In rereading this interesting thread containing so many good ideas, it seems pretty clear for some metrics and likely for many others that a subsuming/subsumed relationship exists such that knowing metric x obviates the benefit of and therefore the need to know metric y. In statistical terms, thinking of all of these metrics as independent variables regressed against mortality or lesser dependent variables, it seems likely that a relatively small number of metrics will account for most of the variance in the main dependent variable. If so, the cost (direct and opportunity) of measuring and managing subsumed metrics is not especially justifiable. I’m speaking generally at this point but I believe the sparse but robust set of metrics I am hypothesizing could be derived using current data. If so, it would be a beneficial undertaking for the NIH or similar entity.
Its hard to do this. Morgan levines algorithm is a good try, but has flaws. For example reall high albumin is a bad sign, but the algorithm thinks it is good.
What I’m proposing is empirical. Individually, there would be no metrics that did not account for the greatest obtainable proportion of the variance, although there could be interactions running in different directions that would be fruitful to explore…
It is kind of easy actually. You weight vegies once in one of the containers that I use (then look at cal serving chart of the package), plus I know cals for steak, plus cals for two soft boiled eggs and one table spoon of olive oil as an example. When I’m measuring calories I don’t eat 20 different foods. Usually, stick with 3-4 common foods that I already know the calories for each portion.
I tend to look for functional tests, blood biomarkers are a good example of this. However, they are not easy to handle as data points as their natural variation is high and then there can be testing issues.
That works after you have been weighing every single item for weeks.
Fatty foods govern in CR. Small mistakes can result in wrong assumptions on CR.
The above being said, if you are sure, I would like to have your metabolism and be able to keep my weight on 1800 kCAls.
But on the other side being physically active sure burns a lot, sometimes more than expected.
Indeed. I’m only 5’1 and 100 and lose too much weight at 1800 calories.
What you lose too much at 1800 calories? Unreal, I wish that was me. I actually thought I needed to talk to a professional; but I then ran into a doctor on YouTube explaining that he has some clients not losing weight even at 1500 calories. Forgot his name but he basically said that for some people if they eat certain foods, they will not lose any weight even on very law calories.
Anyway, I lose weight on protein only. The problem however is I can’t stay more than couple days on protein only and the minute i add either fat or carbs I can’t lose no matter how hard I try or how little i eat. It is as if my metabolism switches off completely on fats and carbs. No clue what the hell is wrong with me lol
What’s causing me to lose weight now is empagliflozin (12.5 mg daily). You supposedly pee out enough calories to lose 1 lb a month. However, most people compensate for that by eating more calories, so the effect is usually 1/2 lb. I’ve lost about 5 lbs since July, and I credit that to empagliflozin because my diet hasn’t changed.
It also makes me want to drink about an extra litre of water daily.
Yes. I could honestly mostly take or leave food so it feels like a job sometimes and unfortunately CR is out of the question. I’m not sure which situation is better tbh. I think I’d be happy to eat what cronometer and Fitbit estimate I need which is 15-1600 though. I guess everyone is a bit unique.
You are really lucky. How amazing it would be to eat almost anything and as much as you want and still not gain weight. I actually have a coworker who is like that. He could eat all day long and will never be over 155lbs at same height as me (around 6 feet). I’m amazed and I think people like that MUST be very healthy, meaning their bodies are capable of burning/digesting any amount of food.
I hear you and I thought i was having some success also, but EMPA is not sitting well with me otherwise. I tend to get a headache from it and even a bit of chest arthritis (not chest pain as in heart problem). Do you take it with food, in the morning or at night?
I take it first thing in the morning with my breakfast and other morning supplements. I haven’t noticed any negatives except extreme thirstiness. I never used to be this thirsty until I started empagliflozin. I literally had to leave a movie to go get a drink at the theatre because I was that thirsty. That’s never happened to me before.
However, drinking more water is a good thing IMHO.
Think the belief is that you need to drink before you feel (very) thirsty as that point is actually a bit bad for you (if repeatedly happening)
I’ve been off Glylo since I posted the above in late October. Enough time has passed such that the tingling/numbness seems significantly reduced. Definitely not fully recovered, but enough improved to have confidence things are heading in the right direction.
My first Glylo order was placed mid-July 2023, and first reorder on 9/29/23. Ironically, I met with my PCP on 9/28, to talk about my tingling feet.
It was rapa.news that turned me on to Glylo. Only by sheer luck did I read this thread, which prompted me to consider that Glylo might be the cause of the problem. Could have gone on indefinitely, getting worse and worse…
I was never quite sure if Glylo was actually producing the hoped-for reduction in a1c. But since stopping, it’s jumped from 5.5 to 5.8. Never had a value above 5.6 before. Re-examining historical data, it appears a similar .2 or so reduction occurred when I started. That’s with just one/day.
Is this a CAUTIONARY TALE? I think so.
Will confirm in a couple of months that I’m not just hallucinating the improvement.
Nothing new here but I thought some might appreciate this handy table summarizing the typical impact of common nutraceuticals on lipids.
nutraceuticals_lipid_effects.xlsx (9.6 KB)
 Rank |
Nutraceutical | LDL-C Drop | Extra Lipid Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berberine | -20 % to -25 % | ↓ ApoB, modest ↑ HDL-C, modest ↓ TG |
| 2 | Red Yeast Rice (monacolin K) | -15 % to -25 % | ↓ ApoB, small ↑ HDL-C, ↓ TG 10–15 % |
| 2 | Bergamot Extract | -15 % to -25 % | ↑ HDL-C 20–40 %, ↓ TG 20–30 %, ↓ ApoB |
| 4 | Pantethine | -11 % to -20 % | ↓ ApoB, modest ↑ HDL-C, modest ↓ TG |
| 5 | Spirulina | -10 % to -15 % | ↓ ApoB (limited RCTs), modest ↑ HDL-C, modest ↓ TG |
Key Take-away: If you want the biggest LDL-C bang for your buck, Berberine edges out the pack, followed closely by Red Yeast Rice and Bergamot Extract.
I have taken both Berberine and Bergamot and it did nothing for my lipids. (After adding Berberine, my ApoB went up!). So, I am not sure if I can trust these results. I still take Berberine though. Most red yeast rice sold in the USA has the active ingredient removed and is useless.
What did affect my lipids - Bempedoic Acid, Ezetemibe, and Atorvastatin. My ApoB is 58, down from 122 after adding these 3.
Spend your money on these cheap medications instead of relying on supplements for lipid control.
Berberine did seem to have a very small yet positive effect on my HBA1C and glucose markers, which is why I take it.
My glucose usually spikes to 170 after a carb loaded breakfast, then quickly falls to 80-90 and stays around 90 till next meal. To deal with such spikes I started taking water/vinegar 10-15 min before eating, and walk for 15 min after meal. It reduced the spike to 127. Will see if it works in a long run to reduce my elevated HA1c (5.9).
Your experience with berberine may be at the margin but it s not an outlier. The ranges listed are typical, likely +/1 SD or so. In the source material, the bottom end of the range on most of these was zero. Also, the additivity of these may be limited for many people. At the other extreme, I have a relative who get all of the Apo(b) reduction he wants with 1,500 mg berberine daily.