He had been buried alive in April 1999, spending a week underground in a plastic coffin. He ate and drank nothing but a few tablespoons of water each day.
He had been frozen alive in November 2000, encasing himself in a block of ice for nearly 64 hours. The ice was broken away with chainsaws, and he spent a month in recovery before he could walk again.
Impressive, yes. But these stunts didn"t satisfy him. Looking for bigger and bolder challenges, he set his sights on the breath-holding world record. How hard could it be to fake? He tried having a breathing tube the size of a vacuum hose pushed down his throat under sedation. It failed. All of his attempts failed. Then it occurred to him that he could simply bite the bullet and take the craziest approach of all: actually holding his breath.
Traveling from Navy SEAL training to the tropics, he figured it out. Then, for four months, David held the Guinness world record for oxygen-a.s.sisted static apnea (holding your breath after breathing pure oxygen): 17 minutes and 4.4 seconds. 17 minutes and 4.4 seconds.
His record was surpa.s.sed by Tom Sietas on September 19, 2008, but this wasn"t surprising. Tom is a professional free diver and built for it. David was an anomaly, a product of pure conditioning.
This is why, when I b.u.mped into him at the medical conference TEDMED, I begged him to train me. See, I am also an anomaly. When I was born premature, my left lung collapsed. I couldn"t remember the last time I"d held my breath for more than one minute.
He agreed, and I joined a small group in a closed-door training session the next evening. The training lasted 15 minutes.
The results?
Before: 40 secs. 40 secs.After: 3 mins. and 33 secs. (!!!) 3 mins. and 33 secs. (!!!) Out of roughly 12 TEDMED attendees he taught, all but one beat Harry Houdini"s lifelong record of 3 minutes and 30 seconds. One woman held her breath for more than five minutes. Roni Zeiger MD, Google"s Chief Health Strategist, topped out at an unbelievable 4:05 and remembers the experience vividly: "We were tricking our bodies into doing something, and the tingling in my fingers and lightheadedness made that clear. For me, it was like skydiving-I felt powerful, vulnerable, am lucky to have done it, and I probably won"t do it again."
The David Blaine Method DISCLAIMER: This is for informational purposes only. Do not attempt in water or without proper supervision.
Here"s how we all did it.
First and foremost, the disclaimer is not a joke. David himself has almost died on several occasions. See the video in "Tools and Tricks" for a visual warning: you will watch firsthand as David goes into convulsions underwater.
The notes that became this chapter were taken on a sc.r.a.p of paper while performing the exercises. Much of it was written after I lost almost all sensation in my hands following the purging exercises, and after colors began to morph. After 3 minutes and 20 seconds, I was shaking.
FYI, the above side effects are all common.
DEFINITIONS.
Deep breathing: Taking a big breath in through the mouth, holding for one second, and then exhaling for 10 seconds through your almost-closed mouth with tongue pressed against your lower teeth. It should be a hissing exhalation and make a Taking a big breath in through the mouth, holding for one second, and then exhaling for 10 seconds through your almost-closed mouth with tongue pressed against your lower teeth. It should be a hissing exhalation and make a tsssssss tsssssss sound. sound. All breathing and exercises-both inhalation and exhalation-are performed through the mouth. All breathing and exercises-both inhalation and exhalation-are performed through the mouth.Purging: A strong exhalation as if you were trying to blow a toy sailboat across a pool, followed by a big but faster inhalation. David"s cheeks were puffed out as he demonstrated the exhalation. (Imagine the Big Bad Wolf blowing the pigs" houses down.) Be careful not to heave or rock back and forth, as this wastes oxygen. Keep as still as possible. A strong exhalation as if you were trying to blow a toy sailboat across a pool, followed by a big but faster inhalation. David"s cheeks were puffed out as he demonstrated the exhalation. (Imagine the Big Bad Wolf blowing the pigs" houses down.) Be careful not to heave or rock back and forth, as this wastes oxygen. Keep as still as possible.Semi-purging: Breathing somewhere between the above two. More forceful than deep breathing but less forceful than full purging. Used for recovering after each time trial. Breathing somewhere between the above two. More forceful than deep breathing but less forceful than full purging. Used for recovering after each time trial.
THE STEPS.
All durations are in MIN:SEC format, and everything was done seated.
