Podcast Summary: The Human Upgrade with Dave Asprey

Episode 1390 – "The Secret Federal Plan to Feed Us Legal Poison" (January 1, 2026)

Host: Dave Asprey
Guest: Will (functional medicine practitioner)
Main Theme:
This episode explores the intersection of government, industry influence, and health, focusing on how regulatory capture by Big Food and Big Pharma impacts public health policy and labeling laws. It then bridges into a deep-dive on complex health syndromes like POTS, long COVID, chronic fatigue, and mold illness, unraveling their shared mechanistic threads and actionable biohacking interventions.

Table of Contents

1. Conspiracy, Misinformation, and Narrative Control
2. Industry Lobbying and “Legal Poison” — The Fight Over Food Labeling
3. Long COVID, POTS, Mold, and Biotoxin Illness: The Clinical Overlap
4. Actionable Treatments: Mast Cells, Electrolytes, Creatine, and More
5. Methylation, Folic Acid, and Genetic Vulnerabilities
6. Nootropics, Nicotine, and Biohacking Odds & Ends
7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

1. Conspiracy, Misinformation, and Narrative Control

Topic Overview:
Dave and Will open with a discussion on how the term "conspiracy theory" was invented and weaponized, the rise of “misinformation” rhetoric, and issues of censorship, particularly in health advocacy and social media.

Key Points:

• “Conspiracy theory” as a term was invented by the CIA to discredit dissenters ([04:20]).
• Both guests express frustration over the policing of speech under the guise of public safety ([05:01–05:52]).
• Dave outlines how “misinformation” is used to shut down genuine debate:

  “Anytime someone says misinformation, they're a coward. Something is either true or false.” – Dave ([00:02], [05:02])

• Will recounts being censored and disowned for sharing unpopular medical viewpoints during the pandemic ([07:06–08:27]).
• Social media toxicity and intolerance often come from purportedly “liberal” circles ([09:08–10:10]).

2. Industry Lobbying and “Legal Poison”

The Fight Over Food Labeling

Topic Overview:
This segment exposes efforts by Big Food to preempt state-level food safety rules and push for federal deregulation that favors processed food producers.

Key Points:

• Major food corporations have created “Americans for Ingredient Transparency” (AFIT), a front group lobbying for looser federal regulations on food ingredients ([14:21–14:43]).
• The effort is intended to override stricter state laws on ultra-processed foods:

  “They want to circumvent state sovereignty and get the FDA to have looser rules and basically supersede the states.” – Will ([14:44])

• Parallels are drawn to the pharmaceutical industry’s playbook:

  “Big Pharma mastered the business model... Big Food is like wait, can't we do that too?” – Dave ([15:35])

• Regulatory capture is seen as a direct threat to public health – framing the federal plan as a way to make it illegal for states to protect their citizens ([16:19], [19:27]).

3. Long COVID, POTS, Mold, and Biotoxin Illness: The Clinical Overlap

Topic Overview:
The heart of the episode connects pandemics, chronic illness, environmental toxicity, and genetics, offering both a systems-biology and practical lens on what’s making people sick.

Key Points:

• The explosion in “long COVID,” POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), and mold-related illness share underlying immunological and genetic drivers ([23:27–27:05]).
• Main mechanism: Biotoxins (viruses, mold, parasites) and genetic variants (HLA haplotypes) interact to keep inflammation high ([23:42–25:29]).
• “Straw that broke the camel’s back” model – combinations of exposures (virus, vaccine, mold) create a perfect storm for susceptible individuals ([24:49]).
• Chronic, unresolved inflammation is the thread connecting all these syndromes ([27:05]).

4. Actionable Treatments: Mast Cells, Electrolytes, Creatine, and More

Topic Overview:
Dave and Will break down practical biohacks for managing POTS, long COVID, chronic fatigue, and mast cell activation, with a focus on low blood pressure/volume, histamine, and resilience protocols.

Key Recommendations:

• Electrolytes:
  • Dramatically increase sodium intake (up to 8g/day) for those with low blood pressure.
  • “If you follow the FDA recommendations for low sodium, it increases your risk of a heart attack.” – Dave ([33:13])
  • Use high-quality salts (Celtic sea salt), potassium, and magnesium ([34:12–35:13]).
• Creatine:
  • 10–20g daily to support cellular hydration, methylation, and cognitive function ([35:13]).
  • Absorption hack: dissolve creatine in hot coffee for increased uptake ([55:21]).
• Mast Cell Stabilizers:
  • Stinging nettle, quercetin, vitamin C, and diamine oxidase (DAO) as natural interventions ([29:57]).
  • Pharmaceutical combo: Claritin (H1 blocker) + Pepcid (H2 blocker) twice daily for symptom relief ([35:06–36:48]).
  • Mast cell “landmine” analogy: hypersensitive response to minor triggers ([30:51]).
• Cortisol & Adrenal Support:
  • Low cortisol is more deadly than high; judicious replacement (bioidentical or licorice root) can reverse brain fog and fatigue in critical cases ([40:26–43:10]).
  • Licorice root, methylene blue, and phosphatidylcholine as mitochondrial/adrenal support ([43:10]).

