5HT: 5 Healthyish Things, including David buying a factory and an Alzheimer’s blood test

Reallyyy loving Oura’s new “Give Us the Finger” ad☝️. It’s both hilarious and smart. Not only does the ad affirm Oura as an identity flex, but it also positions it as a tool to extend your healthspan and lifespan. As Oura says, the goal is to get old, and I think they've nailed it with this ad.

You’ve probably heard David announced a massive fundraise ($75M!). But what’s really stirring the pot is their other announcement: They’re buying Epogee—a factory making EPG (Esterified Propoxylated Glycerol), a modified plant fat used in reduced-calorie foods, including David’s. (Side note: Epogee making EPG? Can we please workshop naming in this industry 🤣.)

EPG supposedly has the mouthfeel of fat but isn't digestible—that leads to less caloric content… and possibly some side effects from losing vitamins to “anal leakage.” Now, I’m no food scientist, but the internet has thoughts. 👀 While Andrew Huberman, Peter Attia, and others say it’s a clever hack to meet your macros, people like Dr. Mark Hyman, Justin Mares, and Seed Oil Scout (yes, an actual—though mysterious—person 😂) are calling out David, even calling its bars “frankenfood.” Critics argue David positions itself as “healthy” when its ultra-processed ingredients (like EPG) actually undermine health. 

At the heart of it is a familiar tug of war 🤼 : whole-food purists vs. optimizing maximalists. One side wants all-natural, no-BS foods. The other only cares about the grams of protein and is cool with, well, a little BS. (Ironically, the founder of David, Peter Rahal, had his biggest success scaling and selling RXBAR, which famously promises “No B.S.” on every label.) And in the middle? Everyone else—just trying to eat healthier without wanting to decode an ingredient list.

David doesn't seem too phased by the whole thing, though 🤷🏻‍♂️. They’ve been selling like hotcakes and literally just bought the factory producing this key controversial ingredient in what seems like a good ‘ol fashioned business development eff you. (Though they are being sued for allegedly cutting off competitors’ access to it.) I think it’s all pretty epic.

Sooo, should you eat them? It’s totally up to you. How bad is EPG for you? As I said, I’m no food scientist, buttt I’m pretty sure IDKID. I’ve tried the bars and didn’t love them at first, though I’ll admit the new peanut butter bar flavors are solid, and I’ve totally been having them on occasion. This newsletter is all about being healthyish after all!

Speaking of the great Dr. Mark Hyman—I recently heard him mention Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat Sprout Powder on a podcast. Naturally, I had to investigate 🕵️‍♂️ what sounded like, er, a fantasy novel quest.

Part of the curiosity was Hyman-fueled, but I also genuinely like buckwheat. (Yes, I might be the only one. Especially in Kasha Varnitchkes—not exactly a healthy food, but sooo good 🤤. Kasha Varnitchkes fans, please represent.)

This version of buckwheat—Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat (HTB)—comes from an ancient plant that grows in extreme climates. The idea here is that because HTB thrives in stressful environments, it may help you do the same. That’s the logic, anyway.

HTB is rich in polyphenols like rutin and quercetin, known for taming inflammation and supporting endothelial health (a fancy way of saying it helps keep your blood vessels happy). It’s also said to help with immune balance and microbiome resilience.

The sprouted powder form mentioned by Dr. Hyman comes from Big Bold Health, a brand founded by Dr. Jeffrey Bland (the father of functional medicine). Dr. Hyman calls it one of the most powerful immune-supporting foods available, buttt he’s also the product’s spokesperson. I mention this because anytime someone’s hyping something they have a business interest in (see: Bryan Johnson and all his products now 👀), I squint a little. So, let’s look at the research.

There’s solid consensus that buckwheat’s bioactive compounds give it a high nutritional value—especially for inflammation and oxidative stress. Comparing sprouts to seeds, this study found germinating buckwheat seeds into sprouts boost their nutritional value, and another found that this is even more true in varieties from regions near the Himalayas. That said, most studies are small, and more research is needed. I get it, though, and it does all seem plenty believable that this can help.

As you can guess, I’ve been trying it 😆—partly for the fiber, partly because I think it’s cool. I've been tossing the powder into my smoothie every afternoon. It’s supposed to be a little bitter, but I don’t experience it that way. I’d call it more earthy? Anyway, as for if I'll keep it up, TBD. I’m allegedly minimizing, but I keep getting intrigued. 😂

Alzheimer’s is always top of mind for me. My mom has it, and I carry the APOE4 gene, so prevention isn’t just compelling science—it’s personal. (FYI, we’ve got a special edition of Alzheimer’s prevention coming out later this month—subscribe to 5HT+ to get access.)

The tricky thing about Alzheimer's is that it's notoriously difficult to diagnose. Currently, PCPs get it right only ~60% of the time 😳. With my mom, I remember her taking a bunch of subjective memory tests before finally getting a major brain scan.

That’s why I was so excited to see the FDA just clear a blood test that could help diagnose Alzheimer's disease earlier and more accurately. Basically, the 🩸 test looks at patterns of amyloid beta proteins in the blood—key markers of the plaques that build up between brain cells like a toxic traffic jam. In people already showing cognitive symptoms, the presence of these plaques can confirm a diagnosis.

As friend and health investor Enke Bashllari put it on LinkedIn (she’s a great follow, just saying): “Early, easy, and actionable diagnostics are the backbone of modern longevity care,” and this test could be just that.  

It’s cheaper than a PET scan, less invasive than a spinal tap—and impressively accurate:

• 👍 91% of positives matched PET or CSF-confirmed amyloid

• 👎 97% of negatives were confirmed too

This is a big deal! Earlier detection means earlier intervention. As Eric Topol alludes to in his recent post, we can’t prevent what we don’t detect. Although this isn’t approved yet for asymptomatic screening or definitive diagnosis on its own, it’s apparently already being offered by Function as an add-on. Anyway, the sooner we know, the sooner we can act—and layer in preventative strategies that work (more on those in the next special edition, out later this month).

A future where blood tests for Alzheimer’s are as routine as cholesterol checks? Count me very stoked. 💯

🤯 I cannot believe I've spent 30+ years using storage containers wrong. 😂 Who else is mindblown by this simple hack? Feels like a good excuse to buy cake just to try this method. 

(That said, we’re still sticking to microplastic-free brands at our house.)

Other things

• A new study of 47K+ women found links between coffee consumption and healthy aging. Okay, coffee, I see you. ☕👀

• Bored? Science says swiping through TikToks might be making it worse. Another reason to read 5HT from start to finish. 😉

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is officially (finally) recommending pain relief for gynecological procedures like IUD insertion.

• GLP-1s are fueling a wave of first-time aesthetic patients. Ozempic face, anyone? (Annnd ICYMI: Our special edition on microdosing GLP-1s breaks down the miracle drug—last free one!)

• Most clicked last week? The 5HT homepage 😎. Apparently, y’all love our new referral program—and we love you right back.

👋 Who are you again? I’m Derek Flanzraich—founder of two venture-backed startups in Greatist (👍) and Ness (👎). I’ve worked with brands like GoodRx, Parsley, Midi, Ro, NOCD, and Peloton. I now run Healthyish Content, a premium health content & SEO agency (among other things).

Every Thursday, I share 5 health things I feel strongly about so you can live healthyish. (Disclaimer: I’m more your friend with health benefits. None of this is medical advice.) 

And oh, you also feel strongly about some health things? Hit reply—I’d love to hear it.