It is interesting that Larazotide led to faster resolution of GI symptoms and more rapid clearance of circulating SARS‑CoV‑2 spike antigen after COVID infection.

Unpopular opinion on trendy gut health peptides I believe zonulin-mediated increases in intestinal permeability is an evolutionary adaptation (of course it is). By opening tight junctions, zonulin regulates flux of water, solutes, and immune cells. But why does small-intestinal exposure to both bacteria trigger luminal zonulin release, followed by tight junction disassembly and increased permeability? WHY? This transient opening could potentially flush out bacteria and their products from the proximal small intestine, limiting persistent colonization in a region that normally has low bacterial loads (SIBO is not normal remember). Zonulin is part of the innate defence program. It senses microbes, rapidly loosens junctions, and promotes fluid and antigen movement to prevent overgrowth and facilitate immune surveillance. Tight junction modulation also supports controlled antigen sampling, leukocyte movement, and mucosal immune education, which are essential for immune tolerance. This is an adaptive response! Where does it go wrong? Chronic or exaggerated zonulin activation is associated with celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, IBD, and other chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, where sustained barrier loosening amplifies antigen influx and immune activation. Modern triggers lead to a maladaptive chronic and exaggerated activation of this process. So what about peptides like Larazotide acetate? This peptide inhibits zonulin signaling at tight junctions. Sound promising for those with celiac disease, and other leaky-gut conditions. But my point with this post is, do you, as a healthy individual want to chronically inhibit zonulin signalling? Probably not. So this is a great tool to use, in the right CONTEXT. Not for everyone all the time.

Go outside as soon as you wake up. See the sunrise. Spend as much time outside in the morning as possible (breakfast, reading, commute). Get some midday UV exposure, adjust to your sun tolerance/melanin levels. If it gets too hot/strong, seek the shade but stay outside if possible. Avoid sunscreen & sunglasses unless in very specific situations. Enjoy the late-afternoon/evening sun. Watch the sunset. Minimize artificial light as much as possible throughout the day, but especially after sunset. Darkness at night.

"The only real test of intelligence is if you get what you want out of life." - Naval Ravikant "You have to specify your destination. Otherwise, you’ll never notice when you get there. If you don’t know what you want, the probability that you’ll stumble upon it by accident is essentially zero." - Jordan Peterson I think it is hubris to think you will know what you want 10-20 years down the line. But you may as well aim directionally towards something, but maintain enough self-awareness so that you can re-orient yourself and adjust the destination as you learn and grow.

If you cant touch your toes you gotta work on that shit

"A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it." - The Everlasting Man

Apple sauce is the bestest

If someone has little to no dietary choline (which is common in strict vegans), the body is forced to divert a large proportion of methylation capacity toward making phosphatidylcholine via the PEMT pathway, important for bile production.

No better way to stress test your bicep tendons than with a set of rings

Gm

This will annoy a lot of people, but pooping should only take 10-15 seconds. That is what optimal gut health looks like. *Phone scrolling does not count.

One of the most commom presentations I see in clients these days: "I feel like my whole system has been stuck in a constant state of stress, I can’t get my nervous system to calm down or return to a real sense of safety or rest."

The brainstem needs a HUGE amount of energy to function optimally and regulates the processes of the body. If you are dealing with weird symptoms spanning many organ systems, look into the brainstem and energy production.

Centralized medicine is unable to square the idea that malnutrition and obesity can coexist.

Complex disease stemming from impaired energy metabolism cannot be identified or effectively managed in the centralized model of organ-system hyperspecialization. This leads to massive amounts of people being diagnosed and essentially gaslighted with "functional disorder" labels. This model forces an artificual compartmentaluzation of disease/dysfunction = inability to recognize causal factors spanning multiple organ system (such as impaired mitochondrial function leading to low ox phos and dysautonomia).

Pharmaceuticals are one of the most underappreciated group of mitochondrial stressors right now. A large majority of drugs/medications/vaccines damage mitochondria and impair oxidative metabolism. Statins, SSRIs, antibiotics, vaccine (adjuvants), diabetes meds are some of the worst. This iatrogenic harm is still unrecognized for the most part.

Restoration of meaning and a sense of responsibility (others relying on you) is crucial to addressing the mental health crisis in men.

Healing is a function of the body, all it requires is energy

The Nature of Expertise If you want to learn something deeply, the ideal teacher is someone who both understands the subject matter in depth and has firsthand experience applying it. That combination of knowledge & experience constitutes real expertise. Formal qualifications may signal exposure to centralized knowledge, but they are not a prerequisite for genuine understanding. A person can develop deep expertise through independent study, experimentation, mentorship, and persistent curiosity. What matters most is the depth of comprehension and the ability to apply knowledge critically, not the possession of a credential. When combined with discernment, critical thinking, and humility, the modern learner has access to nearly all the tools once monopolized by centralized institutions (books, research archives, open discussions, and the global reach of the internet). Given enough time, discipline, and feedback, a dedicated individual can cultivate legitimate expertise without ever stepping into a traditional institution. That said, foundational learning often benefits from structured environments. Institutions, when well-run, provide frameworks that help students grasp fundamentals efficiently, expose them to peer discourse, and offer curated access to expert feedback. They also encourage curious pursuit of unanswered questions - that is the beauty of University (the philosophy, not the institution). This scaffolding can prevent blind spots that self-taught learners sometimes develop when they lack structure or guidance. Or skipping foudational concepts leading to a shakey base. Therefore, in a decentralized soace, it is crucial to constantly test models of understanding with peers (nodes), and relinguish any resemblance of hubris or arrogance. However, centralized institutions are not without flaws. Their bureaucratic structure often makes them slow to update models of reality, resistant to paradigm shifts, and vulnerable to perverse incentives - whether financial, political, or reputational. A certificate, at its core, is evidence that someone has completed a prescribed course of study within that system. It is not necessarily proof of wisdom, creativity, or the capacity to think independently. If someone dismisses an individual due to a lack of credentials without addressing their ideas or refuting their model, something nefarious is going on. There is no excuse for this. In truth, most knowledge is not locked behind institutional walls. What they primarily offer is organization and access to mentors. The development of expertise likely requires a balance of both worlds. Centralized structure and guidance, and Decentralized paradigm shifts and ruthless questioning.

B1 plays a role in the de novo synthesis of neurotransmitters (from glucose) including acetylcholine and glutamate. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (which requires B1) makes acetyl-CoA which can act as a precursor for acetylcholine. B1 seems to also be involved in ACh release & signalling. Acetylcholine esterase inhibitors are currently prescribed for Alzheimer's. Interesting stuff.