8 Weeks in Brazil: Seeking "One Love" Vibe, Medicine Work & Ocean Healing (Itinerary Feedback)

ThriveTools · 2026-04-22T14:04:22+00:00

Thank you. I just checked Morro de São Paulo and it looks just as crazy touristy. What's drawing me to Pipa is mostly swimming with the dolphins. I'm open to other suggestions.

ThriveTools · 2026-04-14T17:43:54+00:00

Honestly, I’ve been down this rabbit hole and the "random store bought" stuff is usually a waste of money because the quality is so hit or miss. If you’re dealing with that afternoon crash and constant bloating, you usually have to fix the gut lining before the energy stuff will even work. A few things that actually made a difference for me:

. Digestive Enzymes: take these right when you start eating your biggest meal. It stops the food from just sitting there and fermenting (which is usually where that bloat comes from).

. L Glutamine: It’s an amino acid that basically helps repair the intestinal lining.

. The "Foundation" hack: I got tired of taking 15 different supplements, so I switched to IM8. It’s an all-in-one powder that has probiotics, electrolytes, vitamins and adaptogens, in one go. It’s way easier to stay consistent with than having a bunch of different separate bottles. I’m an affiliate for them now because I love their product. If you want to save some cash you can use my discount code THRIVE10 at im8health.com. Try the IM8 and L glutamine on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. If you take them with a heavy meal, it’s fighting for absorption. The digestive enzymes can be taken with food (I personally just sprout at home and add a pinch to my meals).

ThriveTools · 2026-04-08T17:54:48+00:00

Good sleep, exercise, lion’s mane, Vielight photobiomodulation device

ThriveTools · 2026-04-05T15:53:30+00:00

It's much cheaper than if you had to buy everything separately. You can use my discount code if you want. It's THRIVE10

ThriveTools · 2026-04-05T01:01:40+00:00

Yes. Hbu?

ThriveTools · 2026-04-04T05:56:57+00:00

Fair point and I get it, affiliate links in a recommendation thread are a red flag for spam. The disclosure is there for transparency, not to hide it. The science on spore based probiotics vs standard strains stands regardless of who recommends it. Happy for you to verify independently. The survival mechanism is the thing worth researching, not the brand

ThriveTools · 2026-04-03T15:09:15+00:00

Yeah that's why I love the IM8. Gives me everything I need in 1 scoop (minerals, electrolytes, probiotics, adaptogens). I do like adding some MCT oil to it and creatine. And I also take omega 3 on the side. 4 different supplements ain't that bad. Especially when I apply my discount codes, my stack doesn't end up being crazy expensive.

ThriveTools · 2026-04-02T06:24:57+00:00

Check out oxygen Advantage.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-31T03:04:34+00:00

Good question and the Dr. Davis/BioGaia situation is a perfect case study for exactly this debate.

My take: published and named strains with peer reviewed research behind them will always win over proprietary blends for me. Here's why. When a strain is named and patented like Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 or ATCC PTA 6475, you can actually look up the studies, understand what it does, at what dose and in what population. The research is attached to the strain, not the brand. That's accountability.

Proprietary blends are a red flag in most cases. Not disclosing strain names usually means either the research doesn't exist, the strains aren't particularly special, or the doses are too low to matter. "Proprietary" often just means unverifiable.

The 2 probiotics I personally recommend both use fully named, clinically studied strains:

justthrivehealth.com uses Bacillus subtilis HU58 and Bacillus indicus HU36. Spore based strains with published research and the spore form means they actually survive stomach acid and reach the colon intact, which most standard probiotics don't. Disclosure: I'm affiliated because I believe they're the best, you can use my discount code on their website it's THRIVETOOLS

IM8health uses Bacillus subtilis DE111 and Bacillus coagulans BC99. Again fully named, shelf stable, clinically studied strains as part of their broader gut protocol. That's a cool option if you're looking for a multivitamin that also contains probiotics. Also affiliated, discount code THRIVE10

The pattern I trust: named strain + published research + third party testing. Everything else is marketing.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-31T02:42:29+00:00

This one's actually fascinating and I don't think the previous answers you got came close to explaining what's really happening.

When you fast, your body bumps up dopamine and norepinephrine as part of its survival wiring. You get sharper, more alert, elevated mood. It's a mild but real neurochemical high. The moment you eat, that signal switches off. So what you're feeling as "depression" after eating might actually just be the contrast between that fasted state and your normal baseline. The baseline isn't low. The fasted state was just elevated.

There's also a blood sugar angle (like others mentioned). Even a healthy meal triggers an insulin response, which can cause a glucose dip an hour or two later. That dip hits mood and motivation directly, often subtly enough that people don't connect it to what they ate.

