Mind & Matter

Nick Jikomes

Whether food, drugs or ideas, what you consume influences who you become. Learn directly from the best scientists & thinkers alive today about how your mind-body reacts to what you feed it. The weekly M&M podcast features conversations with the most interesting scientists, thinkers, and technology entrepreneurs alive today. Not medical advice.At M&M, we are interested in trying to figure out how things work, not affirming our existing beliefs. We prefer consulting primary rather than secondary sources and independent rather than institutional voices. If we encounter uncomfortable truths or the evidence suggests unfashionable ideas may be valid, so be it. As the host, my aim is to help you better understand how the body & mind work by curating & synthesizing information in a way that yields science-based insights that you can choose to use or disregard in your own life. Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet. I am motivated to connect the dots and distill general principles from what I learn, preferring to ask questions and play devil’s advocate to debating or incessantly pushing my own viewpoint. My beliefs: Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.All knowledge is provisional and we must work hard to prevent ourselves from becoming attached to our favorite ideas & preferred conclusions.Wisdom comes from an iterative, trial-and-error process of learning and unlearning. Letting go of pre-conceived notions can be painful, but pain is information.Sometimes modern discoveries teach us we must unlearn received wisdom. Other times, modern information overload & historical chauvinism cause us to forget ancient wisdom which stills applies. The framework for learning that I embody is inspired by three Ancient Greek maxims inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi: “Γνῶθι σεαυτόν” (Know thyself)“Μηδὲν ἄγαν” (Nothing in excess)“Ἐγγύα πάρα δ Ἄτα” (Certainty brings insanity)

  1. Iron Overload & Lipid Peroxidation in Cell Death & Neurodegenerative Disease | Pamela Maher | Episode 299

    21h ago

    Iron Overload & Lipid Peroxidation in Cell Death & Neurodegenerative Disease | Pamela Maher | Episode 299

    Send us Fan Mail Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death pathway driven by lipid peroxidation; chronoferoptosis, in which chronic stress sensitizes neurons gradually. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Cell Death Pathways: Apoptosis proceeds through regulated steps with surface “eat me” signals that enable non-inflammatory clearance by phagocytes, whereas ferroptosis and related pathways release cellular contents that can amplify local damage and inflammation.Ferroptosis Discovery: Work on glutamate toxicity in neuronal cell lines first identified a glutathione-depletion pathway termed oxytosis; parallel studies in cancer cells renamed and generalized it as ferroptosis to highlight iron’s catalytic role.Lipid Peroxidation: Polyunsaturated fatty acids in membranes are oxidized non-enzymatically when ferrous iron reacts with hydrogen peroxide in the Fenton reaction, generating hydroxyl radicals that produce toxic lipid peroxides and reactive carbonyls that modify proteins.GPX4 & Glutathione: Glutathione peroxidase-4 is an enzyme that reduces lipid peroxides within membranes and requires glutathione as cofactor; depletion of either component removes this critical line of defense.Chronoferoptosis: Nine-day treatment of differentiated neuronal cells with chronic iron or glutathione synthesis inhibitor reduced GPX4 protein, raised basal lipid peroxidation, and increased cell death after addition of otherwise sublethal secondary stressors.Protective Compounds: Screening identified flavonoids such as fisetin and sterubin plus synthetic molecules J-147 and CMS-121 that block lipid peroxidation directly or indirectly and, in several cases, also raise glutathione levels.Human Disease Evidence: Postmortem brain tissue from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients shows elevated lipid peroxidation markers and altered iron handling in vulnerable regions; similar changes appear in animal models of multiple diseases.Dietary & NRF2 Links: Compounds that activate the NRF2 transcription factor, including sulforaphane from broccoli and certain flavonoids, upregulate antioxidant enzymes including GPX4 and may support long-term cellular resilience.ABOUT THE GUEST: Pamela Maher, PhD is a research professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. Her laboratory studies ferroptosis mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases and works to identify compounds that inhibit iron-dependent lipid peroxidation.  Support the show Health Products by M&M Partners: AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.OmegaQuant: At-home blood testing to see fatty acid profiles, including omega-3 fatty acids. Use link to see options and support M&M.SiPhox Health: Comprehensive, cost-effective bloodwork from the comfort of home. Use code TRIKOMES for 20% off.KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)SporesMD: Premium mushrooms products (gourmet mushrooms, nootropics, research). Use code 'nickjikomes' for 20% off.For all the ways you can support my efforts

