Hey friend,

Something I'm constantly reminded of is that the worst moments in your life turn out to be the most transformative.

When I was 24 years old, I lost the most important person in my life, who was my mother.

Before her passing, I admittedly was a complete degenerate. I had no purpose or direction, and I was headed nowhere fast.

During my times of grief, I remember a little voice popping into my head, and it asked me,

"Dan, this energy can either burn you up or fuel you. Which one do you choose?"

It didn't happen overnight, but I used the energy to make something of myself, which is what my mom would have wanted in the first place.

A big lesson I've learned is that pain can be energy, and the emotion can be transmuted into something positive.

So if you're going through something right now, I know things can feel insurmountable. But when we can make meaning out of that pain, it will turn us into a more evolved version of ourselves.

That said...

Here Is Your 4 Minute Friday:

1. Take This Cheap Supplement To Boost Your Muscle Gains

It turns out your gut does more than control your mood. It helps you build muscle.

A meta-analysis of 24 studies found that probiotic supplements modestly improved muscle mass and strength in adults.

Now, mind you, this is not going to be a life-changing amount. But probiotics might offer some support if you are over 40 and want to stay strong, mobile, and not melt into a soft noodle by age 50 or 60.

Unfortunately, we don't know which strains are best or how much to take. But this is a good bonus if you already use them for digestion.

I don't know about you, but at 45, I'm looking for whatever edge I can get to build muscle. So it might be time to dust off the probiotics.

2. Eat This Type Of Food To Remove Forever Chemicals From Your Body

PFAS, aka forever chemicals, are found in everything from non-stick pans to rain jackets. And they are tough to eliminate.

But a new study says that there's a specific type of food that might help.

Researchers gave mice a hefty dose of PFAS and then fed them either inulin or oat β-glucan (a fiber found in oats).

The oat group showed lower PFAS levels, less body fat, and better cholesterol, even though they drank more PFAS-tainted water.

A follow-up human pilot study found that people who drank an oat β-glucan beverage for four weeks had a modest but still real drop in certain PFA levels.

You can find β-glucan-rich foods like oats and barley. You can also find it in mushrooms like Shiitake, Reishi, Maitake, Chaga, rye, and certain types of seaweed.

This is consistent with many studies that show that improving your gut health can affect the release of forever chemicals.

Probiotics and high-fiber diets can help bind PFAS in the gut, reducing absorption, and allowing you to poop it out.

❤️ My Favourite Thing This Week 

Soren is an entrepreneur who wanted to drop the belly, become a fit dad to his four children, and improve his energy levels.

In six months, he lost 54 pounds, increased his energy levels, and became such a great example to his kids that they're now joining him in his workouts.

Here's How We Did It:

• We ate a low-carb, high-protein meal plan as that worked better for his energy levels and focus.
• He was doing random workouts, so we focused on using strength circuits with progressive overload.
• We walked a lot. He did around 10k steps a day, and this helped him manage his stress levels while burning a few calories.

The coolest thing about this transformation is that, as a result of his higher energy and better focus, he has hit record income months just by getting fitter.

Few people realize this, but I've seen it first-hand: Getting fitter makes you richer.

Are you an entrepreneur who wants to drop the fat, gain muscle, and boost energy? Click this link to apply for our coaching program.​ 

One Quote to Finish Your Week Strong

Pain can burn you up or be used as the fuel for change. It always comes down to what you choose.

As promised, get healthier in under 4 minutes.

- Dan

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help:

1. The Lean Body 90 System: When you’re ready to get in great shape, Lean Body 90 is the obvious choice. You can get in great shape and reach your fitness goals in just 90 minutes a week. Lose weight and build muscle even without hours in the gym or highly restrictive diets. Join 1000+ students here.

2. Are you an entrepreneur who wants to get lean, boost energy, and get in your best shape? Apply for private one-on-one coaching here.

3. Promote yourself to 440,000+ subscribers​ by sponsoring this newsletter.

References

1. Prokopidis K, Giannos P, Kirwan R, Ispoglou T, Galli F, Witard OC, Triantafyllidis KK, Kechagias KS, Morwani-Mangnani J, Ticinesi A, Isanejad M. Impact of probiotics on muscle mass, muscle strength and lean mass: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2023 Feb;14(1):30-44. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.13132. Epub 2022 Nov 22. PMID: 36414567; PMCID: PMC9891957. 
2. Schlezinger JJ, Biswas K, Garcia A, Heiger-Bernays WJ, Bello D. An oat fiber intervention for reducing PFAS body burden: A pilot study in male C57Bl/6 J mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2025 Feb;495:117188. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.117188. Epub 2024 Dec 6. PMID: 39647509; PMCID: PMC11798698.

 Disclaimer: This email is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician.