https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/machinelearning I recently took a test that uses machine learning to predict biochemical test results (like blood, urine and stool) - a test called the "". Over the last three years, the folks at Nourish Balance Thrive (Dr. Tommy Wood and Chris Kelly, both former podcast guests) who designed this test have worked with over 1,000 athletes, averaging over 100 biochemical markers collected per athlete, including: -Blood biochemistry -Urine tests (DUTCH and organic acids) -Stool tests (PCR and culture) -Subjective quality of life questions (a Health Assessment Questionnaire, or HAQ), scored on an analog scale (1-5) As well as working to optimize the performance of athletes at every level, another goal of Nourish Balance Thrive is to give more people access to the type of work they do by increasing speed of access and reducing cost. Machine learning provides for a very good way to do this. By training an algorithm based on historical HAQ and biochemical test data, they can predict five common patterns of performance killers that they regularly see in their clients, including: 1. Blood sugar dysregulation (high/low fasting blood sugar and HbA1c, or high fasting insulin) 2. Low sex hormones (testosterone in men and oestrogen in women) 3. Suboptimal hemoglobin (“low oxygen deliverability” <14.5 g/dl in men and <13 in women) 4. Gut dysbiosis (including clostridial and yeast overgrowths, parasites, and H. pylori) 5. Circadian/HPA axis dysregulation (total/free cortisol outside of the normal pattern during the day) Dr. Tommy Wood, who I interview on today's show, is a Senior Fellow at the University of Washington, and Chief Medical Officer of Nourish Balance Thrive, an online-based company using advanced biochemical testing to optimize performance in athletes. Close to 1,000 athletes have been through the , from weekend warriors to Olympians and world champions, with hundreds of performance biomarkers available for each client. Based on their accumulated data, the team is using machine learning algorithms to rapidly and reliably predict common problems in athletes including low hemoglobin, low sex hormones, and gut dysbiosis. Tommy has a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, a medical degree from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in physiology and neuroscience from the University of Oslo. He is President-elect of Physicians for Ancestral Health, and is on the scientific advisory board of Hintsa Performance. Alongside his career in medicine and research, Tommy has published and spoken on multiple topics surrounding functional and ancestral approaches to health, including examining the root causes of multiple sclerosis (paper, talk for the public, talk for physicians) and insulin resistance (published article). Tommy has also coached and competed in multiple sports including rowing, CrossFit, powerlifting, and ultra-endurance racing. During our discussion, you'll discover: -How a "machine algorithm" can predict gut dysbiosis issues such as yeast overgrowth and a urine organic acids test...[7:30] -The surprising fixes for low testosterone and hormonal imbalances in both men and women...[21:30] -Why Tommy is such a fan of chopping wood...[22:44] -The three powerful nutrients that can lower your blood glucose...[29:30] -How personal relationships and friends can affect your HPA axis and cortisol...[30:05] -Tommy's morning routine, including the one superfood he swears by...[35:30 & 38:25] -How Tommy uses blood flow restriction training...[39:51] -What Tommy's spiritual practice consists of...[42:30] -And much more! Resources from this episode: - -My original podcast with Tommy -  -Podcast: -Podcast: - - - -September 8-11, 2017: "Who Wants To Live Forever?" conference in Reykjavik, Iceland. Most of us not only want to have a long lifespan, but also a long health span; to be fit and healthy throughout the course of our lives. As we move into this unprecedented era of human hist