logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2019
2h 47m

#398: Peter Attia, M.D. — Fasting, Metfo...

Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig
About this episode

Peter Attia, M.D. — Fasting, Metformin, Athletic Performance, and More | Brought to you by HumanN's BeetElite and Peloton.

Dr. Peter Attia (peterattiamd.com, TW: @PeterAttiaMD, IG: @peterattiamd, FB: @peterattiamd) is a former ultra-endurance athlete (e.g., swimming races of 25 miles), a compulsive self-experimenter, and one of the most fascinating human beings I know. He is one of my go-to doctors for anything performance or longevity-related. He is also easily the best quarterback and sherpa for the US medical system I've ever met.

But here is his official bio to do him justice:

Peter is the founder of Attia Medical, PC, a medical practice with offices in San Diego and New York City, focusing on the applied science of longevity. The practice applies nutritional biochemistry, exercise physiology, sleep physiology, techniques to increase distress tolerance, lipidology, pharmacology, and four-system endocrinology to increase lifespan (delaying the onset of chronic disease), while simultaneously improving healthspan (quality of life).

Peter trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in general surgery, where he was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including resident of the year, and the author of a comprehensive review of general surgery. He also spent two years at NIH as a surgical oncology fellow at the National Cancer Institute where his research focused on immune-based therapies for melanoma. He has since been mentored by some of the most experienced and innovative lipidologists, endocrinologists, gynecologists, sleep physiologists, and longevity scientists in the United States and Canada.

Peter earned his M.D. from Stanford University and holds a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics.

Peter also hosts The Drive, a weekly, ultra-deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing health, longevity, critical thinking and a few other things. Topics include fasting, ketosis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, mental health, and much more. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Please enjoy!

This podcast is brought to you by HumanN's BeetElite, the endurance superfood and nitric oxide activator. HumanN's BeetElite can help extend endurance, improve energy and stamina, and increase oxygen delivery throughout the body. It provides the nitric oxide equivalent of six whole beets, and BeetElite is trusted by hundreds of elite teams, athletes, and organizations all over the world, so you know you're getting a top-notch performance product.

BeetElite is Informed-Sport Certified, and the team at HumanN is making an offer exclusive to my listeners: Take your performance to the next level with BeetElite by going to LiveHuman.com/Tim to get 20% off your first purchase!

This podcast is also brought to you by Peloton, which has become a staple of my daily routine. I picked up this bike after seeing the success of my friend Kevin Rose, and I’ve been enjoying it more than I ever imagined. Peloton is an indoor cycling bike that brings live studio classes right to your home. No worrying about fitting classes into your busy schedule or making it to a studio with a crazy commute.

New classes are added every day, and this includes options led by elite NYC instructors in your own living room. You can even live stream studio classes taught by the world’s best instructors, or find your favorite class on demand.

Peloton is offering listeners to this show a special offer: Enter the code you heard during the Peloton ad of this episode at checkout to receive $100 off accessories with your Peloton bike purchase. This is a great way to get in your workouts, or an incredible gift. That’s onepeloton.com and enter the code you heard during the Peloton ad of this episode to receive $100 off accessories with your Peloton bike purchase.

***

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests.

For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.

For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.

Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please fill out the form at tim.blog/sponsor.

Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.

Follow Tim:

