You’ve Been Lied to About Gluten… | Solosode #489

Ben describes undergoing these combined treatments as a 'nuts' medical tourism experience that produced immediate, dramatic subjective results: reduced sleep need to 5.5 hours, enormous energy, and high libido. He contrasts this to objective biomarkers, saying the subjective feeling of being 'Superman' was more striking than any lab value. The entire protocol was conducted under a physician at a regenerative clinic, and he plans to release a dedicated podcast on it. The legality is state-dependent; Texas allows such plasma exchanges. He frames it as a unique opportunity to test cutting-edge therapies.

Ben draws from his own bodybuilding days (reached 215 lbs at ~3% body fat in college) where he eschewed body part splits and focused almost entirely on deadlifts, cleans, jerks, squats, and presses. He cites specific research, like a Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research study showing squats beat leg press for leg mass, a 2020 Sports Medicine meta-analysis confirming deadlifts' superiority, and a 2017 European Journal of Sports Science study favoring free-weight bench press over machines. He also notes that weighted pull-ups/chin-ups are far better than lat pulldowns. He advocates doing active recovery (dynamic stretching, core work) during rest periods rather than phone scrolling.

He references the Weston A. Price Foundation approach, emphasizing nutrient density. He breaks down protein sources: eggs rich in leucine, grass-fed beef for creatine and iron, wild fish for omega-3s, raw milk/cheese/yogurt for growth factors, poultry as a secondary option, and legumes only after proper preparation to maximize amino acid availability. For fats, he's a fan of butter/ghee, coconut oil, and avocados for fat-soluble vitamins. On carbs, he warns that many gluten-free products are high glycemic and lower in fiber, and suggests whole food carb sources. He personally saves carbs for dinner to maintain daytime fat oxidation and sleep better. He also pushes liver, oysters, and shellfish for hard-to-get micronutrients.

He is explicit that you don't need dozens of supplements. He ranks creatine as 'dirt cheap' and essential. EAA can be pushed up to 40 g/day for rapid gains in high-demand contexts (actors prepping for roles). He divulges that he's co-founder of Kion (essential amino acids, colostrum, creatine, fish oil, whey), and a spokesperson for 10X Health (genetics-based supplements) and Vitaboom (travel pre/post workout packs). He suggests using 10X for personalized blood/genetics testing to dial in supplementation. As a practical note, he personally grabs Vitaboom packs when traveling and uses Kion at home.

Ben explains that many people self-diagnose NCGS based on symptom guessing, leading to unnecessary gluten restriction. He strongly recommends testing via Zoomer, which is available through his site's lab test portal, or through Cyrex. He describes it as a 'very simple blood test.' He ties this to the larger argument that many people who think they are gluten-sensitive are actually reacting to glyphosate, FODMAPs, or ultra-processed additives, and testing can rule out gluten so they can focus on the real culprits.

Ben introduces FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols) as a major overlooked cause of gut issues commonly blamed on gluten. He notes that wheat contains FODMAPs, so people eliminate wheat and feel better, mistakenly attributing relief to gluten. The Food Marble breath test device measures hydrogen/methane to indicate FODMAP malabsorption. He references studies showing a low-FODMAP diet outperforms gluten-free for IBS. For persistent cases, he outlines a SIBO eradication protocol from his book Boundless: a period of antimicrobials (oregano, berberine) combined with low-FODMAP eating, then retesting. He acknowledges that after clearing SIBO, one can often reintroduce many foods.

He begins by citing a 2024 Heliyon review that documented kettles, blenders, air fryers, toaster ovens, coffee makers, and plastic storage containers as significant microplastic contributors. He references a 2022 study showing a scratched Teflon pan releases 2.3 million particles. PFAS 'forever chemicals' are in non-stick coatings of pans, air fryers, slow cookers, and rice cookers; these can cause 'Teflon flu' from fumes. He then covers metal leaching: aluminum with acidic foods linked to dementia; lead/cadmium from poorly manufactured cookware; nickel/chromium from low-grade stainless steel. His solution framework: start with simple swaps—cutting board, spatula, then a good pan like the Always Pan, a ceramic air fryer, and a HEPA filter. He doesn't demand a full kitchen overhaul but stresses replacing daily-use plastic items.

