DEEP DIVE SESSION

💃 Creatine Has Got Some Mojo

The name conjures images of gym bros grunting under mountains of iron, fueled by shaker bottles filled with mysterious powders.

While creatine has long been a staple in the fitness community, its benefits extend far beyond bulging biceps and bench press PRs. Recent research has illuminated its potential in various aspects of health, moving it from a gym-rat stereotype to a scientifically backed supplement with diverse applications.

Creatine, naturally found in small amounts in foods like red meat and fish, plays a crucial role in energy production within cells. It primarily functions by increasing the availability of phosphocreatine, which helps regenerate ATP, the cell's primary energy currency.

This is why it’s popular among athletes – it can improve performance in short bursts of high-intensity activity.

But the story doesn't end there. Recent studies have explored creatine's potential beyond the gym.

Research suggests it may play a role in cognitive function, with studies showing improvements in memory and processing speed, particularly in tasks requiring quick thinking. Its potential in neurodegenerative diseases is also being investigated, with some promising early findings suggesting a protective effect on brain cells. Furthermore, creatine's role in muscle health as we age is gaining attention, as it may help combat age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia).

So what are some brands that we believe you can trust?

Start with this list (This is NOT an advertisement):

1. Optimum Nutrition

2. MuscleTech

3. NOW Sports

4. Nutrabolt (C4 Energy)

5. Myprotein

6. Transparent Labs

7. Kaged Muscle

8. Bodybuilding.com (their own brand)  

9. Garden of Life

10. Thorne

By the way, it’s a women’s world. And that goes for creatine supplementation as well.

Women can also reap its benefits, particularly concerning bone health and muscle mass, which are crucial throughout life and especially during and after menopause. Studies indicate creatine supplementation, combined with resistance training, can help maintain and even increase bone density in postmenopausal women, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

It also supports muscle function and strength, which is vital for overall mobility and independence as women age.

Let's be honest, creatine's reputation hasn't always been the most sophisticated.

Decades ago, it was often associated with the "meathead" gym stereotype – the guy who spends more time flexing in the mirror than actually lifting. We all LOATHE that guy.

Fortunately, we’re moving past that.

Whether you're an athlete looking to improve performance, a student aiming to boost cognitive function, or a woman concerned about bone health, creatine might just be the supplement you've been overlooking.

STORY OF THE WEEK

🥤One Cup Of The Youth Juice, Please

Imagine waking up one day to find that you've magically shed years off your appearance, all thanks to a miraculous "Benjamin Button" vaccine. Picture the chaos that would ensue as formerly wrinkled septuagenarians suddenly look like they're ready to hit the club scene.

"Sorry, officer, I swear I'm old enough to drink. I just got the youth juice yesterday!"

The potential for scandalous escapades would be off the charts.

Suddenly, retirees might find themselves competing for youthful jobs or trying to sneak into college parties.

Dating apps would become a minefield of age deception.

And let's not even get started on the havoc this would wreak on the anti-aging cream industry. Thousands of companies up in smoke.

Poof! 💨

However, as amusing as the idea of a "Benjamin Button" vaccine might be, the reality of vaccine research and development is far more complex and serious. While scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science are indeed working on approaches to reduce brain aging, it's crucial to understand that this research is still in its early stages.

The development of any vaccine requires rigorous testing and safety evaluations, and as we ALL KNOW with the global experimentation of the COVID-19 vaccines, ongoing safety monitoring for years, if not decades, is necessary before this gets the green light.

The reality is that we're still a loooooooong way from turning back the clock with a magic shot. Like Avatar 2 long.

So, for now, we'll have to stick to the tried-and-true methods of staying young at heart: dancing to disco, wearing skinny jeans, and pretending to keep up with Gen Z slang.

• Pitchbook - Function Health cashes in. 💰 Redpoint Ventures is leading a new funding round, valuing the personalized lab testing start-up at $2.5 billion post-money valuation. Austin-based Function Health offers a suite of lab tests that can for early biomarkers of disease. A membership package runs at $499 annually.

• CyclingWeekly - Somewhere, Lance Armstrong is smiling with glee. Boosting your VO2 max could be one of the most powerful ways to extend your life, according to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, who tracked 5,000 middle-aged men over 46 years. The results showed that each unit increase in VO2 max was associated with a 45-day increase in lifespan.

• TimesEntertainment - Hitting the 100-milestone earns anybody a seat at the longevity table. Find out what 100-year old professor Dr. John Scharffenberg shares as common risk factors that ruin health and reduce longevity.

• Forbes - Business leaders continue to obsess over AI and climate change, but are they missing a larger pillar of disruption? How about their aging workforce. Companies will need to redesign work for longer-multi-phase careers, and actively build intergenerational teams. The question is what companies will step up and start planning for the future, today.

We know, you can’t stop hearing about red light therapy. 🚨🚨🚨

It’s all over TikTok. It’s all over Instagram. Your favorite podcast host swears by it.

So what exactly is it? Let’s break it down in the simplest terms: red light therapy, the skincare trend that's lighting up faces across America, promises a rosy glow without the UV damage. This non-invasive treatment uses low-level red light to potentially reduce wrinkles, heal wounds, and combat acne. It's like giving your cells a disco party, encouraging them to boogie down and produce more collagen.

So what’s the catch?

While generally safe, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Those with photosensitivity, certain eye conditions, or active skin cancers should proceed with caution or avoid it altogether. Long-term effects are still under the microscope, so it's wise to consult a dermatologist before basking in the red glow.

The bottom line - DO. YOUR. RESEARCH.

It’s early days for the red light wave, and you may have to run some R&D on yourself before you decide if it’s right for you.

In the meantime, start here to learn about the 7 best LED face masks, based on months of testing from the Forbes team.

And while you’re learning about devices, give yourself a health check from Mayo Clinic’s breakdown on all things red light therapy.

Sounds like a blast. But if you ain’t up for that, how about you just go the f*%k to sleep.

Join the conversation on X to learn more.

We’ve cut through the noise so you don’t have to.

Check out our March 2025 Top 25 list of the best conversations on all things longevity and health.

We know we’re not immortal. 

But we can try.

Tell us what you think of us.