a convenient way to make a sustainable habit of eating a diversity of organ meats. They also have a m...

Analia Camarasa asked this question on Facebook: Ever since you've mentioned PTH on your podcast we've been measuring it in the office. It's nice to see that when patients come in on high doses of D supplementation their PTH is maximally suppressed, as it should be. I wish you could talk about the outliers briefly, normal D at 31 ng/mL and PTH outside of the range eating a healthy WAP diet, for ex...

Vitamin D deficiency and calcium deficiency look very similar, and poorly interpreted blood tests can easily mislead us into taking the wrong supplements. Here's how to tell them apart. Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here . Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the  mitochondria test Mitome .

Glutamate is the most abundant amino acid in the diet, but is usually bound up in proteins. In its free form, it contributes to the umami taste, which is the savory flavor associated with meat and mushrooms. Long, slow cooking and fermenting can both bring out this flavor.⠀ Unfortunately, some people don't tolerate glutamate well. Glutamate sensitivity is controversial, but some of the symptoms pe...

If you've got high cholesterol then this video is for you. Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here . Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the  mitochondria test Mitome .

In episode 31, I explain why glutathione survives digestion and can be absorbed intact, and why supplementing with it or eating it in foods helps support your health. My recommended supplements:  Jarrow Reduced Glutathione   and   Core Med Science Optimized Liposomal Glutathione . In most cases, save money by trying Jarrow first. Use the discount code from this episode to sign up for Masterclass W...

Tracking calories can be really hard, but here's how to make it easy. Like, easy easy? Easy easy easy easy? Well, no, not easier than not tracking calories. But far easier than you would expect if you haven't tried it. And thousands of times easier than some other methods of tracking calories. Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here . Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientif...

This is how I recommend losing weight if you want a method that is reliable and easy to optimize over time. Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the  mitochondria test Mitome .

The effect of sprouting on the folate concentration of legumes is  incredible . It peaks on the fourth day of sprouting, though, according to a recent study. But is it always the fourth day in every legume under any condition sprouted in a home kitchen? Are the sprouted legumes on the store shelf four-day sprouts? Right now there are more questions than answers, but I believe that opting for sprou...