Welcome to Ben Greenfield’s Weekly Roundup!
In this weekly post, I share with you my most interesting discoveries of the week, including the latest news on the fronts of fitness, nutrition, health, wellness, biohacking, and anti-aging research. I also recap my upcoming events and special announcements so you can keep up with opportunities to learn, giveaways, discounts, and more!
New Discoveries
Sedation ≠ Restorative Sleep: *Here’s* How Cannabis-Based Sleep Aids Impact Your REM Sleep (According to New Science) 🌙
A brand-new pilot trial put cannabis-based sleep aids under the microscope, and the results might surprise (and disappoint you).
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, researchers gave adults with clinical insomnia a nighttime dose of 200 mg of CBD plus 10 mg of THC, and then tracked their sleep using high-density electroencephalography (EEG)—a brain-wave monitoring tool that maps electrical activity during sleep.
Compared to the placebo, the cannabinoid combination actually reduced total sleep time by ~25 minutes and decreased REM (rapid eye movement) sleep by ~34 minutes. It also delayed REM onset by over an hour.
Why does this matter?
REM sleep—the latest stage of the sleep cycle characterized by increased brain activity—is critical for memory consolidation, emotional processing, and restoration. Chronic suppression of REM, as seen with THC and some sleeping pills, can leave you feeling groggy, less resilient, and more prone to mood disturbances.
Interestingly, participants in this particular study didn’t show measurable impairments in alertness the next day, but they did report slightly more daytime sleepiness.
Based on these findings, here are some takeaways for you to consider:
- Don’t assume “natural” means safe. Cannabinoids might be better alternatives to some sleep meds, but they can still disrupt sleep architecture, especially REM sleep. The exact balance between CBD and THC determines whether you experience calming benefits, sedation, or negative effects like grogginess, REM suppression, or anxiety.
- CBD-heavy blends can actually amplify the effects of THC. CBD is capable of increasing blood levels of THC by interfering with how the liver breaks it down (specifically, CBD inhibits CYP450 enzymes, which are responsible for metabolizing THC). The result is that THC stays in your system longer and at higher concentrations, meaning even if a formula is “CBD-heavy,” the THC inside it might hit harder than expected, especially in sensitive or cannabis-naïve people.
- Focus on safer steps first. Make an effort to get daytime light exposure (especially via morning sunlight), limit or block evening blue-light exposure, establish circadian consistency (by sticking to the same sleep/wake times), and try proven sleep enhancers like supplementing with magnesium, glycine, or tart cherry.
- Start low and slow. If you do want to explore cannabinoids, which isn’t necessarily a bad idea overall, start with very low THC (or CBD-dominant options) and monitor how it impacts your sleep quality—not just the duration, but how it feels and how you function the next day.
To sum it up: THC and CBD might sedate you, but sedation is not the same as restorative sleep.
Protect your REM cycles first and foremost, since this has a major impact on your mood and productivity the following day.
P.S.: While the study above shows that *sedating* yourself with CBD or THC for sleep doesn’t always equal fully restorative rest, these compounds can help ease stress, calm the nervous system, support recovery, and even reduce inflammation.
That’s why I keep Element Health’s Full Spectrum Maximum Strength CBD Oil on hand—whether I’m traveling, under pressure, or just need to take the edge off. I’ll use a dropper or two of the oil, or sometimes one or two gummies, depending on the situation. If you want to try it yourself, you can use code Ben15 to save 15% off your order.
Want to discover more about how to experience the upsides of CBD, THC, and full-spectrum hemp, without the common pitfalls? You can check out these resources to understand how dosing, ratios, and delivery methods can make all the difference:
Your Health & Wellness Hub Just Received a Fresh New Look—Explore LIFE Network’s Beautifully Redesigned Experience 🎉
Too often, your health and wellness journey feels scattered: one place for podcasts, another for recipes, another for Q&As, and endless searching just to find what actually works.
That’s why we recently redesigned LIFE Network—to make it easier than ever to access the guidance, resources, and community you need to thrive.
Now, everything you need to live a healthy, optimized life exists in one sleek, easy-to-use space, including:
✨ Direct Access to Experts: Tap into premium content from world-class health leaders, delivering cutting-edge workouts, nutrition plans, recipes, and wellness insights designed to help transform your body and mind.
👥 Like-Minded People to Share Your Journey With: Join uplifting groups and forums where you can connect, ask questions, share wins, and grow alongside others who share your passion for health and longevity.
🥗 Recipes & Tools: Access simple, nourishing recipes and resources to fuel your lifestyle, making healthy choices easier and more enjoyable.