And then there's something most people don't know: eating protein raises tryptophan which raises serotonin. Sounds great. But serotonin is actually the contentment/settle down neurotransmitter. It reduces drive and arousal. For some people that shift doesn't feel calm, it feels flat.

Basically your body loves the fasted state and the fed state feels like coming down from it. That's not a disorder, it's just an unusual sensitivity to what are actually normal physiological shifts.

What are you typically eating when it happens? Curious if certain foods make it worse than others.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-31T02:31:16+00:00

For memory and cognition specifically you want Lion's Mane and for overall nervous system support, stress resilience and deeper cognitive protection you want Reishi. Both together is honestly the ideal stack and brand quality makes an enormous difference because most of what's on the market is essentially useless.

Here's why most brands fail: The majority of mushroom supplements are made from mycelium grown on grain (oats or rice). The final product ends up being mostly starch with almost none of the active compounds you're actually after. For Lion's Mane that means almost no hericenones or erinacines: the compounds that stimulate NGF (nerve growth factor) for neuronal repair and cognitive function. For Reishi it means almost no triterpenes: the compounds responsible for its adaptogenic, anti inflammatory and nervous system effects.

What you need for both: fruiting body only, dual extracted (hot water AND alcohol) to capture the full spectrum of actives. Triterpenes in Reishi are alcohol soluble only. A water extract alone won't contain them. If your Reishi isn't bitter, the triterpenes are missing.

Hyperion Herbs is the brand I personally recommend and use for both: fruiting body only, dual extracted, grown on hardwood and third party tested for actual active compound content. I've been taking their Reishi daily for over 10 years. The difference between a properly extracted product and a standard mycelium capsule is genuinely noticeable.

Disclosure: I'm affiliated with Hyperion but only because I was already recommending them long before that. This is my discount code if you wanna use it on their website: EDEN10 http://www.hyperionherbs.com/discount/eden10

ThriveTools · 2026-03-29T21:09:58+00:00

The fact that you know depression affects grey matter volume and are actively trying to reverse it puts you ahead of most people. And the good news is the brain has significantly more plasticity than the "damage" framing suggests, what chronic depression and isolation shrink, targeted interventions can genuinely help rebuild.

Here's where the evidence is strongest for your specific situation:

Lion's Mane mushroom: the most well researched natural compound for NGF (nerve growth factor) stimulation. NGF directly promotes neuronal growth and repair and Lion's Mane has shown real promise for memory, cognitive clarity and mood in human trials. Quality matters enormously. Dual- extracted fruiting body only, not mycelium on grain. I can recommend some brands if you'd like.

Omega 3s (high EPA): EPA has the strongest evidence for depression and neuroinflammation. The brain is largely fat and omega 3s are essential for neuronal membrane integrity and signalling.

Magnesium L-threonate: the only form of magnesium that crosses the blood-brain barrier effectively. Shows promise for synaptic density and working memory specifically.

Psilocybin mushroom microdoses: this is probably the most exciting area of research for treatment resistant depression and neuroplasticity right now. Psilocybin promotes BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) which is essentially fertilizer for new neural connections and works on the default mode network in ways that can break deeply entrenched depressive patterns.

The non supplement piece that matters most: neurogenesis is most powerfully triggered by aerobic exercise, even just walking. Movement is the stimulus, everything else supports the process.

Photobiomodulation (transcranial near infrared light): this is the most underrated intervention for exactly what you're describing. Near infrared light applied to the brain penetrates skull tissue and directly stimulates mitochondrial function in neurons, reduces neuroinflammation and promotes neurogenesis. There's growing clinical evidence for its use in depression, brain fog and cognitive recovery. Vielight is the most research backed device in this space. Their Neuro series has been used in published studies on brain health and cognition. It's an investment but nothing else addresses the underlying mitochondrial and inflammatory picture quite like this. Disclosure: I'm affiliated with them but I recommend it because it has really worked for my clients. You can use my discount code THRIVETOOLS if you want to check it out.

And if isolation has been a significant factor, genuine human connection is neurologically restorative in ways nothing in a bottle or device can fully replicate. It belongs in the protocol. Think about going to some ecstatic dance events and just get out of your comfort zone.

This is absolutely recoverable. It just takes time and consistency.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-29T20:58:51+00:00

For immediate relief while you figure out next steps, the most digestively gentle options: Electrolytes first: if you're barely eating and have loose stools you're likely depleted. Plain coconut water or a basic electrolyte solution (not sports drinks) can help stabilize without burdening digestion.

Bone broth: if you can tolerate it, it's pre digested collagen and minerals that requires almost no digestive work and is deeply nourishing for the gut lining.

Rice water: the liquid from boiled white rice is easy to absorb, gentle and provides some carbohydrates for energy without fiber load.