    1h 43m
  2. GLP-1s & Novel Peptides in Obesity, Diabetes & Metabolic Health | Katrin Svensson | Episode 298

    Jun 30

    GLP-1s & Novel Peptides in Obesity, Diabetes & Metabolic Health | Katrin Svensson | Episode 298

    Send us Fan Mail Endogenous peptide diversity, GLP-1 drugs, and methods for novel peptide discovery. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Peptide Structure & Production: Short amino acid chains (3-50 residues) cleaved from larger precursors by PCSK enzymes, stored in dense-core vesicles, and released upon stimuli rather than acting as folded enzymes like proteins.Tissue-Specific Processing: The same precursor yields different peptides by tissue; preproglucagon produces glucagon in pancreas but GLP-1 in gut L-cells due to distinct cleavage patterns.Signaling Timescales: Peptides act over minutes via GPCRs and can drive longer transcriptional changes such as FOS expression, yet are cleared rapidly by proteases and kidneys.Endogenous GLP-1: Meal-stimulated incretin from gut that boosts insulin secretion with a half-life of only minutes, limiting primary action to periphery rather than deep brain structures.GLP-1 Engineering for Brain Access: DPP4 site mutations plus lipid conjugation enable albumin binding, extend half-life, and raise brain exposure.Dose-Dependent Effects: Low GLP-1 doses mainly lower blood glucose via pancreas; higher doses engage hindbrain and hypothalamic neurons to suppress appetite and alter food preference.Novel Peptide Discovery: Computational scans across the genome flag hundreds of uncharacterized precursors, facilitating new peptide discovery.BRP Peptide: This newly discovered brain-derived peptide suppresses feeding in GLP-1 receptor knockout mice, activates non-overlapping neurons, and does not slow gastric emptying.ABOUT THE GUEST: Katrin Svensson, PhD, is a biochemist and physiologist who leads a laboratory at Stanford University focused on peptide hormone physiology and the regulation of energy balance. PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS: GLP-1 drugs require higher doses to engage brain satiety circuits for meaningful weight loss; lower doses primarily improve glucose control with little effect on appetite.Response varies widely across individuals, with some losing over 25% body weight while others see minimal change.Emerging peptides under study may suppress appetite via brain pathways that avoid the gastric slowing responsible for common GI side effects of current GLP-1 drugs.Research peptides purchased online frequently show variable purity below pharmaceutical standards and may contain unsafe formulation components or aggregates. Support the show Health Products by M&M Partners: AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.OmegaQuant: At-home blood testing to see fatty acid profiles, including omega-3 fatty acids. Use link to see options and support M&M.SiPhox Health: Comprehensive, cost-effective bloodwork from the comfort of home. Use code TRIKOMES for 20% off.KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)SporesMD: Premium mushrooms products (gourmet mushrooms, nootropics, research). Use code 'nickjikomes' for 20% off.For all the ways you can support my efforts