1:30 deep breathing1:15 purging (if you feel like you"re going to pa.s.s out, do it less intensely)Hold breath for a target 1:30, no moreAfter that hold:Take 3 semi-purge breaths1:30 deep breathing1:30 purgingHold breath for a target 2:30, no moreAfter that hold:Take 3 semi-purge breaths2:00 deep breathing1:45 purgingHold breath for as long as possibleAfter exhalation:Take 310 hard semi-purge breaths until you recover Other Observations David"s record using the above method is 7:47, and his heart rate dropped below 20 beats per minute when he did it.
Supervision is critical, and David had us move our right index finger slightly every 30 seconds or so while holding our breath to indicate we were all right. More motion would waste O2.
He also suggested going from A to Z in your head during time trials, visualizing friends whose names start with each letter as you go. This was incredibly useful. Use celebrities or historical figures when needed. This serves to distract you from the fact that you"re holding your breath.
The more frequently you check your time, the shorter your ultimate time will be. Too much focus on the time creates tension. All of the test subjects, including me, had a harder time holding their breath when David announced the time every five seconds instead of every 30 seconds. In subsequent attempts, I had someone else watch the time for me and announce at two minutes, three minutes, then every 10 seconds.
After taking your big inhalations for the time trials, do not let any air out whatsoever. Holding it all will improve times and is important protective training for water-based breath holding. Why? If you pa.s.s out in the water (not good), you want the uncontrolled release of bubbles to indicate to those supervising you that you"ve pa.s.sed out.
It is easier to hold your breath if you haven"t eaten for four to six hours. It is also easier to hold your breath if you have less body ma.s.s to feed oxygen. David will purposefully lose 30+ pounds during serious training to improve his lung-to-body volume ratio.
Remember: don"t be stupid. Never practice this in water.
Better still, leave it to the professionals altogether.
TOOLS AND TRICKS.
David Blaine"s TEDMED Talk (www.fourhourbody.com/blaine) This is a recording of David"s emotionally charged and fascinating TED presentation on magic and his preparation for a record-breaking 17+ minutes underwater. This is a recording of David"s emotionally charged and fascinating TED presentation on magic and his preparation for a record-breaking 17+ minutes underwater.
Think these techniques can be taken lightly, practiced on your own in water? Think again and don"t commit suicide. Watch 10:40 in the above video and then watch it again: that"s what near-death looks like. Then watch it a third time. It will give you a healthy respect for what a mistake can cost you: your life. Do not attempt any of this in water (even if it"s just your face in water). If you pa.s.s out, drowning in a few inches is the same as drowning in the deep end of a pool.
Performance Freediving: The Official School of Kirk Krack (www.fourhourbody.com/krack) Kirk Krack is the professional freediving trainer who prepared David Blaine for his record. Kirk has worked with eight current world-record holders. His beginner course (which is held over two and a half days) includes personalized instruction from world-record holders and a one-to-four instructor/student ratio. As captain of Team Canada for the Canadian a.s.sociation of Freediving and Apnea, he has successfully coached and managed the women"s team to two first-place finishes at the last two world championships, and his experience in technical diving has helped him achieve depths of 152 meters (500 feet). Kirk Krack is the professional freediving trainer who prepared David Blaine for his record. Kirk has worked with eight current world-record holders. His beginner course (which is held over two and a half days) includes personalized instruction from world-record holders and a one-to-four instructor/student ratio. As captain of Team Canada for the Canadian a.s.sociation of Freediving and Apnea, he has successfully coached and managed the women"s team to two first-place finishes at the last two world championships, and his experience in technical diving has helped him achieve depths of 152 meters (500 feet).
Manual of Freediving: Underwater on a Single Breath by Umberto Pelizzari and Stefano Tovaglieri ( by Umberto Pelizzari and Stefano Tovaglieri (www.fourhourbody.com/freediving) This is the freediver"s bible. It"s a comprehensive manual on how to hold your breath, dive deeper, and swim underwater longer. The book includes ill.u.s.trations of underwater exercises, finning techniques, and selected yoga postures to enhance lung capacity.
PowerLung Sport (www.fourhourbody.com/powerlung) This hand-held air-restricting device improves breathing endurance and is popular among not only swimmers but also long-distance runners, high- alt.i.tude climbers, singers, and even asthmatics. It"s great for travel, and for training around injuries. This hand-held air-restricting device improves breathing endurance and is popular among not only swimmers but also long-distance runners, high- alt.i.tude climbers, singers, and even asthmatics. It"s great for travel, and for training around injuries.