5. Methylation, Folic Acid, and Genetic Vulnerabilities

Topic Overview:
A nuanced discussion of the spectrum of methylation issues (esp. MTHFR variants) made worse by environmental toxins and synthetic folic acid, with real-world advice for supplementation.

Key Points:

• Synthetic folic acid (added to US grains) is toxic for 30–40% of people; folinic acid or methylfolate as safer alternatives ([51:20]).
• “The government puts it in grain in the US because they hate you.” – Dave ([51:20])
• Homocysteine as a key test for methylation status; thresholds in functional medicine ([54:19]).
• Trimethylglycine (TMG/betaine) and creatine as effective methyl donors that rarely cause side effects ([54:22–54:54]).
• Most people benefit from folinic acid, not methylfolate; practical advice to trial if formal testing isn’t available ([52:37]).

6. Nootropics, Nicotine, and Biohacking Odds & Ends

Topic Overview:
Side discussions on microdosed nicotine, methylene blue, and the appropriate use and risks of these and other cognitive enhancers.

Key Points:

• Pharmaceutical nicotine (non-smoking, low dose) shown to protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s; 3–5mg oral daily for longevity and cognition ([46:56]).
• Nicotine is neuroprotective at low doses but highly addictive at high doses ([47:12–47:56]).
• Methylene blue is effective for certain mitochondrial issues, but cautions regarding MAOI interactions and psychedelic drug use ([43:54], [45:07]).
• The importance of context: not all health hacks are appropriate for everyone, and the details matter ([45:18]).

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Bold Quotes

• On Censorship & Narratives:

  "Anytime someone says misinformation, they're a coward. Something is either true or false." – Dave (00:02, 05:02)

  “The biggest purveyors of confusion in the world… are the people that overuse that word [misinformation].” – Will (05:08)

• On Industry Influence:

  “Big Food is going down the same thing and they're going to try to make it so it's illegal for a state to say you can't poison our people.” – Dave (16:19)

• On Sodium Guidelines:

  “If you follow the FDA recommendations for low sodium, it increases your risk of a heart attack.” – Dave (33:13)

  “If you want to live longer, eat more salt.” – Dave, quoting Dr. Michael Alderman (33:13)

• On Long COVID & Chronic Illnesses:

  "Most of these people just don't have enough blood in their brain..." – Dave (27:09)

  “On a lab, it looks very similar if they're not the same.” — Will on long COVID/mold/POTS (27:05)

• On Synthetic Folic Acid:

  “The government puts it in grain in the US because they hate you.” – Dave (51:20)

• On Nicotine:

  “Everyone who's 50 should be on 3 to 5 milligrams of oral nicotine. Not smoking, not vaping… The net benefit of that for longevity and cognitive performance is so large.” – Dave (47:12)

• On Use of AI to Expose Industry Actors:

  “We have AI… so you can’t hide the way you could last year or the year before... I’m looking right at you right now, so stop fucking around.” – Dave (57:11)

Lighter/Comic Moments

• Comparing social media bullies with blue hair to Australia’s “blue” venomous animals ([08:27]).
• Licensing biohacker humor around ordering prescription drugs from India ([41:52]).
• The “Danger Coffee” backstory and personal rebellion against the “it’s for your safety” narrative ([05:25–06:33]).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:11] – Conspiracy theory origins; narrative control
• [14:21] – Industry lobbying, AFIT front group
• [23:27] – Long COVID, POTS, Mold illness commonalities
• [29:17] – Mast cell activation, histamine management
• [33:13] – Sodium, hypertension myths, and mortality
• [35:13] – Creatine protocol and hot coffee absorption hack
• [40:26] – Cortisol’s vital role and replacement strategies
• [51:20] – Methylation, folic acid toxicity, and practical supplementation
• [46:56, 47:12] – The case for low dose, non-smoking nicotine

Conclusion

Episode Takeaways:
Dave and Will deliver a candid, fiercely independent critique of the ways in which corporate and governmental alliances threaten public health, unmasking the mechanisms of control in food and medicine. Their conversation then translates into practical, actionable protocols for those suffering from the confluence of modern biotoxin-driven syndromes, with real-world hacks spanning electrolytes, methyl donors, antihistamines, creatine, cortisol, and even nicotine. Throughout, the tone is unfiltered, evidence-driven, often irreverent, and always aimed at empowering the individual listener.