Why Most Supplements Are a WASTE of Money (And What Actually Works)

Dave Asprey

Jun 13, 2025

Episode description

Most supplements don’t work, and this episode reveals why. You’ll learn how to stop wasting money on “expensive pee,” how to spot marketing lies on labels, and which ingredients actually move the needle for energy, focus, and longevity.

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience:

https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR

Host Dave Asprey sits down with Jeff Boyd, founder of MTE and a leader in the new wave of performance supplements. With a background in data-driven wellness and a decade of experience optimizing human performance without caffeine or sugar, Jeff breaks down the science of nootropics, adaptogens, and smart nutrient stacking. His work focuses on self-quantification, nervous system regulation, and sustainable energy for founders, athletes, and high performers.

Together, they explore why 85% of supplements are designed to fail, how to activate mitochondria for real results, and what it means to biohack your biology smarter, not harder. This isn’t just about supplements. It’s about reclaiming your energy, upgrading your brain, and aligning your stack with how your body actually works. You’ll also hear how fasting, sleep optimization, and even subtle neurohacking protocols support long-term resilience and better decision-making.

You’ll Learn:

• The real reason most supplements don’t absorb and how to fix it

• How to build a caffeine-free stack that fuels energy, mood, and clarity

• The latest in adaptogens, nootropics, and functional medicine

• How to align your supplement timing with circadian biology and ketosis

• Why “clean labels” often mean nothing

• How emotional regulation and neurotransmitters shape performance

• Tools for self-quantification and supplement personalization

This is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, longevity, smarter supplementation, mitochondrial health, sleep optimization, emotional resilience, and conscious human performance.

Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living.

Episodes are released every Tuesday and Thursday, where Dave asks questions no one else dares and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing.

Resources:

• Dave Asprey’s New Book - <

Episode description

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience:

https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR

You’ll Learn:

• The real reason most supplements don’t absorb and how to fix it

• How to build a caffeine-free stack that fuels energy, mood, and clarity

• The latest in adaptogens, nootropics, and functional medicine

• How to align your supplement timing with circadian biology and ketosis

• Why “clean labels” often mean nothing

• How emotional regulation and neurotransmitters shape performance

• Tools for self-quantification and supplement personalization

This is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, longevity, smarter supplementation, mitochondrial health, sleep optimization, emotional resilience, and conscious human performance.

Episodes are released every Tuesday and Thursday, where Dave asks questions no one else dares and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing.

Resources:

• Dave Asprey’s New Book - <

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Buy supplements directly from official websites to avoid counterfeits

At least half of the supplements sold on Amazon are counterfeit, so it is safer to buy directly from the brand's official website to ensure authenticity.

#safety

#supplement

Cool your mattress to enhance REM sleep by 12%

Using a mattress cooling system like the Eight Sleep, which adjusts temperature based on your sleep state, can increase REM sleep by as much as 12%.

#sleep

Utilize adaptogens for rapid stress response management

Adaptogens work by allowing you to turn stress on and off instantly, which leads to more rapid adaptation than a prolonged stress response.

#adaptogen

#stress

Cold plunge before workouts to enhance benefits

You should cold plunge before you work out to amplify the benefits, as doing it afterward can blunt the adaptive response.

#cold-therapy

#exercise

Utilize BHT as a rapid cure for pox viruses

While the preservative BHT is an endocrine disruptor in food, high doses can be a rapid cure for pox viruses like chickenpox, shingles, or herpes.

#supplement

Prioritize 80% effective supplements for greater accessibility

Creating an 80% effective supplement that most people can afford does more good in the world than a 100% perfect formula that is too expensive for the masses.

#affordability

#supplement

Discover ergothioneine as a promising longevity antioxidant

The antioxidant ergothioneine is considered the 'next glutathione' and is a promising new longevity compound being investigated by supplement companies.

#antioxidants

#longevity

Choose saffron extract over some SSRIs for depression relief

Clinical studies show saffron extract is more effective for depression than some SSRIs and can also reduce physical menopause symptoms like hot flashes.