Static Apnea Training Tables (www.fourhourbody.com/apnea) Customizable tables used by aspiring freedivers to safely practice apnea when out of the water. Customizable tables used by aspiring freedivers to safely practice apnea when out of the water.
The Lung Vacuuming Technique (www.ftrain.com/lungvacuuming.html) This 20-second lung reboot is used by opera singers to regulate breathing. Useful for both sports training and minimizing stage fright. This 20-second lung reboot is used by opera singers to regulate breathing. Useful for both sports training and minimizing stage fright.
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End of Chapter Notes 5. I know nothing of this type of behavior, of course. I know nothing of this type of behavior, of course.
ON LONGER AND.
BETTER LIFE.
LIVING FOREVER.
Vaccines, Bleeding, and Other Fun There is nothing in biology yet found that indicates the inevitability of death.-Richard Feynman, co-recipient of 1965 n.o.bel Prize in PhysicsNot life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued.-Socrates This will be the shortest chapter on life-extension ever written.
Let it begin, as all good short chapters do, with a story of two monkeys: Canto and Owen. Housed at the University of Wisconsin, these two rhesus monkeys are as close to identical as possible, with one exception. Canto is on a diet.
Specifically, his calories are restricted to 30% less than normal. He is part of a semi-fasting group of monkeys that has been on the animal equivalent of Weight Watchers for two decades. Owen, in the feasting control group, is a stark contrast. He eats whatever the h.e.l.l he wants. To date, in this 20+ year experiment, 37 percent of the "eat, drink, and be merry" group have died due to causes related to old age. The calorie-counting group has a much lower death rate, for two decades. Owen, in the feasting control group, is a stark contrast. He eats whatever the h.e.l.l he wants. To date, in this 20+ year experiment, 37 percent of the "eat, drink, and be merry" group have died due to causes related to old age. The calorie-counting group has a much lower death rate, almost two-thirds lower almost two-thirds lower.
Cancel our reservations at the Cheesecake Factory! In fact, it"s time to cancel dinner forever!
Or, wait a second, is that really all there is to the story? Roger Cohen, whose father, a doctor, studied baboons all his life, shared a less sensationalized perspective in a New York Times New York Times op-ed t.i.tled "The Meaning of Life," excerpted here: op-ed t.i.tled "The Meaning of Life," excerpted here:
Which brings me to low-cal Canto and high-cal Owen: Canto looks drawn, weary, ashen and miserable in his thinness, mouth slightly agape, features pinched, eyes blank, his expression screaming, "Please, no, not another plateful of seeds!"Well-fed Owen, by contrast, is a happy camper with a wry smile, every inch the laid-back simian, plump, eyes twinkling, full mouth relaxed, skin glowing, exuding wisdom as if he"s just read Kierkegaard and concluded that "Life must be lived forward, but can only be understood backward."It"s the difference between the guy who got the marbleized rib-eye and the guy who got the oh-so-lean filet. Or between the guy who got a Chateau Grand Pontet St. Emilion with his brie and the guy who got water. As Edgar notes in King Lear, "Ripeness is all." You don"t get to ripeness by eating apple peel for breakfast....When life extension supplants life quality as a goal, you get the desolation of Canto the monkey. Living to 120 holds zero appeal for me. Canto looks like he"s itching to be put out of his misery....We don"t understand what the mind secretes. The process of aging remains full of enigma. But I"d bet on jovial Owen outliving wretched Canto....Laughter extends life. There"s little of it in the low-cal world and little doubt pudgy Owen will have the last laugh. 1 1 If your goal is to live as long as possible, there is a long list, an endless list, of things to avoid. The good news is that life-extension need not be complicated.
For the gents, it may be as simple as blocking a few websites and curbing a little maleness. The pro-e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n lobby slipped up in 1992, when the New York Times New York Times broke the story: broke the story: IN W WORM, AT L LEAST, MAKING S SPERM IS F FOUND TO S SHORTEN A M MALE"S L LIFE See, Dr. Wayne Van Voorhies of the University of Arizona had allowed nematodes, also called "roundworms," to kill themselves by copulating. In his research, nematodes prevented from mating lived an average of 11.1 days. Nematodes allowed to drop their drawers lived a scant 8.1 days. Never got to see the grandkids grow up, never got to play golf at St. Andrews.
It"s a sad tale of weary s.c.r.o.t.u.ms (or whatever worms have as s.c.r.o.t.u.ms).
