Latest news with #10XHealthSystem
Fast Company
29-07-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
Peptide stacking is the latest viral wellness trend. Experts urge caution
What's better than one peptide? A whole stack of them, apparently. Peptide stacking is the latest health hack going viral online, promising to optimize workouts and overall well-being. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that help build proteins. As the name suggests, peptide stacking involves taking multiple types of supplements—often in the form of tablets, powders, or injections—at once to enhance their effects and target specific fitness goals, such as building muscle, burning fat, boosting testosterone, or aiding recovery. Bodybuilders and biohackers have incorporated peptides into their wellness routines for decades. But now, interest is exploding, with social media feeds and forums flooded by users sharing (and selling) their favorite 'stacks.' 'Pov: my fridge watching me inject my 20th peptide today,' one TikTok user posted (their bio includes a 10% off link). 'Tried Semax + Dihexa and felt like I unlocked god mode for a few hours,' someone wrote on Reddit. 'Then realized I forgot to eat all day and nearly blacked out. 10/10 focus, 0/10 life management.' The fact that many of the touted benefits come from people earning commissions via discount codes or bio links is enough to raise eyebrows. 'Some of the concerns of what we see trending on social media are the recommended sources that you may find online that aren't coming from legitimate compound pharmacies,' Brandon Dawson, cofounder of 10X Health System, tells Fast Company. 'Also, most of these online trends are not tracked by healthcare providers or a team of specialists like you would have at 10X Health.' More than 80 peptide therapies have been approved worldwide. Prescription drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are peptides, as is the popular fitness supplement creatine. 'Peptide stacking can be a powerful tool in a systems-based functional medicine plan, but it's not a shortcut,' Dawson adds. 'Without addressing foundational health pillars—sleep, toxins, gut, nutrition—peptides won't reach their full potential and could cause harm if used improperly.' Another concern is how peptides are being marketed to teenagers on social media. A 2023 report by the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate linked peptide promotion to the broader 'looksmaxxing' world of workout supplements and steroid-like drugs that prey on young men's insecurities. 'You're falling behind bro,' read the closed captions of a . 'Welcome to the world of peptides.'
Los Angeles Times
23-07-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
What Cold Showers Really Do for Your Immune System (And Why Your DNA Matters)
For years, cold showers were the domain of athletes and wellness zealots. But new research in genetics and metabolism suggests that a quick blast of cold water has benefits way beyond mental toughness. Under the chill lies a growing body of science showing that cold exposure can support immunity, reduce inflammation and improve mood and metabolism. And according to Dr. Castel Santana, MD, a longevity and human performance specialist at 10X Health System, these benefits may be especially powerful for people with specific genetic profiles. Recent genetics research is flipping the old advice on its head. Under the shivering and swearing is real science: cold exposure seems to boost immunity, lower inflammation, and shift your mood and metabolism. Dr. Santana says it's not just about being tough, it's about your DNA. 'We're finding that certain people respond exceptionally well to cold exposure, especially when they have specific genetic traits tied to inflammation or stress response,' says Dr. Santana. And Daniel Wallerstorfer, PhD, a biotechnologist at 10X Health, says their genetic testing data shows that certain immune-related genotypes (like those that cause overactive immune reactions to infection, sunburn, or exercise) may benefit from cold exposure's dampening effects. 'We haven't studied the direct link between cold and specific genotypes yet, but cold seems to lower pro-inflammatory cytokines and may help modulate an overactive immune system,' he says. Dr. Santana spends his days in DNA. He's tracking single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) — tiny genetic quirks that affect how we deal with inflammation, neurotransmitters, and toxins. Some people, especially with certain IL6 or TNF-α variants, have immune systems that love to overreact. Cold showers can help turn down the fire for these folks. COMT (rs4680) is the gene that decides if your body burns through dopamine and norepinephrine fast or slow. Santana says if someone has the Val/Val genotype, they metabolize those neurotransmitters quickly, so cold exposure would result in a bigger mood and focus boost. Wallerstorfer also notes that 'Cold showers can help with mood and mental clarity as 0 they trigger a rise in dopamine and endorphins.' But for people who break down dopamine slowly, Wallerstorfer says, cold could make things worse, 'for anyone with low dopamine, it's a bigger help.' That post-shower zing? It's not in your head. Cold spikes dopamine, norepinephrine and beta-endorphins so you're more alert, a little more resilient, maybe even less grumpy. 'It's a fast way to improve alertness, especially for people with genetic inefficiencies in dopamine or serotonin pathways,' says Santana. Have SLC6A4 or TPH2 variants? (That's serotonin genetics.) Cold might help keep your mood steady. Not a miracle, but there's real data. A Dutch study found that people who finished their showers with cold water missed 29% fewer workdays, even though they weren't actually sick less often. Go figure. 'We believe it's due to the sympathetic nervous system activation,' says Santana. 'It boosts norepinephrine, improves lymphatic circulation and may help regulate inflammatory cytokines.' If your detox genes are slow (MTHFR, GSTT1, NQO1, cold might help your glutathione enzymes do their job and keep inflammation in check. Wallerstorfer doesn't mince words: 'The body reacts to cold by releasing stress hormones that temporarily activate immune cells and reduce inflammation. While cold showers don't directly improve detoxification, they may ease the burden by lowering inflammation. The effects are short-lived, so regular practice is needed to see lasting benefits.' Cold cranks up mitochondrial biogenesis, fancy speak for making more energy factories inside your cells. That's the PGC-1α and UCP1 pathway at work. Santana says, 'It's one of the more accessible ways to improve metabolic resilience without needing intense exercise or restrictive diets.' Wallerstorfer adds that short bursts of cold water can improve mitochondrial function and boost metabolic rate. 