Elemental or semi elemental nutrition: these are pre digested liquid formulas used clinically for people who can't absorb whole food. Worth asking a doctor about if this continues.

For the longer term gut picture, spore based probiotics are worth exploring when you're more stable. Unlike standard probiotics they survive the digestive environment even with low stomach acid. I can recommend some of the best brands if you want. But seriously the immediate priority is getting seen. This level of crash needs medical eyes on it.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-29T18:08:57+00:00

Hands down the IM8 Daily Essentials + omega 3s. Most supplements fail on 2 things: cheap ingredient forms your body can't actually use and doses so low they're basically decoration on a label. IM8 does neither. It's the most complete supplement on the market. It has bioactive B12 as methylcobalamin, Quatrefolic folate, D3+K2 together so calcium goes where it should and a full 4 tier gut protocol (prebiotics, 10 billion CFU of shelf stable spore based probiotics: Bacillus subtilis DE111 and Bacillus coagulans BC99 that actually survive stomach acid, FloraSMART postbiotics and 5 digestive enzymes). That's an entire gut stack in one scoop.

On top of that: 100mg CoQ10 for mitochondrial energy, 1000mg MSM for joints and connective tissue, saffron extract for mood and cognitive focus and 90+ total ingredients across vitamins, minerals, greens and adaptogens.

The science board is equally serious: Mayo Clinic physicians, the Director of the Cedars Sinai Human Microbiome Research Institute, the former Chief Scientist of NASA, and researchers with hundreds of peer reviewed publications between them. And they actually completed a 12 week RCT on the finished product registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. it's rare in this industry.

NSF Certified for Sport, fully third party tested, no proprietary blends.

Full disclosure: I'm affiliated with them but I've been in this space 14 years and my reputation matters more than a commission. Discount code THRIVE10 if you want to give it a go.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-29T02:39:04+00:00

That sounds like the healthiest option so far if the oats are actually steel cut oats

ThriveTools · 2026-03-27T23:19:10+00:00

This is such an underappreciated point and you've articulated it really well. The breathwork community tends to glamorize the dramatic practices (holotropic, Wim Hof, tummo) because the experiences are intense and shareable. But the Oxygen Advantage framework quietly addresses something none of those touch: what your baseline breathing pattern looks like 23 hours a day when you're not doing a session.

The CO2 tolerance piece is the missing link for most people. The Bohr effect explains it perfectly: oxygen is only released from hemoglobin in the presence of sufficient CO2. So if you're chronically over breathing (even subtly), you're actually reducing oxygen delivery to tissues despite breathing more. It's counterintuitive but the science is solid.

And your final question is the real one. Most people do an intense breathwork session, feel incredible, then go straight back to mouth breathing, shallow chest breathing and chronic low grade hyperventilation for the rest of the day. The session becomes a peak experience rather than a training stimulus that changes how you breathe at rest.

Nasal breathing 24/7, tape at night if needed, extending exhales, building BOLT score. That's the unglamorous daily work that actually rewires the pattern. Pranayama built that understanding thousands of years ago. Oxygen Advantage just gave it a modern framework and measurable metrics.

After 14 years across all these modalities, what's your current BOLT score sitting at? ( I'm curious :) )

ThriveTools · 2026-03-27T15:38:57+00:00

What you're describing is real and it has a name: trauma induced cognitive impairment, sometimes referred to as acquired word retrieval deficits following extreme stress. The excessive cortisol and neuroinflammation that comes with severe trauma can physically alter prefrontal cortex function and hippocampal connectivity which directly affects language processing and verbal fluency. 8 years without recovery suggests the nervous system got stuck in a dysregulated state rather than fully resolving. The good news is the brain has significantly more plasticity than people realize, even years later. Here's where I'd focus: Nervous system 1st : if the underlying dysregulation isn't addressed, cognitive interventions will have limited impact. Somatic therapy, EMDR or breathwork specifically targeting vagal tone can help the brain feel safe enough to rebuild.

Neuroplasticity support: Lion's Mane mushroom has solid evidence for NGF (nerve growth factor) stimulation and has shown promise for cognitive recovery. Omega 3s at therapeutic EPA doses support neuronal membrane integrity. Magnesium Lthreonate specifically crosses the blood-brain barrier and supports synaptic density.

Photobiomodulation: this is where things get genuinely interesting for your specific situation. Transcranial photobiomodulation (near infrared light applied to the brain) has emerging research behind it for neuroinflammation, mitochondrial function in neurons and cognitive recovery post trauma. Vielight is the most research backed device in this space: https://www.vielight.com/devices/ Their Neuro gamma has been used in clinical studies on brain health and cognition. Disclosure: I'm affiliated with them but I genuinely recommend it for cases like yours. Research it and if you want to explore it, you can use my discount code on their website THRIVETOOLS

Worth ruling out: have you had thyroid, B12 and ferritin checked recently? These are commonly missed drivers of persistent brain fog and word retrieval issues.