"The genes and biochemical processes nematodes use are the same as those that humans and other mammals use," elaborated Dr. Philip Anderson of the University of Wisconsin.
The Times Times connected the logical dots in their conclusion: "Ceaseless sperm production takes its toll on a male, perhaps requiring the use of complex enzymes or biochemical processes that have harmful metabolic effects...the difference in lifespan between men and women [women live an average of 6 years longer] just may be linked to sperm production." connected the logical dots in their conclusion: "Ceaseless sperm production takes its toll on a male, perhaps requiring the use of complex enzymes or biochemical processes that have harmful metabolic effects...the difference in lifespan between men and women [women live an average of 6 years longer] just may be linked to sperm production."
Finally, no more ejaculating! It"s like finding out that flossing is bad for you. No more tiring s.e.x or aching wrists. Ha.s.sle removed. And you might live 37% longer!
In the quest for longer life, it pays dividends to err on the side of caution, to avoid any unnecessary risks or unknowns. To live, after all, you don"t need need much. Air, water, gruel with some protein, and shelter will cover all the bases. One could therefore suggest no venturing outside the home, no driving or traveling, and certainly no exposure to other humans, who could be sick with cat flu or diaper rash. much. Air, water, gruel with some protein, and shelter will cover all the bases. One could therefore suggest no venturing outside the home, no driving or traveling, and certainly no exposure to other humans, who could be sick with cat flu or diaper rash.
Naturally, this level of risk-avoidance leads to what we all want: a long-a.s.s s.h.i.tty life.
But let"s a.s.sume you"re one of the few (billion) people who wants a degree of fun and freedom in life. The real question then becomes not "How can I extend life at all costs?" but rather "How can I increase the length length of my life without severely decreasing my of my life without severely decreasing my quality quality of life?" of life?"
The most basic approach would be to eat, drink, and be merry, and believe that a few more laughs and tasty calories will beat most lab theories in the long run. I believe this to be true.
The second complementary approach, which can be followed right along with the first, is to consider therapies that are minimally inconvenient and that, based on the scientific literature, should work in humans.
THE S SHORT L LIST.
The short list of therapies should then be ethically filtered. "Ethics" can be nebulous, but here"s an example: If you"re a woman and want to buy cancer insurance, you could opt to have a full-term pregnancy before age 20. Some scientists believe it could be "the most effective natural means of protecting against breast cancer" due to the hormone hCG.
Should you therefore have children before age 20? I suggest that life-extension is not a good enough reason, particularly since another life is involved. This option is therefore omitted from our list.
Separating the wheat from the chaff, we might consider four candidates that make the cut:
* Resveratrol* Injections of the immunosuppressant drug rapamycin2* Alzheimer"s vaccines* Stem cell therapies
These might just get you to 200 or beyond, especially if used in combination.
And I"m avoiding them.
But...why?
I believe, as do some scientists, that focusing on global global therapies (drugs or treatments with broad molecular effects) without long-term human data is barking up the wrong tree, a tree fraught with unpredictable side effects. therapies (drugs or treatments with broad molecular effects) without long-term human data is barking up the wrong tree, a tree fraught with unpredictable side effects.
Take resveratrol, for example, which is currently available over- the- counter. It is effective in extending lifespan in nearly all species tested, but it can also block or activate estrogen receptors. Could this affect other metabolic or hormonal feedback loops, disrupting fertility if taken routinely? It"s impossible to say, which is why I"ll use resveratrol short-term at higher doses for endurance while tracking blood markers, but I won"t use it indefinitely for life-extension. Telomerase activators like TA-65, another example, are purported to extend our chromosomal countdown clocks called "telomeres." TA-65 can cost up to $15,000 per year. Is it possible that, by amplifying cell replication, you increase the likelihood of dangerous cancerous growth? Perhaps. It"s simply beyond our technology to guarantee one outcome or another, so I"m avoiding TA-65 as well.
But if not in global therapies, where is the promised land?
Until we can go to Walmart and get a RoboCop RoboCop makeover with regenerative medicine, there are a few alternatives in a second short list. makeover with regenerative medicine, there are a few alternatives in a second short list.
These are the protocols I am currently using.
All of them are low-cost, low-tech, and low-risk. Most of them also provide athletic or body composition benefits, even if their life-extension effects are later debunked: 1. CYCLES OF 510 GRAMS OF CREATINE MONOHYDRATE (COST: $20/MONTH) Creatine monohydrate, popular among power athletes since its commercialization in 1993, has recently become a candidate for minimizing or preventing the development of Alzheimer"s, Parkinson"s, and Huntington"s diseases.
