logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2014
1 h

#002 Dr. George Brooks on Lactate Shuttl...

RHONDA PATRICK, PH.D.
About this episode

Dr. George A Brooks

Dr. George A Brooks, an expert in exercise physiology and lactate metabolism. Lactate, a once demonized molecule thought to form lactic acid and become a dead-end toxic metabolite, has been vindicated by the work of Dr. Brooks, his colleagues, and others. 

In this episode, we discuss... 

  • (00:00) Introduction
  • (01:40) Dr. Brooks’ experience as an athlete inspired his research on lactate
  • (06:50) Lactate and its relationship to muscle fatigue is misunderstood
  • (09:10) Adaptations to exercise improve mitochondrial functioning and lactate metabolism
  • (14:14) How to use lactate threshold training to improve performance
  • (23:49) Lactate improves brain health and cognitive function 
  • (26:45) Lactate improves outcomes of traumatic brain injury via metabolism
  • (30:00) Lactate spares glucose, increasing antioxidants such as glutathione
  • (42:50) Early lactate administration following a traumatic brain injury is necessary, but challenging
  • (48:20) Lactate from exercise improves Parkinson's disease 
  • (55:00) Brain metabolism following traumatic brain injury

If you’re interested in learning more, you can read the full show notes here.

Join over 300,000 people and get the latest distilled information straight to your inbox weekly: https://www.foundmyfitness.com/newsletter

Become a FoundMyFitness premium member to get access to exclusive episodes, emails, live Q+A’s with Rhonda and more: https://www.foundmyfitness.com/crowdsponsor

Up next
Sep 5
#106 How To Increase Your Testosterone Levels Naturally | Derek from MPMD
Get access to more than 70 Ask Me Anything episodes with Dr. Rhonda Patrick when you sign up as a FoundMyFitness Premium Member When testosterone runs low, libido isn’t the only casualty—muscle mass drops, fat accumulates, insulin resistance rises, and motivation declines. In thi ... Show More
3h 16m
Aug 5
#105 Exogenous ketones, my coffee protocol, and supplements for blood sugar regulation (Premium Member Q&A July 2025)
Become a FoundMyFitness Premium Member to access the full episode In this special episode, you'll get an exclusive 30-minute preview of my latest Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, normally reserved for FoundMyFitness Premium Members. Each month, Premium Members join me live to recei ... Show More
33m 5s
Jul 11
#104 Dr. Ben Bikman: How To Reverse Insulin Resistance Through Diet, Exercise, & Sleep
Get access to 130 episodes of my premium podcast, The Aliquot, as a FoundMyFitness Premium Member Insulin resistance silently shapes the trajectory of nearly every major chronic disease, yet it's often overlooked until blood sugar abnormalities become obvious. In this episode, Dr ... Show More
3h 1m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
#312 - A masterclass in lactate: Its critical role as metabolic fuel, implications for diseases, and therapeutic potential from cancer to brain health and beyond | George A. Brooks, Ph.D.
View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter George A. Brooks is a renowned professor of integrative biology at UC Berkeley. Known for his groundbreaking "lactate shuttle" theory proposed in th ... Show More
2h 6m
Jul 2024
How Lactate & Metabolism Influence Performance
In this episode, I discuss lactate (or “lactic acid”) and its essential roles in metabolism and athletic performance. Lactate is commonly misinterpreted as the waste product responsible for muscle soreness and exercise fatigue. However, I explain why it is produced, how lactate p ... Show More
1h 48m
Sep 2024
#319 ‒ Peter's key takeaways on liver health, heart rate variability, AI in medicine, klotho, and lactate metabolism | Quarterly Podcast Summary #2
View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this quarterly podcast summary (QPS) episode, Peter summarizes his biggest takeaways from the last three months of guest interviews on the podcas ... Show More
28m 3s
Nov 2024
Neurologist: The Shocking ROOT CAUSE of Alzheimer’s - How To Prevent & REVERSE Damage To Your Brain | Dr. David Perlmutter
In today’s episode of The School of Greatness, I sit down with renowned neurologist and bestselling author Dr. David Perlmutter to explore the critical connection between metabolism and brain health. Dr. Perlmutter shares groundbreaking insights on preventing and potentially reve ... Show More
2 h
Sep 2024
2430: How Women Can Slow Aging & Improve Hormone Balance With Dr. Stephanie Estima
Dr. Stephanie Estima Her story and background. (2:31) Why has women’s health been left behind? (5:49) Why has she changed her opinion on fasting? (8:37) Using your menstrual cycle as a vital sign of good health. (14:50) Getting women to lift weights more. (19:49) Why women should ... Show More
1h 26m
Apr 2025
The workout that builds muscle, boosts your brain and slows down aging | Dr. Andy Galpin
Strength training is often associated with bodybuilding, but its benefits go far beyond muscle growth. Research shows that strength training supports cardiovascular health, enhances brain function, and is a strong predictor of longevity. In this episode, Professor Andy Galpin joi ... Show More
1h 12m
Sep 2
197. Chris Bumstead: 6X Mr. Olympia’s Peptide Stack, Supplement Guide and Recovery Protocols
The bodybuilding world’s best-kept secrets are finally revealed in this discussion between six-time Mr. Olympia Chris Bumstead and human biologist Gary Brecka. Learn how peptides like BPC-157, TB-500, and growth hormone-releasing compounds became the difference between career-end ... Show More
1h 30m
Jan 2025
How to Use Exercise to Improve Your Brain’s Health, Longevity & Performance
In this episode, I discuss how different forms of exercise impact brain health and performance in both the short and long term. I explain how many of the positive effects of exercise on brain function occur through the action of specific neurochemicals that increase alertness. I ... Show More
1h 49m
Sep 18
Essentials: How to Exercise for Strength Gains & Hormone Optimization | Dr. Duncan French
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. Duncan French, PhD, the vice president of performance at the UFC Performance Institute and a world-class performance specialist. We explain how resistance training and acute stress impact hormones and outline specific weigh ... Show More
40m 2s
Aug 2024
Enhancing Muscle Quality and Longevity | Dr. Anurag Singh
Discover the groundbreaking science behind healthy aging in this episode of the Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show! Join Dr. Lyon as she sits down with Dr. Anurag Singh, an MD PhD with extensive research in immunology, to explore the incredible benefits of Urolithin A, a compound that's sho ... Show More
1h 31m