NOURI COACH Wellness by FlaVida Inc.

02/10/2026

Pregnenolone increases deep sleep, which is essential for testosterone production in men.

“Pregnenolone increased the amount of time spent in slow wave sleep...

According to conventional visual scoring pregnenolone improved the quality of sleep as documented by an increase in deep sleep, a higher sleep efficiency and a trend to decreased intermittent wakefulness.”

“The sleep-endocrine study consisted of two sessions with administration of placebo or an oral dose of 1 mg pregnenolone at 22.00 h according to a randomized schedule.”

Deep sleep also helps consolidate memory, promotes overall brain recovery, and shifts autonomic balance toward parasympathetic dominance (reduced sympathetic activity).

“The average morning (salivary) testosterone level (averaged over two morning measurements collected immediately after wakening and 40 min later) was significantly lower in the session with deep sleep suppression compared to the control session with regular sleep.”

PMID: 8395958
PMID: 29894840

02/10/2026

Aloe vera juice lowers Hashimoto’s antibodies and TSH, but there’s a catch.

TSH ↓ from 5 to 2.
TPOAb ↓ from 1,000 to 340.

Those are average changes over 9 months. Some improvement was seen in 3 months, and more was seen by 9 months. TSH dropped faster than antibodies.

There was also a drop in free T3 from 5.3 to 4.3. The authors argue that the decrease in thyroid hormone conversion is due to decreased need for conversion. I’m not convinced. I think it’s wise to track T3 if trying this, and it may be most useful for people taking T3 who can’t get their antibodies down.

The trial used of Aloe Vera2 by ZUCCARI, an Italian company. It’s unclear if they used 50 ml, 100 ml, or 50 ml 2x/day. There were 30 women with “subclinical” hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s.

“At baseline, 100% of women had TSH > 4.0 mU/L and TPOAb > 400 U/ml, but frequencies fell to 0% and 37%, respectively, at month 9. In contrast, a control group (namely, 15 untreated SCH women of comparable age and baseline levels of TSH, FT4, FT3 and TPOAb) had no signicant changes in any index.”

From: Marked improvement of thyroid function and autoimmunity by Aloe barbadensis miller juice in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism

02/10/2026

Bioidentical progesterone decreases mast cell degranulation. Progest-E contains two potent, histamine-stabilizing components: progesterone and vitamin E.

“Mast cells are involved in allergic reactions, where they secrete numerous vasoactive, inflammatory and nociceptive mediators in response to immunoglobulin E (IgE) and antigen. However, they have also been implicated in inflammatory conditions, such as painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraines, all of which occur more often in women and are exacerbated during ovulation, but are suppressed during pregnancy. Mast cells express high affinity estrogen receptors and estradiol augments their secretion, while tamoxifen inhibits it. Here we report that progesterone (100 nM), but not the structurally related cholesterol, inhibits histamine secretion from purified rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated immunologically or by substance P (SP), an effect also documented by electron microscopy. These results suggest that mast cell secretion may be regulated by progesterone and may explain the reduced symptoms of certain inflammatory conditions during pregnancy.”

From: Progesterone inhibits mast cell secretion

02/10/2026

PEA is a substance that can help with high histamine.

➥ Stabilizing mast cells
➥ Inhibiting histamine release
➥ Lowering histamine-related inflammation

PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) is a naturally occurring fatty-acid amide made in human tissues that helps regulate inflammation and pain signaling, largely by modulating immune cells - including mast cells.

“Studies on canine skin mast cells demonstrated that PEA administration significantly inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory mediators such as PG D2, TNF-α, and histamine in a dose-dependent manner.”

“Substance P increased the number of degranulated RBL-2H3 cells and triggered the release of histamine. PEA counteracted these effects...”

“PEA is reported to be an alternative treatment, shown to downregulate mast cell activation and increase the synthesis of endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol to reduce histamine and the symptoms of AR... The (350 mg of PEA) group had a significant decrease from baseline in histamine, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α.”

“The acid-induced endogenous release of PEA was impaired in functional dyspepsia and its exogenous administration counteracts mast cell activation and TRPV up-regulation.”

“Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that ultramicronized PEA is particularly effective in reducing neuroinflammation, stabilizing mast cells, and enhancing endocannabinoid system activity, making it a promising candidate for integrative approaches in neuropsychiatric and chronic inflammatory diseases.”

Sources:
Palmitoylethanolamide: A Multifunctional Molecule for Neuroprotection, Chronic Pain, and Immune Modulation
Palmitoylethanolamide counteracts substance P-induced mast cell activation in vitro by stimulating diacylglycerol lipase activity
The Effect of Levagen+ (Palmitoylethanolamide) Supplementation on Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis—A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial
Impaired Duodenal Palmitoylethanolamide Release Underlies Acid-Induced Mast Cell Activation in Functional Dyspepsia

02/10/2026

People who consume more potassium when dieting lose more weight.

Potassium is key to regulating blood sugar and for glucose utilization, ensuring optimal metabolism.

“An increase in dietary potassium consumption is a previously unrecognized predictor of the achieved reduction in BMI in a weight-loss-oriented multidisciplinary intervention in obesity/metabolic syndrome... It is notable that the increase in dietary potassium was a stronger predictor of weight loss in this study than such well-established factors (😉) as a reduction in sugar consumption and in overall caloric intake.”

Ref: PMID: 31159504

02/10/2026

Hypothyroidism slows the digestive system leading to constipation and SIBO, increasing endotoxin absorption from the gut.