There are almost 20 years of published research involving human use of creatine monohydrate. Since my family has Alzheimer"s and Parkinson"s on both paternal and maternal sides, it is low-cost insurance: I"m ingesting 510 grams of creatine monohydrate powder per day for two consecutive weeks every two months. If you choose to use this protocol, I suggest tracking and trending hepatic enzymes, BUN, and all the usual blood testing suspects to ensure no kidney problems. Complications are rare, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Nowhere is this truer than in life- extension.
2. INTERMITTENT FASTING (IF) AND PROTEIN CYCLING (COST: FREE).
What if poor, hungry Canto only needed to fast on occasion to extend his life?
Constant caloric deprivation isn"t without risks, after all. The decline in s.e.x hormone production alone can cause amenorrhea (cessation of menstruation) and bone thinning, among other problems.
It turns out that you can mimic, even exceed, the supposed life- extending effects of caloric restriction with intermittent fasting (IF). This can be true even if you consume twice as many calories as normal during your "on" times, resulting in no total decrease in weekly calories.
There are several versions of IF and semi-IF protocols popular among experimental subcultures: Fast-5: Fast for 19 hours beginning at bedtime, followed by five hours of eating as much as necessary to satisfy hunger. This is popular for moderate weight loss, which typically appears starting in the third week and averages one pound of loss per week thereafter. Fast for 19 hours beginning at bedtime, followed by five hours of eating as much as necessary to satisfy hunger. This is popular for moderate weight loss, which typically appears starting in the third week and averages one pound of loss per week thereafter.3 Some research suggests IF confers the same life-extension benefits as caloric restriction only when calories are consumed during daylight hours. This would, if accurate, make the Fast-5 better for fat loss than longevity.
ADCR: Alternate Day Caloric Restriction (ADCR) requires that calories be cut 5080% every other day. It has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, autoimmune disease, and even asthma after just two weeks. Alternate Day Caloric Restriction (ADCR) requires that calories be cut 5080% every other day. It has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, autoimmune disease, and even asthma after just two weeks.
Protein cycling: Dr. Ron Mignery, author of the Dr. Ron Mignery, author of the Protein-Cycling Diet Protein-Cycling Diet, suggests that even a single day per week of restricting protein to no more than 5% of maintenance calories can produce effects similar to extended caloric restriction.
If the mechanism of IF or CR is a genetic self-preservation response,4 protein cycling makes sense. There are no essential dietary carbohydrates. Simply reducing calories (or carbs) wouldn"t necessarily qualify as a biological emergency. On the other hand, even brief absences of essential amino acids like lysine might be enough to flip the switch. The "switch" in our context is triggering a process of cellular housekeeping called protein cycling makes sense. There are no essential dietary carbohydrates. Simply reducing calories (or carbs) wouldn"t necessarily qualify as a biological emergency. On the other hand, even brief absences of essential amino acids like lysine might be enough to flip the switch. The "switch" in our context is triggering a process of cellular housekeeping called autophagy, autophagy, the purpose of which is, in Dr. Mignery"s words, "to clear the cell of degraded and aggregated proteins that are not being handled by the other recycling mechanisms of the cell." In principle, if you clear the junk out faster than it builds up, you postpone or reverse aging. the purpose of which is, in Dr. Mignery"s words, "to clear the cell of degraded and aggregated proteins that are not being handled by the other recycling mechanisms of the cell." In principle, if you clear the junk out faster than it builds up, you postpone or reverse aging.
I"m currently experimenting with both 18-hour5 and one-day protein cycling, which I believe (and it"s pure conjecture) can also increase subsequent protein synthesis during overfeeding. For muscular growth phases, I have used the 18-hour protein cycling once per week precisely for this reason, usually ending between noon and 2 and one-day protein cycling, which I believe (and it"s pure conjecture) can also increase subsequent protein synthesis during overfeeding. For muscular growth phases, I have used the 18-hour protein cycling once per week precisely for this reason, usually ending between noon and 2 P.M P.M. on my Sat.u.r.day cheat day.
