350: Why You Should "Cheat" On Meals, When You Shouldn't Get A Blood Test, Which Massage Oil Is Healthiest ...

April 13, 2016 Podcast: 350: Why You Should "Cheat" On Meals, When You Shouldn't Get A Blood Test, Which Massage Oil Is Healthiest & More! Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the tab on the right (or go to SpeakPipe), use the Contact button on the app, call 1-877-209-9439, or use the “Ask Ben” form at the bottom of this page.
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News Flashes:

The amazing physiology of freedivers…VERY cool.
And sometimes it’s OK to “cheat” on a meal.
So…perhaps this means it's a good thing that I start off each day with a spoonful of baking soda and water, followed by a cup of coffee.
Bright light at night does LESS damage to you if you got good natural light during the day.
This is probably one of the reasons I stay effortlessly lean every winter.

You can receive these News Flashes (and more) every single day, if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Instagram.com/BenGreenfieldFitness, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.
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Special Announcements:
Two quick corrections: -Earthrunners earthing sandals discount is 10%, not 30%. Our apologies! -Ambronite superfoods meal replacement discount is "BEN15". This podcast is brought to you by: -EarthRunners - use code BEN10 for 10% discount on these minimalist outdoor sandals that sync up with the earth’s circadian rhythm (24 hour cycle) by exposing your biology to planet's natural frequencies via carbon lacing and carbon plugs built into the sandal. -Harrys Shaving - get $5 off any order from Harrys at Harrys.com and use promo code "BEN". -FitLife - get 20% off the best tasting green juice powder on the face of the planet with discount code "BEN". -April 1-21: The Cold Shower Challenge - You take a 5 minute cold shower (no temperature rules, but as cold as your shower can truly go, scout's honor...) each morning for 21 days from April 1st - 21st. Then you post a (clothed or towel clad, no nudies!) photo on any social media outlet you have (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) as evidence. You *must* tag @BenGreenfield and you must use the following hashtag: #ColdShowerChallenge. The best part? All proceeds go towards The Brain Trauma Foundation, an organization that conducts innovative clinical research and develops evidence-based guidelines that improve the outcomes for millions of people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries every year. During this challenge you will learn everything you need to know about cold thermogenesis and cold showers, and even get access to a private Facebook community with all participants (including me), donate money to Brain Trauma Foundation, revitalize your life, body, brain and waistline to be ready for spring, and bask in the many cognitive and performance-enhancing benefits of cold thermogenesis! So...you in? Click here to join in now. -Click here to follow Ben on Snapchat, and get ready for some epic stories on his morning, daily and evening routine! -GreenfieldFitnessSystems "surprise gift box" - 50% discount on instant access to a box shipped to your front doorstep and full of the latest cutting-edge biohacking gear, nutrients, smart drugs and more, handpicked and curated by Ben. Only three left. Did you miss the weekend podcast episode on Transcendental Meditation. It was a must-listen - titled "TM - Cult, Quackery or Science". Click here to listen now or download for later! May 11, 2016: Ben is speaking at the brand new Natural Grocers in Spokane, WA on "Little Known, Easy-To-Find Foods That Burn Fat". Click here for more details or to get in for free now. May 21-22, 2016: Ben is speaking at the Biohacker's Summit in London. The venue will be one of the most charming venues of London, Tabacco Dock, and features an Upgraded Dinner with wild forager Sami Tallberg and a great opportunity to bring together some fantastic UK based biohackers in the realms of digital health, wearables, supplements, biohacking, lifehacking, quantified self and much more. You'll discover digital health & wellness providers, nutrition & supplement companies, wearables & mobile applications and smart home appliances from infrared saunas to smart sensors. Click here to register and use 10% code "ben". May 26-29, 2016: Ben is speaking at PaleoFX 2016 in Austin, Texas. This is the The Who’s Who gathering of the Paleo movement, with world-class speakers including New York Times bestselling authors, leading physicians, scientists, health entrepreneurs, professional athletes, fitness professionals, activists, bloggers, biohackers, and more. And you DON’T need to be Paleo to be able to get a ton of benefit and fun out of this one! Also, one day prior, on May 26 is Health Entrepreneurs f(x) - a full day of deep discussion on marketing, business development, and entrepreneurship for health and wellness people, featuring Mark Sisson, Robb Wolf, Melissa Hartwig, Sarah