📸 Shocking Visual:

This diagram illustrates a process in our bodies known as ketogenesis, which is crucial during periods when we eat very low-carb diets or fast.

It happens mainly in the mitochondria, which are like the power plants of our cells.

Here's how it works:

1. Fatty acids are taken into the mitochondria.

2. Here, they undergo beta-oxidation, breaking down into a molecule called Acetyl-CoA.

3. When your body is low on carbohydrates, Acetyl-CoA doesn't enter the citric acid cycle to produce energy like it normally would. Instead, it's used to make acetone and other ketone bodies in a process called ketogenesis.

4. Acetone can be broken down into Pyruvate, a key molecule in metabolism.

5. Pyruvate can then be used in gluconeogenesis to make glucose, which is crucial because some cells in your body, like those in your brain, need glucose to function properly.

Essentially, this process allows your body to convert fat into a form of energy it can use, especially important during times when you aren't getting enough carbohydrates from your diet.

📽️ Workout Tips:

1. Plyometric Power Drills

    

   

    

   Incorporate plyometric exercises like box jumps, burpees, or plyo push-ups into your routine to improve explosive power and agility.

    

   These movements help to stimulate the fast-twitch muscle fibers, enhancing your speed and the power of your movements.

    

   Plyometrics can be particularly beneficial for athletes looking to improve their performance in sports that require quick bursts of speed.

    

2. Staggered Sets for Increased Intensity

    

   

    

   Add staggered sets into your workout to keep the intensity high without compromising on recovery.

    

   This involves performing a set of an exercise targeting one muscle group and immediately following it with a set targeting a different muscle group.

    

   This helps to reduce injury by increasing the strength and flexibility of your joints.

🔗 Useful Resources

1. Unhealthy diet may speed up biological aging, even in young adults

    

   

    

   A group of scientists recently investigated links between diet quality and biological aging.

    

   To gauge biological age, they used cutting-edge “epigenetic clocks.”

    

   They found that poorer diets, which include high amounts of fast food and processed meat but low amounts of fruit and vegetables, may contribute to accelerated biological aging, even in young adults.

    

   Read the full report here.

    

2. Your brain may have a plastic spoon’s worth of microplastics, study finds

    

   

    

   Microplastics have now been found in the human brain, accumulating over time to about a spoonful and potentially more, according to a recent study.

    

   The study published Monday in Nature Medicine found high concentrations of microplastics in human brains—higher than in any other organ—raising questions about their potential role in neurological diseases.

    

   Read more here.

    

3. How Foods & Nutrients Control Our Moods

    

   

    

   In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, Huberman explains how the different nutrients and foods we eat impact our emotions and overall mood.

    

   He discusses how the mind-body connection shapes our food choices and cravings, highlighting the roles of key neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in driving eating behaviors.

    

   He also explains the biological mechanisms behind cravings for specific foods, such as sugar, and how psychological factors like belief effects can influence our perception of hunger.

    

   Watch the full video here.