Ben admits that despite his nuanced stance on gluten, he cannot resist bread rolls at steakhouses. He carries Gluten Guardian in his 'fanny pack' and uses it as a digestive aid when he eats gluten out. He frames it not as a license to overload on gluten, but as a practical tool for social situations. He explicitly says Bioptimizers is not a sponsor, just a product he relies on. This complements his overall message: gluten itself is not the enemy, but supporting digestion can mitigate transient issues.

Ben flew to Austin, Texas for the Health Optimization Summit and stayed to undergo cutting-edge procedures at Austin Regenerative Therapy under a doctor named K. The treatment spanned three days: he donated his own 43-year-old plasma and received fresh plasma from healthy young males. Following the exchange, the team performed micro-needling on his face and applied salmon sperm (a source of DNA and growth factors), joking about 'aquarium porn.' Then, in what he describes as an 'entire medical team huddled around my crotch,' he received seven Botox injections into the corpus cavernosum and glans to relax smooth muscle and increase blood flow, followed by shockwave therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to the area. He claims that since the procedure, he has been sleeping only 5.5 hours a night with crazy amounts of energy, his 'male vigor is through the roof,' and he is bothering his wife. He feels almost 'too much for her to handle.' He contrasts the subjective outcome with quantitative blood markers like telomere length, saying it's 'quite another to walk out of a therapy clinic and feel like you're literally Superman.'

Ben first explains that non-celiac gluten sensitivity is often self-diagnosed. Research finds only a small subset (0.5–6%) actually have it. He recommends diagnostic testing via the Zoomer panel (a blood test) to confirm true gluten reactions, rather than guessing. More commonly, symptoms are due to glyphosate, the herbicide sprayed on U.S. wheat, which can poke holes in the gut lining causing leaky gut. This is why Americans often react to domestic bread but tolerate European wheat where glyphosate use is restricted. The second major culprit is FODMAPs – fermentable short-chain carbohydrates in wheat and other foods like onions, apples, and garlic – which cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea. A low-FODMAP diet has been shown in studies to be more effective than a gluten-free diet for IBS. Additionally, emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols in processed foods can cause similar gut distress. Finally, eliminating whole grains reduces fiber, B vitamins, minerals, and microbiota diversity, and many gluten-free substitute products are higher in glycemic index, lower in nutrients, and filled with additives like xanthan gum that paradoxically irritate the gut. He points to Sue Becker’s Bread Beckers site and the work of Dr. Jeffrey Bland as resources for heritage grains that retain the bran and germ and are not sprayed.

Ben outlines three categories of kitchen toxins. First, microplastics: scratched Teflon pans can release up to 2.3 million particles; plastic cutting boards, mixing bowls, blender containers, air fryer baskets, toaster ovens, coffee makers, kettles, and even dishwashers with plastic interiors all shed microplastics, especially with heat, acidity, or fat. He cites a 2024 Heliyon study 'Beyond the Food on Your Plate' that identified these sources. Second, PFAS 'forever chemicals': non-stick pans, air fryers, toaster ovens, and slow/rice cookers with non-stick linings release these when heated over 500°F or scratched, and can cause 'Teflon flu' from fumes. Third, metals: aluminum leaches from cookware with acidic foods, linked to anemia, dementia, bone disorders; poorly manufactured cookware can contain lead or cadmium; low-quality stainless steel can release nickel and chromium. He urges prioritizing the low-hanging fruit: swap plastic cutting boards for wood, plastic spatulas for wood or silicone, and invest in a few ceramic, stainless steel, or cast iron pans and a ceramic air fryer. He personally uses a Jasper standalone HEPA filter to capture ultrafine particles from cooking smoke.