🤖 “Ask Ben” AI: Get personalized answers anytime from my AI, trained on decades of my health and wellness content—your 24/7 resource for quick, reliable guidance.
✨ New Feature—Vetted Wellness Spots: Discover curated “Places” that truly support your health—from seed-oil-free restaurants to organic markets, gyms, and more. Each spot is handpicked so you can fuel your body with the best.
With expert guidance, community support, and trusted recommendations, this is your shortcut to healthier living and your launchpad to lasting change.
👉 You can click here to explore the new website today!
*Here’s* How to Receive Coaching, Workouts & Biohacking Support—with TRIUMPH Coaching
I get it—navigating your health and fitness in today’s world can feel like chasing a moving target. One week it’s about your macros, the next it’s wearables and peptide stacks.
When was the last time you had an actual team helping you sort through the noise, guiding you step by step based on your unique biomarkers, goals, and lifestyle?
With TRIUMPH Coaching, you gain access to elite-level support without the guesswork.
We have different coaching plans to meet you wherever you are. Work 1-on-1 with one of my expert coaches, or as part of a group. Whatever you choose, you’ll be rooted in real-time adjustments and results. If your goals involve optimizing VO2 max, chasing longevity, or just trying to build muscle and mobility right from your living room, we’ve got you covered.
Want to explore your TRIUMPH coaching options?
Fill out our coaching form, and one of our expert coaches will reach out to discuss how to help you achieve extraordinary fitness and peak performance.
This Week in Health & Performance: What the Latest Research Says
☕ Coffee’s Hidden Catch: Love adding cream and sugar to your coffee? This habit can wipe out coffee’s natural benefits for longevity and cardiovascular protection, according to a new meta-analysis (study here).
🧬 Male Fertility Boosters: A massive meta-analysis of 50 randomized controlled trials with 5,266 men found supplements like alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ10, L-carnitine, selenium, and zinc + folic acid significantly improved sperm quality (read the study).
💩 Poop Pills for Longevity?: Fecal Microbiota Transplants (FMT) from preconditioned healthy donors show promise in rejuvenating the gut microbiome, promoting healthy aging, and potentially extending lifespan, although regulatory and safety concerns remain (full study here).
🌱 Microplastics & the Gut: Want to flush out microplastics? Adequate soluble fiber and probiotics can help enhance elimination and protect gut health, according to new research (study here).
Key Takeaway: From what you put in your coffee cup to the state of your gut microbiome, simple daily choices—like your fiber intake, supplement choices, and even future therapies like FMT—can profoundly shape fertility, longevity, and resilience.
Want to dive deeper? Click the links above to explore the research, and click here to follow me on X for all the latest health and performance news hot off the press!
Product Of The Week
::: Help Slow Down Aging with 20% off Full-Spectrum Minerals :::
I talk a lot about working smarter, not harder, and about making small, strategic changes that compound over time to keep you looking, feeling, and performing your best.
One of those small daily changes (and one of my biggest secrets for slowing down aging) is protecting against mineral depletion.
As you age, your demand for minerals goes way up, causing you to need more of the following:
Zinc and selenium: Critical nutrients for skin health, collagen production, and wrinkle defense.
Calcium, iron, and boron: Minerals that support metabolism and promote healthy body composition.
Magnesium and potassium: Essential elements that maintain muscle function, regulate electrolyte balance, and enable deep, restorative sleep.
Chromium: A trace mineral important for maintaining a stable mood and supporting brain function.
The problem?
Due to depleted soils and declining food quality, even the cleanest diet usually won’t meet your mineral needs.
That’s why I use BEAM Minerals.
Instead of popping a dozen different capsules every day, I just take two capfuls of their liquid minerals every morning: one capful of their Electrolyze and one of Micro-BOOST.
They taste like water, they’re nearly 100% bioavailable, and your body absorbs them within minutes.
These formulas are also loaded with fulvic and humic complexes, which are powerful antioxidants and transport molecules that shuttle minerals deep into your cells, where they boost mitochondrial energy production and fight inflammation.
If you want an all-in-one, full-spectrum mineral solution to replenish your stores, support recovery, and feel decades younger—especially if you’re navigating the hormonal shifts of menopause or just looking to slow down aging—give BEAM Minerals a try.
You can use code BEN here to save 20% on your BEAM Minerals order.
Podcasts I Recorded This Week:
Can ADHD and Dyslexia *REALLY* Be Cured with Vision Training? How Retraining the Eye-Brain Connection Transforms Reading, Focus, Concussion Recovery & Peak Performance — with Dr. Bryce Appelbaum
