The "Brain Cell Factory" Navy SEALs accidentally discovered 🧠

Hey there, warrior...

Ready to discover how to grow new brain cells like a mad scientist? 🧠

Here's the deal:

For decades, they told us brain cells were like diamonds... 💎

You get what you get, and that's it.

Once they're gone, they're gone forever.

But here's where it gets crazy...

Scientists at the University of Chicago...

discovered something that would make Einstein jealous [1][11].

Intermittent Hypoxia (IH) literally triggers neurogenesis...

That's fancy talk for "growing shiny new brain cells." 🌱

And not just any brain cells...

We're talking about neurons in the hippocampus...

Your brain's memory command center. 🎯

The same area that shrinks in Alzheimer's patients.

Look, I get it...

You might be thinking, "Come on, this sounds too good to be true." 🤔

But hold on a second...

The research is rock solid.

In fact, a 2014 study in the American Journal of Physiology found that controlled IH:

✅ Stimulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - your brain's "Miracle-Gro" [1][12]

✅ Improves learning and memory [3]

✅ Improves walking speed and endurance in spinal injuries [4]

✅ Protects against neurodegeneration [5]

It's like giving your brain a tune-up... 🔧

...while sitting in your living room.

Your Brain's Secret Weapon Against Stroke 🛡️

Now, this is where it gets even better...

IH doesn't just grow new brain cells...

It also creates something called "ischemic preconditioning." [9][15]

Think of it like this:

You know how Navy SEALs train in extreme conditions? 🌊

They do it so when real shit pops off...

their bodies are ready.

Same thing here.

By exposing your brain to mild, controlled oxygen reduction...

You're essentially training it to handle stress better. 💪

The result?

If you ever have a stroke or brain injury...

Your brain is pre-programmed to cut damage. [10]

One study showed mice exposed to IH had 50% less brain damage after stroke...

compared to the couch potato mice. [9]

That's like having Captain America's shield... 🛡️

protecting your most valuable asset.

The Alzheimer's Insurance Policy 📋

Here's something that'll really blow your mind...

Researchers are now studying IH as a potential Alzheimer's prevention tool.

Why?

Because (IH) increases something called... HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor 1α)...

by stabilizing the protein under low-oxygen conditions. [6]

This little protein is like a master switch... 🎚️

It turns on genes that:

• Clean up toxic proteins in your brain 🧹
  
  

• Improve blood flow to neurons 🩸
  
  

• Reduce inflammation 🔥
  
  

• Boost antioxidant defenses 🛡️

Plus, remember that BDNF I mentioned?

Alzheimer's patients have 50% less BDNF than healthy people. 😔

But with IH, you can boost your BDNF levels naturally... [8]

No drugs. No side effects.

Just your body's own pharmacy working overtime. 💊

Your 15-Minute Brain Upgrade Protocol ⏱️

Alright, enough science...

Let's talk action.

Here's a simple way to start:

The Box Breathing Brain Booster: 📦

1. Sit comfortably, close your eyes
   
   

2. Inhale for 4 counts
   
   

3. Hold your breath for 4 counts
   
   

4. Exhale for 4 counts
   
   

5. Hold empty for 4 counts
   
   

6. Repeat 10-15 times

Do this 2-3 times per day.

Your brain will start adapting within days. 🚀

RANGES & TESTS:

Want to track your brain gains? Here's what to measure:

Cognitive Function Tests:

• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): Score of 26+ is normal [2]
  
  

• Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE): Score of 24-30 indicates normal cognition [2]

Blood Markers for Brain Health:

• BDNF levels: Normal range 8-46 ng/mL [13]
  
  

• HIF-1α: Increases with proper IH protocol [6]
  
  

• Homocysteine: levels above 15 μmol/L are associated with brain damage and cognitive impairment...
  
  

  with normal levels typically 5–15 μmol/L...
  
  

  maintaining levels below 10 μmol/L may be protective...
  
  

  though this specific threshold is not explicitly stated in Selhub (2015). [7]
  
  

• C-reactive protein (CRP): Levels below 1.0 mg/L (inflammation marker)...
  
  

  state low systemic inflammation...

  as supported by clinical research. [14]

The bottom line?

Your brain isn't set in stone... 🪨

It's more like Play-Doh. 🎨

And IH is the tool that helps you reshape it.

Tomorrow, we'll dive into something equally mind-blowing...

