Dr. Rhonda Patrick is a scientist who has done extensive research on aging, cancer and nutrition. She has a Ph.D. in biomedical science from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and St. Jude’s children’s Research
Hospital in Memphis TN, a bachelor’s of science degree in biochemistry/chemistry from the University of California San Diego and has trained as a postdoc at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute with Dr. Bruce Ames. Her research on the role of insulin signaling in protein misfolding commonly found in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, was conducted at the prestigious Salk Institute for Biological Sciences.

Rhonda’s podcast and website, both called Found My Fitness, discuss topics such as the role of micronutrient deficiencies in diseases of aging, the benefits of exposing the body to hormetic stressors such as exercise, fasting, sauna use or various forms of cold exposure, and the importance of mindfulness, stress reduction and sleep on health.

In this episode we discuss Rhonda’s new publication on the role of the APOE4 gene in Alzheimer’s Disease, and why eating fish but not taking fish oil DHA supplements help slow the progression of the disease for carriers. We also touch on how we both approach healthy pregnancies and Rhonda’s personal nutrition strategies.

Related Links:

iWi Algae-based omega-3 phospholipids  – fact sheet

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Show details (links don’t work on mobile devices): 

3:21 – How Rhonda helped Darya get pregnant the first time.

6:55 – Apparently, daily sauna use is not a good form of birth control.

9:21 – The APOE-4 gene––what it is and why it matters.

18:42 – Why getting good sleep is crucial for lowering an APOE-4 gene carrier’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s.

21:30 – Rhonda’s new publication explains how omega-3 DHA is transmitted to the brain differently in people who carry this gene.

24:08 – Eating fish versus taking fish oil DHA supplements.

27:26 – Why caviar isn’t just for special occasions.

31:07 – Why supplement companies have to distill fish oil, the downside of purified fish oil and what Rhonda suggests instead.

34:30 – It’s OK to eat fish roe when you are pregnant, just find a trusted source.

36:57 – How much fish should I be consuming on a weekly basis?

38:07 – An alternative source of omega-3 DHA for vegetarians.

41:35 – How to find out if you are a APOE-4 gene carrier.

45:27 – Engage in this type of exercise to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s, improve deep sleep and keep your brain healthy.

46:43 – How accurate is the Oura Ring for tracking sleep? + The difference between REM sleep and deep sleep.

49:26 – Rhonda’s nutrition strategy.

53:23 – Why she chooses Vital Choice Salmon….

54:15 – and focuses on certain nutrients more than others.

57:30 – Why Darya is skeptical of functional foods.

58:59 – Things to avoid during pregnancy.

1:03:21 – Is it safe to consume detoxifying foods when you are pregnant?

1:06:13 – Find Dr. Rhonda Patrick on the Found My Fitness podcast, www.foundmyfitness.com and @foundmyfitness on social media.