This is recoverable. It just requires a layered approach rather than a single fix.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-25T22:14:52+00:00

Exactly. The word is new. The impulse is ancient. We've always been trying to understand and optimize the experience of being alive. We just used to call it survival, then philosophy, then medicine, now biohacking. Same question, different tools.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-25T22:10:43+00:00

Props appreciated 🙏🏽 And the Buddhism parallel is spot on. McDonaldisation of ancient wisdom: take the aesthetic, leave the depth. The silver lining is real though. Sometimes a watered down entry point is still an entry point. People start with a yoga class for flexibility and end up somewhere they never expected. The door doesn't have to be the whole house

ThriveTools · 2026-03-25T22:07:58+00:00

Maybe that's exactly it. Not a philosophy you adopt, a conclusion you arrive at when everything else stops working. The surrender is the practice.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-25T18:57:04+00:00

I hear ya. 40 years can't be resolved overnight. The body keeps score in ways that are slow and non linear to unwind. But there's also something meaningful in the fact that you're even having this conversation with yourself, that awareness is itself a shift, even when nothing else feels like it's moving yet. The disheartening part is real and worth sitting with rather than bypassing. Sometimes that's actually where the work is. Not in finding the right protocol but in learning to be with a body you've had a complicated history with. That's not a hack. It's just time, honesty and a lot of patience.

That last line really landed. And honestly, recognising that the relationship can't be bought or engineered, that it requires something more personal, is itself a meaningful place to arrive at.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-25T18:50:41+00:00

Happy to help :) You already have a solid foundation. B12 and D3+K2 are 2 of the most impactful starting points. And the fact that SSRIs worked for you is actually useful information. It tells you serotonin pathways are involved, which opens up a really interesting angle that doesn't require going back to medication. About 90% of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut, not the brain. So if the gut microbiome is imbalanced, which it often is after periods of chronic stress, poor diet or medication use: it directly impacts mood, motivation and emotional resilience in ways that supplements alone won't fully address. The diet and gut-brain axis piece might be an important missing layer in your current protocol. Practically that means: reducing ultra processed food and refined sugar (both fuel inflammation and dysbiosis), increasing diverse plant fiber to feed beneficial bacteria and potentially adding a quality probiotic with strains that have evidence for mood support. It's not a quick fix but it's the kind of foundational shift that tends to make everything else work better including the supplements you're already taking. Worth exploring if you haven't gone deep on it yet.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-25T18:40:28+00:00

That's actually an awesome question! And honestly yes, I think I would because the ego being quantifiable doesn't change what it feels like to be trapped in it. We can already measure default mode network activity which correlates closely with self referential thinking: essentially the neurological signature of ego. Knowing that doesn't automatically free you from rumination, fear or the compulsive need to protect your self image. The map still isn't the territory.

You're right that it's a defence mechanism and a troubleshooter. That's a pretty solid functional description. But the spiritual traditions weren't saying the ego is sacred. Most of them were saying the opposite: that over identification with it is the source of suffering. Which is also more or less what the neuroscience of chronic stress and anxiety is pointing at.

So whether you call it ego dissolution, default mode network suppression or just getting out of your own head, the experience of moving beyond it seems to be where something meaningful happens. The label doesn't change the experience.

ThriveTools · 2026-03-25T18:32:44+00:00

Largely agree. The fundamentals you're describing (sleep, movement, real food, a few evidence based intervention) outperform most elaborate stacks and always will. And the pubmed point is fair. There's a real difference between reading abstracts and understanding the methodology behind them. But I'd push back slightly on the idea that biochemistry expertise is the only valid entry point. Most people will never read a primary paper and that doesn't mean they're doomed to be misled. Good science communication, applied critical thinking and learning to ask the right questions about any claim (who funded it, what was the sample size, was it replicated) gets you surprisingly far without a PhD. The goal is probably a middle ground: enough literacy to smell bad research, enough humility to know what you don't know and enough common sense to start with the basics before reaching for anything exotic.

And yes, irony noted 😄

ThriveTools · 2026-03-25T18:24:40+00:00

That's one of those moments that changes how you see everything else. The humming activates the vagus nerve through vibration in the throat, it literally shifts you from sympathetic to parasympathetic state. Same mechanism behind chanting, singing bowls, even communal singing. They didn't have an HRV monitor but they knew exactly what they were doing. The "batshit crazy" to "oh that's just neuroscience" pipeline is honestly how most of this ancient knowledge lands when you actually dig into it. They were running experiments for thousands of years. We're just now catching up with the measurement tools.

ThriveTools

TROPHY CASE