'The body increases energy output to stay warm, activating brown fat and promoting healthy mitochondria, which is especially helpful for people with slow metabolism.' Cold isn't for everyone. If you've got thyroid or adrenal issues, tread carefully. With certain DIO2 variants, your thyroid might not handle the cold well and you'll just end up more tired. 'For anyone dealing with adrenal fatigue, introducing cold too aggressively can be more depleting than helpful,' Santana says. 'Start slow, even 30 seconds of cool water at the end of your shower can trigger benefits.' Wallerstorfer adds that cold exposure isn't ideal for everyone. 'People with underactive thyroids or weak adrenal function might feel worse, because cold increases the body's need for thyroid hormones and a robust stress response. If these systems are already under strain, cold exposure could lead to more fatigue, stress or even blood pressure spikes, especially in those with heart-related genetic tendencies.' You don't need a fancy cryotherapy chamber. Just end your shower cold. If you love gear, try an adapter or a plunge tub. Santana sums it up: 'You're not trying to suffer, you're training your system to adapt. Resilience builds over time.' Click here to learn more about 10x Health System
The National
23-04-2025
- Health
- The National
10X Health is coming to the UAE: Expect genetic testing kits and personalised IV drips
What does Dana White have in common with Kendall and Kylie Jenner? Turns out, the chief executive of the UFC and the Kardashian/Jenner clan – among dozens of other American A-listers – rely on the same precision wellness company for their health hacks. And now the 10X Health System will be coming to the UAE, co-founder Brandon Dawson tells The National. In collaboration with the UK's Revive Health, 10X will bring its patented genetic testing kits, precision supplements and IV drips, as well as its Superhuman Protocol programme first to Abu Dhabi, followed by a rollout across the UAE by early next year. While the drips and supplements are tailored to individuals based on comprehensive blood and DNA tests, the three-step Superhuman Protocol entails exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic waves, oxygen therapy and red light therapy. The session averages about 30 minutes, and can be done either in a clinic or at home if you invest in the kit (a la the Jenners). The end game of the Revive 10X Health products and programmes is simple: 'To maximise human optimisation," says Dawson. Red light panels and hyperbaric chambers for oxygen therapy are by no means a new concept in the UAE, as they are available in various clinics and as at-home solutions. Nor are gene tests, customised supplements or NAD+ IV drips meant to boost cellular function. And while these sound great in theory, the science to support the various treatments is still slim, with few clinical trials and relatively small sample groups. However, Dawson says this is the unique selling point of 10X Health, which has gone a step further and invested in 'human mapping'. 'What gives us a competitive advantage is that, alongside Revive's Sarah Lomas, we have conducted in-depth, triple-peer-reviewed life science research for the last 10 years. This makes us the only organisation certified to administer IVs in 46 countries, because we've mapped the genetic disposition of the population in those countries,' Dawson explains. Human optimisation is a subject he's visibly passionate about. 'Those involved with healthcare know it is still almost 100 per cent reactive, not proactive. But the reactive global healthcare system follows a science that's been built for the averages based on manipulated data – and so it can be inefficient and ineffective for many,' adds Dawson. Among the three types of wellness – critical care, intervention and preventative longevity – he wanted to build something in preventative longevity. "A system that tells an individual what you should or shouldn't eat, how you should or shouldn't train, what you should or shouldn't use for skincare – so everything from aesthetics all the way through optimal performance," he says. 'When you combine lifestyle choices with replenishing what your body needs in order to be the best version of itself, when you take ownership of who you are at the genetic level and put things in your body that replenishes its natural nutrients, it is that proactive approach that will add to the health, wellness and longevity of the human race. And that's what my mission is.' After being voted 'least likely to succeed' in high school because he had the lowest GPA, Dawson skipped university and instead got a sales job at a hearing aids company at 19. He started his first company at 25 and became one of the youngest entrepreneurs to ring the New York Stock Exchange bell at 29. The move into precision wellness came from Dawson's experience and output in the hearing care space. 'When I founded Audigy, we used precision technology to adapt individual lifestyles to hearing technologies. This allowed people to hear when, where and how they wanted, versus people just buying generic hearing aids and then dealing with not hearing very well.' Its precision care solutions differentiated the company's positioning in the marketplace, and it was acquired by Danish hearing aid manufacturing company ReSound, which then expanded it worldwide. Dawson eventually teamed up with American billionaire Grant Cardone, initially in jobs across sales, marketing and real estate. 'However, when we sat down and did a strategic roadmap, we realised we wanted a business that could touch billions of human beings. Given I was coming out of healthcare, even though precision hearing is a niche market, I knew one effective way to touch that many people would be to offer a healthcare solution that every individual could participate in.' The future, according to Dawson, is personalisation to an almost utopian level. 'Usually, by the time you have a visible medical problem and go to the hospital, some serious damage has already occurred," he says. "Now envision a world where you are connected to a digital command and control centre that is able to monitor and report whether you're having issues in real-time or whether the body and blood are optimised. It's this aspect of our R&D that I am most excited about.' Dawson notes this is also what brings him to the UAE, which he calls a beautiful place with remarkable people. He says he even feels a special draw to Abu Dhabi. "Sitting with the royal family here over the past few months, I realised they're demonstrating the desire to focus on being healthcare leaders, who want to improve longevity, especially with genetics and blood. I see this region as a nucleus of what's possible around the globe.'