Ballantyne, Mike Bledsoe, Abel James, and a bunch of other speakers in small group coaching sessions. July 8-10, 2016: Join SEALFit and Ben Greenfield for a SEALFit 20X event at Ben Greenfield's home in Spokane, WA - combined with Obstacle Course training with Ben Greenfield and Hunter McIntyre. Get all details here and get in soon because this one will fill up fast! August 11-13, 2016: Ben is speaking at the Ancestral Health Symposium (AHS) in Boulder, Colorado. AHS is a historic three-day event created to unite the ancestral health movement and to foster collaboration among scientists, health professionals, and laypersons who study and communicate about health from an evolutionary perspective to develop solutions to our health challenges. Click here to learn more or to register now.  Nov 17-18, 2016: Ben is speaking at the Biohacker's Summit in Helsinki, Finland. Discover the latest in wearables, internet of things, digital health, and mobile apps to increase performance, be healthier, stay fit, and get more done. Learn about taking food, preparation, cooking, and eating to the next level with the latest science and kitchen chemistry. Even delve into implanted chips, gene therapy, bionic arms, biometric shirts, robotic assistants, and virtual reality. Two days with an amazing crowd and a closing party with upgraded DJs to talk about. Click here to get in now at a 40% discount. -Dec 3-10, 2016: Runga in Costa Rica: 8 days, epic food, twice daily yoga, salt water pool and manual therapy and spa services galore, experts from around the world teaching running clinics, kettlebell seminars, lecturing on nutrition, etc. Also daily adventures ranging from zip lining to white water, along with a full digital detox. Code "BEN" gets you a free gift with your RUNGA registration valued at $75! Click here to get in now. Grab this Official Ben Greenfield Fitness Gear package that comes with a tech shirt, a beanie and a water bottle. And of course, this week's top iTunes review - gets some BG Fitness swag straight from Ben - click here to leave your review for a chance to win some!
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Listener Q&A:
As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Rachel Browne, the NEW Podcast Sidekick.
When You Shouldn't Get A Blood Test
Phil says: His wife is 54 and has a long list of health issues, many of which developed later in life. From food allergies and asthma to aching knees to swollen fingers in the morning, which she describes as Mickey Mouse hands. All of her doctors just want to treat her symptoms but he wants to treat the causes. Would you recommend a functional wellness test like WellnessFX and if so, which one would you choose? Or would you recommend something else?
In my response, I recommend: -Cyrex Lab Testing -Gut Testing -Heavy Metal Testing -Autoimmune Paleo Diet -Functional Medicine Practitioner
Which Massage Oil Is Healthiest?
Sherry says: She loves the show, she’s been listening for the past 6 months and she hooked. She’s going to a bunch of the conferences you're speaking at. She’s a personal trainer, group instructor and massage therapist. She’s wondering what the absorption level is of massage oil into your body. What are the pros and cons of of absorbing all that oil into the skin if she’s massaging 6 hours per day?
In my response, I recommend: -New Greenfield Anti-Aging Skin Serum
Ben's Bug Out Bag
Ryan says: He’s from Mobile, Alabama, and he’s got a fun question. He’s one of those Waco conspiracy theorist type - people who believes the sustainability of our financial system won’t remain much longer. He was hoping you could put together a list of top 10 items, foods, remedies that he can keep and start storming that will help them optimize or maintain health during times of hardship.
In my response, I recommend: -Survival Magazine -Survival bracelet -Thieves essential oil -Cinnamon essential oil -Sprouting Seeds -Actionwipes -Ambronite -Chlorella -Curcumin -Portable Structured Water Filter -Healthy Chocolate (e.g. Bulletproof)
How Women Can Fix Metabolic Damage From Overtraining
Jennifer says: She’s from Oceanside, California. She has a question about increasing thyroid function once damage had been done from a low carb diet. She’s was playing around with nutrition and trying to get leaner and depleted her thyroid function fairly significantly. She has a doctor of nutrition and nutrition coach helping her but in the interim, if you have any advice on how to use carbs to help reset her metabolism and get her back on track and what types of carbs to use, she’d appreciate it. She’s feeling really slow and not so good...it's not a fun feeling. She knows she can fix it in a month of two with help but if there’s anything we can provide in the interim she’d appreciate it. She thanks you for your excellent advice, and products and other things, she benefits so much from it. She’s a physician herself and she often passes along information to her patients, other physicians and friends.
In my response, I recommend: -Suppversity article