It’s partly caused by the buildup of mucopolysaccharides in the gastrointestinal tract from hypothyroidism. The external effects of mucopolysaccharides, where the skin becomes thickened and puffy, is seen in the photo on the left.

“The mean gastric emptying time (49 minutes for the hypothyroid group; 30 min for the control group) was markedly increased in cases of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism prominently reduces esophageal and gastric motor activity and can cause gastrointestinal dysfunction... The most probable pathological reason is the intestinal edema due to mucopolysaccharide accumulation in gastrointestinal tissue.”

PMID: 20224642 Does Hypothyroidism Affect Gastrointestinal Motility?

02/10/2026

02/10/2026

“The ratio of calcium to phosphate is very important; that’s why milk and cheese are so valuable for weight loss, or for preventing weight gain. For people who aren’t very active, low fat milk and cheese are better, because the extra fat calories aren’t needed.” — Ray Peat

“Increasing dietary calcium significantly augmented weight and fat loss secondary to caloric restriction and increased the percentage of fat lost from the trunk region, whereas dairy products exerted a substantially greater effect.” From: Calcium and dairy acceleration of weight and fat loss during energy restriction in obese adults

Dietary calcium is associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.

The risk is 20% lower with high-calcium diets than with low-calcium diets.

Metabolic syndrome:
> High blood pressure
> High blood sugar
> Excess body fat around the waist
> Cholesterol
> Triglycerides

[Dietary calcium intake and the risk of metabolic syndrome: evidence from observational studies]

Calcium downregulates fat production.

“The high calcium diets exerted a corresponding 51% inhibition of adipocyte fatty acid synthase expression and activity."

02/10/2026

Hypothyroidism causes nasal congestion.

This association observed in humans is confirmed in experimental hypothyroidism in rats.

“In patients with hypothyroidism, clinical changes also occur in the ear-nose-throat region... Hypertrophy of mucous glands and increase in the basal substance of the connective tissue were identified in the nasal biopsies of patients with hypothyroidism and these were reported to be formed with the effect of increased TSH release in hypothyroidism... Thyroid hormone receptors are present in nasal mucosa. Edema, inflammation, and vascular proliferation occur in nasal mucosa due to hypothyroidism.”

From: The effect of experimental hypothyroidism on nasal mucosa

02/10/2026

Serotonin is a cause of insulin resistance.

“Inflammation of the intestine (which can start with an infection) can be sustained by undigested starches, and the resulting endotoxin/nitric oxide/serotonin can cause insulin resistance, so it's important to keep the small intestine relatively germ-free. Melons and potatoes can feed bacteria if they are present. Adequate calcium is extremely important, because of the interactions of parathyroid hormone and serotonin with stress and glucose metabolism.” — Ray Peat

“With regard to insulin resistance, Sumara et al. [8] reported that inhibition of gut derived serotonin improves the glucose tolerance in mice fed a high-fat diet. In hepatocytes, gut derived serotonin signaling through the 5-HT2B (serotonin) receptor promotes gluconeogenesis... In peripheral tissues, suppressing serotonin signaling might represent a new target for anti-obesity treatment by increasing energy expenditure and improving insulin resistance [11,46].” [PMID: 27126880]

5-HT is serotonin

02/10/2026

“All of the events of menopause are basically identical to the signs of excess cortisol. If you enumerate them, someone who’s diagnosed with menopause will recognize them in Cushing’s syndrome. And with Cushing’s syndrome, they can say, “Oh, that’s just menopause.”

It includes facial hair, loss of head hair, weight gain and increased blood pressure, and instability of blood sugar, food cravings, breaking blood vessels, and weak skin, skin that appears too fragile.

Constipation, diarrhea sometimes, everything getting destabilized. It’s identical in both menopause and Cushing’s syndrome.” — Ray Peat

02/10/2026

Eggshell powder is a good option for increasing calcium intake in those who cannot tolerate dairy.

It increases bone density, reduces pain, and improves mobility in osteoarthritis.

“...positive effect was observed on bone density in animal models of postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized female rats. In vitro eggshell powder stimulates chondrocyte differentiation and cartilage growth. Clinical studies in postmenopausal women and women with senile osteoporosis showed that eggshell powder reduces pain and osteoresorption and increases mobility and bone density or arrests its loss. The bioavailability of calcium from this source, as tested in piglets, was similar or better than that of food grade purified calcium carbonate. Clinical and experimental studies showed that eggshell powder has positive effects on bone and cartilage and that it is suitable in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.” PMID: 15018022

Eggshells are a rich source of calcium carbonate (90%).

They are 35-40% calcium by weight.

Eggshell powder is a cleaner alternative to most calcium supplements.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make your own:

1. Remove the Inner Membrane and Unwanted Materials:
Begin by carefully removing the inner membrane and any other non-shell material from the eggshell.

2. Boil:
Place the eggshells in a pot and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil and let it boil for 20 minutes. This step helps separate the remaining membrane from the shell.

3. Dry Completely:
After boiling, let the eggshells cool down and then allow them to dry completely. You can use an oven to speed up the drying process if necessary.

4. Crush and Grind the Shells:
Once the eggshells are dry, crush them into small pieces. Then, grind them as finely as possible using a coffee grinder. Be sure to grind the shells finely to avoid small shards irritating your digestive system.

5. Filter the Ground Shells:
To remove any larger pieces of ground shell, filter them through a mesh sieve or similar filter.

6. Add to Drinks:
Add the ground eggshell powder to your favorite drinks, such as juice.

7. Swirl or Stir:
Regardless of how finely you grind the eggshell powder, it settles at the bottom of the drink. To ensure you consume all the powder, swirl or stir your drink before drinking it.