Below is a sample menu for one day of less than 5% protein, adapted from Dr. Mignery. It is distinctly non-Slow-Carb. Once you"ve cried a tear of dietary misery, I"ll tell you what I do: Miscellaneous breakfast-Breakfast can include wheat-based (lysine-deficient) products such as toast, m.u.f.fins, or bagels, provided that wheat is the only substantial source of protein, and its calories are heavily diluted with calories from non-protein sources (b.u.t.ter, sugar, juice, fruit, etc.).Toast with mushrooms, onions, and gravy-You can thicken the fat or drippings from meat with starch to make a gravy and drizzle it over the toast, mushrooms, and onions.Spinach with vinegar-Microwaved frozen spinach (<2 cups)="" can="" be="" flavored="" with="" any="" kind="" of="" vinegar="" for="" a="" near-protein-free="" dish="" with="" the="" warmth="" and="" chew="" of="" meat.meat="" subst.i.tutes-a="" microwaved="" slice="" of="" eggplant="" can="" fill="" a="" sandwich="" and="" give="" something="" of="" the="" shape="" and="" texture="" of="" a="" lunch="" meat.="" black="" olives="" can="" also="" provide="" something="" of="" the="" texture="" of="" meat="" without="" the="" protein.bean="" subst.i.tutes-beans="" and="" peas="" are="" fairly="" high="" in="" protein="" and="" cannot="" be="" eaten="" in="" the="" restriction="" phase="" of="" protein="" cycling.="" but="" you="" can="" subst.i.tute="" spheres="" of="" ca.s.sava="" starch="" called="" tapioca="" pearls.="" they="" are="" a="" staple="" of="" tropical="" cuisine="" and="" are="" available="" in="" a="" wide="" range="" of="" sizes="" and="" colors.="" you="" may="" be="" familiar="" with="" them="" if="" you="" have="" ever="" had="" bubble="">
So, here"s what I do: First, I drizzle fat gravy over a bowl of tapioca pearls.
Kidding. I fast following an early Friday dinner (6 P.M P.M.) and then, around 10 A.M A.M. the next morning (16 hours later), I eat 1 cup spinach with vinegar and spices, one slice of sourdough toast with lots of b.u.t.ter, and enjoy it all with a large gla.s.s of grapefruit juice. Delish. Sometime after noon, I"ll then head off to eat my usual chocolate croissants and continue cheat day as a binge monster.
3. THE LOST ART OF BLEEDING (COST: FREE).
Thought bloodletting went out of fashion around the time of the Salem witch trials? Not entirely.
I"m betting on a major resurgence, and it all has to do with excess iron.
More than estrogen, it"s thought to partially explain why post-menopausal (but not pre-menopausal) women have a similar incidence of heart attack to men. I"ve donated blood since 2001 to be on the safe side.
And I"m not alone. The New England Centenarian Study, conducted by Boston University"s School of Medicine, is the world"s largest and most comprehensive ongoing study of "centenarians," or people who live past 100. Dr. Tom Perls, director of the study and an a.s.sociate professor of medicine, gives blood every eight weeks to mimic the loss of iron due to menstruation, which he believes will increase his longevity: "Iron is a critical factor in our cells" ability to produce those nasty molecules called free radicals that play an important role in aging.... It may be as simple as having less iron in your body."
There is ample evidence that iron reduction through phlebotomy (bloodletting) can not only improve insulin sensitivity, but also reduce cancer-specific and all-cause deaths. High iron stores have been correlated to an increased number of heart attacks in otherwise symptom-free males, and blood donation has conversely been correlated to a decrease in "cardiovascular incidents."
Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades suggest aiming for blood ferritin levels of 50 mg/dl, which, if your levels aren"t over 400, can usually be achieved with 14 whole blood donations spread two months apart.6 No leeches required. If you"d like to increase the removal of pesticides and other environmental toxins normally stored in fat, you can do two things: schedule to donate a double portion of plasma, and drink a cup of caffeinated coffee about 60 minutes before going to the center. Donated blood will always contain such toxins, so you are not being a bad citizen by temporarily increasing their excretion. No leeches required. If you"d like to increase the removal of pesticides and other environmental toxins normally stored in fat, you can do two things: schedule to donate a double portion of plasma, and drink a cup of caffeinated coffee about 60 minutes before going to the center. Donated blood will always contain such toxins, so you are not being a bad citizen by temporarily increasing their excretion.
Though some scientists argue that iron depletion depletion is necessary for full cardiac benefits, I see no harm in acting on the positive implications of dozens of other studies. is necessary for full cardiac benefits, I see no harm in acting on the positive implications of dozens of other studies.