Twittertwitter.com/tferriss 

Instagraminstagram.com/timferriss

Facebookfacebook.com/timferriss 

YouTubeyoutube.com/timferriss

Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 1
#818: John Arnold with Dr. Peter Attia — The Greatest Energy Trader of All Time on Lessons Learned, Walking Away from Wall Street, and Reinventing Philanthropy
In this special episode, my friend—and fan-favorite guest—Dr. Peter Attia takes the mic as guest host. Peter sits down with legendary trader John Arnold, widely considered the greatest energy trader of all time. Today, through his foundation Arnold Ventures, John applies the same ... Show More
2h 36m
Jun 25
#817: 4-Hour Workweek Success Stories — Charlie Houpert on Building “Charisma on Command” to 10M+ Subscribers, From Charging $10 for Seminars to Making Millions, Living in Brazil, Critical Early Decisions, and The Secret to Freedom
Charlie Houpert is the co-founder of Charisma on Command, a company that helps people develop confidence, charisma, and strong social skills. Originally launched as a 4-Hour Workweek-inspired “muse,” it has since grown into one of the largest platforms for social skills and confi ... Show More
2h 14m
Jun 18
#816: Nsima Inyang, Mutant and Movement Coach — True Athleticism at Any Age, Microdosing Movement, “Rope Flow” as a Key Unlock, Why Sleds and Sandbags Matter, and Much More
Nsima Inyang (@nsimainyang) is a strength athlete, movement coach, and co-host of Mark Bell’s Power Project, one of the top fitness podcasts in the world. He is also one of the most freakishly athletic humans I’ve ever met. He’s a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a professional ... Show More
3h 18m
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
Dr. Peter Attia - The Portfolio to Live Longer - [Invest Like the Best, EP.325]
My guest this week is Dr. Peter Attia. I’ve had Peter on the show twice before but it’s been over 5 years since his last appearance. In that period, his work has exploded and today he’s one of the clear leaders on the topic and practice of longevity and health span. He has a new ... Show More
1h 25m
Dec 2020
1045 Key Health Habits to Live Over 100 & Prevent Chronic Diseases w/Peter Attia
On today's podcast, Lewis interviews Physician Dr. Peter Attia. Peter focuses on the applied science of longevity, the extension of human life and overall well-being. Peter trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in general surgery, where he was the recipient of seve ... Show More
55m 27s
Apr 2021
Perfectionism, Self-Discovery, and Emotional Wellbeing | Dr. Peter Attia
This week’s conversation is with Dr. Peter Attia, a physician focusing on the applied science of longevity. Peter earned his M.D. from Stanford University and holds a B.Sc. in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics.He trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital i ... Show More
1h 14m
May 2023
Live LONGER & Reverse Aging With These Daily Habits w/ Peter Attia (BACKED BY SCIENCE) EP 1438
https://lewishowes.com/mindset - Order a copy of my new book The Greatness Mindset today!Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously imp ... Show More
1h 31m
Dec 2020
1046 How to Heal Stress, Trauma & Mental Health Issues w/Peter Attia
On today's podcast, Lewis interviews Physician Dr. Peter Attia. Peter focuses on the applied science of longevity, the extension of human life and overall well-being. Peter trained for five years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in general surgery, where he was the recipient of seve ... Show More
1h 3m
Aug 2022
Peter Attia, MD On Becoming a Centenarian Decathlete, Metabolic Health & All Things Zone 2
Healthspan extension may pique your interest. But it’s the obsession of today’s guest, a physician and engineer focused on the applied science of longevity to reframe and improve how we live while challenging all we’ve been previously taught about the interaction of health, human ... Show More
2h 20m
Oct 2023
Dr. Peter Attia On The Philosophy and Quality Of Life (Part 2)
Ryan speaks with Dr. Peter Attia on the philosophy and quality aspects of our lives, early morning routines we still practice from the stoics and quotes from Dr. Attia's new book OUTLIVE The Science & Art Of Longevity.Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical pr ... Show More
1h 16m
Oct 2023
How To Live A Long & Healthy Life with Dr Peter Attia #389
Imagine yourself in the last decade of your life. What would you like to be able to do? I’m talking about the simple stuff, such as walking up a flight of stairs without losing your breath or picking up your grandchild. How about being able to stand up unaided, after sitting comf ... Show More
2h 15m
Oct 2023
Dr. Peter Attia On The Philosophy and Quality Of Life (Part 1)
Ryan speaks with Dr. Peter Attia on the philosophy and quality aspects of our lives, early morning routines we still practice from the stoics and quotes from Dr. Attia's new book OUTLIVE The Science & Art Of Longevity.Peter Attia, MD, is the founder of Early Medical, a medical pr ... Show More
48m 44s
Mar 2025
Outlive by Peter Attia Book Summary and Review | Free Audiobook
Show notes (free summary) / PDF & Infographic | Free audiobook / Discover how to increase your chances of living a long, healthy life with our comprehensive summary and infographic of Peter Attia’s Outlive. Read on your terms. Get the PDF, infographic, extended ad-free audiobook ... Show More
24m 2s