    1h 35m
  3. Deuterium, Metabolic Water & Cancer | Gábor Somlyai | Episode 297

    Jun 18

    Deuterium, Metabolic Water & Cancer | Gábor Somlyai | Episode 297

    Send us Fan Mail The possible role of deuterium (heavy isotope of hydrogen) in regulating cell division, mitochondrial metabolism & cancer. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Deuterium Basics: Deuterium is twice as massive as regular hydrogen; natural water contains ~150 ppm, with stronger oxygen-deuterium bonds slowing reactions compared to oxygen-hydrogen.Mitochondrial Role: Healthy mitochondria produce deuterium-depleted metabolic water (~110 ppm from fat oxidation vs. ~150 ppm from carbs), helping maintain low cellular D:H ratios.Cell Growth Regulation: Lower deuterium slows cell division in vitro; cells sense small D:H changes, with higher levels (near/above 150 ppm) promoting growth.In Vitro Evidence: DDW (e.g., 25-125 ppm) can reduce proliferation and alters cancer-related gene expression.Animal Models: DDW caused tumor regression in mice with transplanted human cancers and showed possible efficacy in veterinary use for dogs and cats.Human Prostate Cancer: Phase 2 randomized study showed greater Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) reduction, tumor shrinkage, and better 1-year survival with DDW plus standard therapy vs. placebo.Dietary Modulation: Ketogenic/high-fat diets lower body deuterium from lipid oxidation.Broader Implications: Potential in neurodegeneration models; larger trials needed for registration as adjunct cancer therapy.ABOUT THE GUEST: Gábor Somlyai, PhD is a molecular biologist who pioneered deuterium depletion studies at the National Institute of Oncology in Hungary. His primary work focuses on the role of deuterium in living organisms and the development of deuterium-depleted water for cancer therapy. Support the show Health Products by M&M Partners: AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.OmegaQuant: At-home blood testing to see fatty acid profiles, including omega-3 fatty acids. Use link to see options and support M&M.SiPhox Health: Comprehensive, cost-effective bloodwork from the comfort of home. Use code TRIKOMES for 20% off.KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)SporesMD: Premium mushrooms products (gourmet mushrooms, nootropics, research). Use code 'nickjikomes' for 20% off.For all the ways you can support my efforts

    1h 33m
  4. Fructose Metabolism in Obesity, Dementia, Evolution | Richard Johnson | Episode 295

    Jun 4

    Fructose Metabolism in Obesity, Dementia, Evolution | Richard Johnson | Episode 295

    Send us Fan Mail Fructose survival hypothesis: how fructose metabolism in the liver triggers ATP depletion, uric acid production, oxidative stress, lipogenesis & leptin resistance. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Glucose vs Fructose Metabolism: Fructose is rapidly metabolized in the liver by fructokinase without feedback, causing ATP depletion and uric acid production, unlike glucose metabolism.Liver Effects: Fructose induces uric acid production, NADPH oxidase activation, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and de novo lipogenesis even under caloric restriction.Fructose Survival Hypothesis: Fructose signaling promotes fat storage, leptin resistance, foraging behavior, and metabolic syndrome as adaptations for hibernation or starvation, including metabolic water production.Brain Impacts: Endogenous fructose production from glucose (polyol pathway) triggered by high glucose, salt, or stress leads to insulin resistance, mitochondrial damage, and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s-vulnerable regions.Evolutionary Context: Human uricase mutation ~12 million years ago enhanced fructose effects for fat storage during seasonal starvation but increases vulnerability today.Modern Triggers: Added sugars, high fructose corn syrup, salt-sugar combinations, and omega-6 fats synergize with fructose to amplify inflammation, appetite, and disease risk.Alzheimer’s Link: Fructose-driven brain changes mirror Alzheimer’s pathology, with high brain fructose in patients and potential for fructokinase inhibitors as therapy.ABOUT THE GUEST: Richard Johnson MD, is a professor of medicine who has conducted clinical practice and NIH-funded research on sugar metabolism since the late 1990s. His work focuses on the role of fructose in metabolic syndrome, obesity, and related diseases. RELATED CONTENT: Article | Dietary Fructose & Metabolic Health: An Evolutionary PerspectiveM&M 249: Fructose, Microglia, Anxiety & Brain Development | Justin Perry | 249Support the show Health Products by M&M Partners: AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.OmegaQuant: At-home blood testing to see fatty acid profiles, including omega-3 fatty acids. Use link to see options and support M&M.SiPhox Health: Comprehensive, cost-effective bloodwork from the comfort of home. Use code TRIKOMES for 20% off.KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)SporesMD: Premium mushrooms products (gourmet mushrooms, nootropics, research). Use code 'nickjikomes' for 20% off.For all the ways you can support my efforts

