#182

The great lengths we go to for the sake of science.

(I had more like 12 oz of ice cream)

3 Likes
#183

My alcohol ice cream test results:

Time/minutes Blood Glucose

0 98

30 130

60 120

90 138

120 100

Well, this is about what I would expect to be the case without alcohol.

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Who knows? Didn’t drink enough alcohol? Ate too much ice cream? Maybe my timing was off?

In any case, I am not going to pursue it.

Bottom line: I did not see anything significant from this test.

@John_Hemming I believe has low blood glucose levels attributed to his alcohol use.

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#184

I ate 3-4x the ice cream, and I’m on a maintenance dose of Tirzepatide. Maybe that was part of it.

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Regardless, I think the study is underpowered and we need to recruit more participants.

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#185

Given your experimental mindset, you might someday want to consider DSIP, a sleep-inducing peptide that has been shown to mitigate the symptoms of alcohol and opiate withdrawal.

Or better yet an edible, though maybe not in Hong Kong.

I don’t drink much or often but sometimes, if I have a good run, I can talk myself into thinking I deserve a few beers.

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#186

I intend looking at peptides at some stage. At the moment I don’t use any synthetic peptides and I know there are lots of them.

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#187

In 2017, Katie Lain was blacking out several times each week from drinking alcohol. On weeknights, she would typically down at least one bottle of wine, often more, and on weekends she binged vodka. But even after suffering a pulmonary embolism in her 30s, which her doctor tied to her excessive drinking, she struggled to quit.

Later that year, a doctor prescribed naltrexone, a drug that blocks chemical activity in the brain’s reward centers. She noticed a shift immediately. “I would pour a third glass of wine and it would sort of just sit there,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it. It was life-changing.” She hasn’t had a drink in four years at the time of reporting.

Almost 12 million people in the U.S. struggle with alcohol use disorder, defined as more than four drinks per occasion for women and more than six for men, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Alcohol use disorder is the cause of 500 deaths every day from car crashes, organ failure, related cancers, and acute alcohol poisoning combined.

Although it’s not a panacea, in hundreds of studies naltrexone has been found to be a safe and effective medication for helping people reduce and stop drinking. The drug, which is classified as an opioid antagonist, was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat alcohol use disorders in 1994—30 years ago.

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#188

From our latest episode

• Supplements for hangovers
• Alcohol & cancer
• How alcohol affects fertility
• If it really “blunts your gains”

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#189

Even at 3+ hours (I watched the whole thing), that was an excellent, very comprehensive and very well-balanced investigation of a very complicated subject. Bravo, Rhonda!
As someone who drinks 1 glass of red wine with dinner every night but is also very health conscious, this is a subject that I was very interested in. And it’s not nearly as black and white as I thought - or that current media would lead you to believe. Low to moderate alcohol consumption is a collection of pluses and minuses, overshadowed by the big negative for cancer (especially for women and breast cancer). But Rhonda gives a fair-minded overview well backed with scientific studies. And she acknowledges the social value, which brings it’s own health benefit for many people. I highly recommend watching it for those interested in the subject - @John_Hemming - it’s heavy on science but still accessible.

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#190

Even low dose naltrexone has an effect on reducing cravings. I took it for a short time. I could feel less compulsion to eat more of whatever I was eating, and less cravings for foods I try to stay away from. It just felt easier.

But watch for side effects.

#191

What were your side effects?

1 Like
#192

When I increased the dose from 3mg to 4.5mg I started waking up at 3am and not being able to fall back asleep. I could have gone back to 1.5 mg to get the best sleep benefits but I was taking it for knee pain, and it didn’t seem to help so I quit. Now I sleep good and have no knee pain so no reason to try again. It was a craving killer though.

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#193

A fairly common report. I have tried it, and it decreases my joint and muscle pain - tested on and off and on again. I suspect it reduced my libido, though, so back into the cabinet it went.

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#194

The dosing for alcohol abuse is typically 350 mg/week, so 50 mg/day. So not the LDN for this indication - solid, serious doses.
I was furthermore curious and asked my contact in India on costs … 7.80 for 10 x 50 mg Naltrexone. So $24 per month to possibly behave in regard to alcohol for those who cannot help themselves.

Interestingly, with a GoodRx coupon, pretty much the same price in the U.S. with an Rx, but then you need to fess up to a doctor that you’ve got a problem and get an Rx.

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#195

If I liked to do that, I wouldn’t stop for the minor plausible benefits. The “French Paradox” is real and that glass of red wine might part of it.

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#196

I’m examining it, as I would for anything that I’m doing but I believe that moderation is generally a good policy as well as living life in a relaxed and positive manner. I went out and bought a Polar H10 to use as a sleep monitor because I do believe that good sleep is important. Turned out that my sleep was just as it felt - excellent. My gut feeling is that the glass of wine is a positive in my life…I enjoy the taste and the combination with food, and I enjoy sharing that experience with others. Remember that long before advertising and companies profiting from alcohol, that alcohol, throughout history became symbolic of a shared success or a sharing of misery but both serve as communal and social experiences…to go down to the pub for the solace of comradeship and relief from the toil of everyday life would have meaning no matter what alcohol did but they went together like bread and butter. The alcohol companies didn’t invent that just for profit. So this public crusade against alcohol is well meaning in terms of curbing abuses but many people drink responsibly and it serves both as an excuse for a social get together and a stress reducer (even the placebo of a non-alcoholic drink - the alcohol is the least important part). So in this age of reduced social connection and sense of community, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

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#197

It misses out some of the mitigation I use. In fact it says at last one thing contrary to my own experience ( viz Melatonin, I find melatonin reduces the negative effects).

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#198

Since I don’t drink much I’m won’t invest 3 hours into the topic. But for the sake of my education, what are the benefits of alcohol that a person can’t get without the alcohol?

The ritual
The socialization
The relaxation
The taste
The shopping experience

These enjoyable experiences give happiness to a life. Happinesss is good. But I can get these without alcohol?

What does Rhonda Patrick say? Are there any health benefits to the actual alcohol chemical?

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#200

In my particular case, older, male, no APOE4 gene - Rhonda quoted studies showing some benefit of 1 drink a day (particularly red wine) for cardiovascular, blood sugar and dementia but all overshadowed by a negative for some cancers. I have to be careful tho, I might get banned if I say anything positive about alcohol…so remember even 1 beer causes IRREVERSIBLE BLINDNESS! (and if you happen to be masturbating while drinking beer, it causes IRREVERSIBLE BLINDNESS! in BOTH eyes)
In The Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Snake is King (that one’s for you @SNK )

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/06/health/alcohol-dementia-study-wellness/index.html

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#201

Well, definitely take care of your eyesight! I didn’t know alcohol lowers blood sugar. Apparently the liver stops putting sugar in the bloodstream while it is clearing the alcohol.

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#202

Yes. You can see that on my CGM records which have periods of really low blood sugar when I am drunk. Yes I did take Rapamycin whilst on a CGM and then go on a pub crawl a few days later.

I tend to have quite a low HbA1c. That is in part linked to alcohol consumption. This is a known effect of alcohol.

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