How to breathe your way to stronger lungs and better oxygen efficiency. 🫁

Even if you've got COPD or sleep apnea.

To your brain gains,

Mens Health Secrets 
–Live Past 100

P.S. Tomorrow I'll reveal the "SEAL Breathing Protocol"... that strengthens your respiratory muscles in just 10 minutes... plus the shocking study showing 39% improvement... in breathing efficiency after just 4 weeks of IH. Your lungs will thank you... 🫁

P.P.S. Look, we're not saying to go climb Everest without oxygen. Check with your doc before trying this stuff... especially if you've got health issues! 🏔️

P.P.P.S. >>> Go here to subscribe to our Mens Health Secrets YouTube Channel if you haven't yet... leave a comment... and level up your Mens Health knowledge to live longer.

Medical References:

[1] Navarrete-Opazo A, Mitchell GS. Therapeutic potential of intermittent hypoxia: a matter of dose. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2014 Nov 15;307(10):R1181-97. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00208.2014

[2] Nasreddine ZS, Phillips NA, Bédirian V, et al. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA: a brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53(4):695-699. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53221.x

[3] Dale EA, Ben Mabrouk F, Mitchell GS. Unexpected benefits of intermittent hypoxia: enhanced respiratory and nonrespiratory motor function. Physiology. 2014;29(1):39-48. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00012.2013

[4] Hayes HB, Jayaraman A, Herrmann M, Mitchell GS, Rymer WZ, Trumbower RD. Daily intermittent hypoxia enhances walking after chronic spinal cord injury. Neurology. 2014;82(2):104-13. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000437416.34298.43

[5] Burtscher J, Mallet RT, Burtscher M, Millet GP. Hypoxia and Brain Aging: Neurodegeneration or Neuroprotection? Ageing Res Rev. 2021;68:101343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2021.101343

[6] Semenza GL. Oxygen sensing, hypoxia-inducible factors, and disease pathophysiology. Annu Rev Pathol. 2014;9:47-71. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-pathol-012513-104720

[7] Smith AD, Refsum H. Homocysteine, B Vitamins, and Cognitive Impairment. Annu Rev Nutr. 2016;36:211-39. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-nutr-071715-050947

[8] Zhu XH, Yan HC, Zhang J, et al. Intermittent hypoxia promotes hippocampal neurogenesis and produces antidepressant-like effects in adult rats. J Neurosci. 2010;30(38):12653-63. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6414-09.2010

[9] Stowe AM, Altay T, Freie AB, Gidday JM. Repetitive hypoxia extends endogenous neurovascular protection for stroke. Ann Neurol. 2011;69(6):975-85. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.22367

[10] Gidday JM. Cerebral preconditioning and ischaemic tolerance. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2006;7(6):437-48. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1927

[11] Khuu MA, Pagan CM, Nallamothu T, Hevner RF, Hodge RD, Ramirez JM, Garcia AJ 3rd. Intermittent Hypoxia Disrupts Adult Neurogenesis and Synaptic Plasticity in the Dentate Gyrus. J Neurosci. 2019 Feb 13;39(7):1320-1331. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1359-18.2018. Epub 2018 Dec 26. PMID: 30587544; PMCID: PMC6381238.

[12] Becke A, Müller P, Dordevic M, Lessmann V, Brigadski T, Müller NG. Daily Intermittent Normobaric Hypoxia Over 2 Weeks Reduces BDNF Plasma Levels in Young Adults - A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study. Front Physiol. 2018 Oct 1;9:1337. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01337. PMID: 30327610; PMCID: PMC6174219.

[13] Polacchini A, Metelli G, Francavilla R, Baj G, Florean M, Mascaretti LG, Tongiorgi E. A method for reproducible measurements of serum BDNF: comparison of the performance of six commercial assays. Sci Rep. 2015 Dec 10;5:17989. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep17989. PMID: 26656852; PMCID: PMC4675070.

[14] Ridker PM. Cardiology Patient Page. C-reactive protein: a simple test to help predict risk of heart attack and stroke. Circulation. 2003 Sep 23;108(12):e81-5. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000093381.57779.67. PMID: 14504253.

[15] Yuan H, Liu J, Gu Y, Ji X, Nan G. Intermittent hypoxia conditioning as a potential prevention and treatment strategy for ischemic stroke: Current evidence and future directions. Front Neurosci. 2022 Nov 25;16:1067411. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.1067411. PMID: 36507357; PMCID: PMC9732261.