    1h 36m
  5. May 27

    How to Lie With Science: Seed Oils & Inflammation | Livestream 1

    Send us Fan Mail Deep-dive into a 2026 cardiology review paper claiming seed oils reduce inflammation, exposing misrepresentations of cited clinical trials, and detailing how oxidized Ω-6 fats trigger inflammation. Companion article: Click HERE TOPICS DISCUSSED: Seed Oil Profiles: Typical seed oils like sunflower are high in linoleic acid (omega-6 PUFA), while canola is higher in monounsaturated fats and resembles olive oil.Review Paper Critique: The 2026 JACC review falsely claims sunflower oil reduce inflammation like olive oil, citing an RCT that showed benefits only for canola and olive.RCT Analysis: In Iranian women with metabolic issues, switching to canola or olive oil lowered CRP by increasing MUFA and decreasing PUFA intake; sunflower oil produced no change.CRP Biology: CRP responds to oxidized lipids and cellular damage patterns, rising with exercise or infection and marking oxidized Ω-6 metabolites in modern diets.Oxidized Lipids: Ω-6 fats in LDL and cardiolipin oxidize easily, generating 4-HNE, MDA, and other signals that trigger immune clearance, similar to bacterial threats.Sterile Inflammation: High dietary linoleic acid causes chronic immune activation without pathogens, potentially contributing to metabolic and cardiovascular issues.PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS: Prioritize monounsaturated fats from olive or avocado oil over high-linoleic seed oils like standard sunflower or soybean for lower oxidative stress potential.Check labels for high-oleic versions of sunflower oil, which shift the profile toward monounsaturated fats.Evaluate nutrition claims by examining original studies and fatty acid compositions rather than accepting review summaries at face value.Support the show Health Products by M&M Partners: AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.OmegaQuant: At-home blood testing to see fatty acid profiles, including omega-3 fatty acids. Use link to see options and support M&M.SiPhox Health: Comprehensive, cost-effective bloodwork from the comfort of home. Use code TRIKOMES for 20% off.KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)SporesMD: Premium mushrooms products (gourmet mushrooms, nootropics, research). Use code 'nickjikomes' for 20% off.For all the ways you can support my efforts

    1h 13m
  6. Ancestry & Genetic Diversity in Human Fat Metabolism: Seed Oils & Omega Fats | Floyd Chilton | Episode 294

    May 22

    Ancestry & Genetic Diversity in Human Fat Metabolism: Seed Oils & Omega Fats | Floyd Chilton | Episode 294

    Send us Fan Mail Human genetic variation in dietary fat metabolism and its implications for health & disease. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Linoleic Acid Rise: Linoleic acid now comprises 6-8% or more of energy in Western diets.Metabolic Pathways: Omega-6 linoleic acid converts to arachidonic acid and pro-inflammatory oxylipins; omega-3 ALA converts via shared enzymes to EPA/DHA with anti-inflammatory effects.FADS Genetic Variants: Ancestry-linked haplotypes in the FADS cluster create large “pipe” size differences, altering fatty acid by up to 40% between ancestral and derived versions.Population Differences: African ancestry populations often have high-conversion “big pipe” genotypes; Indigenous American ancestry populations have low-conversion “small pipe” genotypes; European ancestry comes with a mix of both.Omega-3 Deficiency: High linoleic intake suppresses EPA production, especially in small-pipe populations, contributing to hypertriglyceridemia and fatty liver in Mexican cohorts.Clinical Evidence: Reanalysis of VITAL trial showed 83% reduction in myocardial infarction with omega-3 supplementation in African Americans; Mexican data link low EPA to unique diabetes forms.Methodological Issues: Compositional data (from GC-FID measurements) versus absolute concentration measurements can flip relationships between linoleic acid and key biomarkers.ABOUT THE GUEST: Floyd Chilton PhD is Professor and Director of the Center for Precision Nutrition and Wellness at the University of Arizona. His research focuses on functional genomics, fatty acid metabolism, and precision nutrition, particularly how genetic ancestry influences responses to dietary fats. RELATED EPISODE: M&M 291: Omega Polyunsaturated Fats & Inflammation | Philip CalderSupport the show Health Products by M&M Partners: AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.OmegaQuant: At-home blood testing to see fatty acid profiles, including omega-3 fatty acids. Use link to see options and support M&M.SiPhox Health: Comprehensive, cost-effective bloodwork from the comfort of home. Use code TRIKOMES for 20% off.KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)SporesMD: Premium mushrooms products (gourmet mushrooms, nootropics, research). Use code 'nickjikomes' for 20% off.For all the ways you can support my efforts

    1h 52m
  7. Pregnenolone & Corticosteroids in Brain Health | Sherwood Brown | Episode 293

    May 15

    Pregnenolone & Corticosteroids in Brain Health | Sherwood Brown | Episode 293

    Send us Fan Mail Pregnenolone, a neurosteroid derived from cholesterol, affects brain activity and shows promise for treating mood and substance abuse disorders. TOPICS DISCUSSED: Steroid Biosynthesis: Cholesterol converted to pregnenolone, the precursor for all steroid hormones including cortisol, aldosterone, and sex hormones.Corticosteroids: Synthetic versions like prednisone primarily target glucocorticoid receptors for anti-inflammatory uses but can impact mood and cognition.Pregnenolone Mechanisms: Positive allosteric modulator of NMDA receptors for cognition and negative allosteric modulator of CB1 cannabinoid receptors.Allopregnanolone: GABAergic derivative of pregnenolone; its IV form Brexanolone is FDA-approved for postpartum depression.Clinical Trials: Pregnenolone at 100-500 mg improved depressive symptoms in placebo-controlled studies of bipolar disorder patients.Cannabis Interaction: THC robustly induces brain pregnenolone production; supplementation may reduce cannabis and alcohol use.Corticosteroid Brain Impact: Prednisone use associated with smaller hippocampal volumes and memory deficits.ABOUT THE GUEST: Sherwood Brown, MD, PhD is Vice Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. With a background in chemistry, his research focuses on steroids and comorbidities in people with mood disorders. RELATED EPISODE: M&M 124: Hormonal Contraception, Sex Hormones, Menstruation, Pregnancy, Puberty, Estrogens, Androgens, Effects of Birth Control on Cognition | Adriene BeltzSupport the show Health Products by M&M Partners: AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.OmegaQuant: At-home blood testing to see fatty acid profiles, including omega-3 fatty acids. Use link to see options and support M&M.SiPhox Health: Comprehensive, cost-effective bloodwork from the comfort of home. Use code TRIKOMES for 20% off.KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)SporesMD: Premium mushrooms products (gourmet mushrooms, nootropics, research). Use code 'nickjikomes' for 20% off.For all the ways you can support my efforts

    1h 2m
4.8
out of 5
84 Ratings

About

Whether food, drugs or ideas, what you consume influences who you become. Learn directly from the best scientists & thinkers alive today about how your mind-body reacts to what you feed it. The weekly M&M podcast features conversations with the most interesting scientists, thinkers, and technology entrepreneurs alive today. Not medical advice.At M&M, we are interested in trying to figure out how things work, not affirming our existing beliefs. We prefer consulting primary rather than secondary sources and independent rather than institutional voices. If we encounter uncomfortable truths or the evidence suggests unfashionable ideas may be valid, so be it. As the host, my aim is to help you better understand how the body & mind work by curating & synthesizing information in a way that yields science-based insights that you can choose to use or disregard in your own life. Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet. I am motivated to connect the dots and distill general principles from what I learn, preferring to ask questions and play devil’s advocate to debating or incessantly pushing my own viewpoint. My beliefs: Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.All knowledge is provisional and we must work hard to prevent ourselves from becoming attached to our favorite ideas & preferred conclusions.Wisdom comes from an iterative, trial-and-error process of learning and unlearning. Letting go of pre-conceived notions can be painful, but pain is information.Sometimes modern discoveries teach us we must unlearn received wisdom. Other times, modern information overload & historical chauvinism cause us to forget ancient wisdom which stills applies. The framework for learning that I embody is inspired by three Ancient Greek maxims inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi: “Γνῶθι σεαυτόν” (Know thyself)“Μηδὲν ἄγαν” (Nothing in excess)“Ἐγγύα πάρα δ Ἄτα” (Certainty brings insanity)

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