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Episode
What a Pharmacist Actually Takes After a Melanoma Diagnosis
~58 min
Episode Brief·YouTube

What a Pharmacist Actually Takes After a Melanoma Diagnosis

Ben Greenfield
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TL;DR

The four things you'd lose by not watching

4 items

TL;DR

The four things you'd lose by not watching

4 items
1

Ben Greenfield now takes four Zenos blueberry creatine gummies in his morning smoothie (5 g creatine total) and advises mixing creatine with liquid immediately to avoid conversion to creatinine.

2

He gave his wife the Uriven supplement for kidney and urinary tract support after her recurrent UTIs, emphasizing that kidney health is underrated.

3

He recommends a comprehensive at-home lab testing stack: basic blood work, micronutrient panel, DUTCH hormone test, 3-day stool analysis (GI Effects), genetic saliva test, and food sensitivity test.

4

He will attend the Zenos Alive festival and summit in Riyadh (April 8–14, 2025), a fusion of wellness and music festival.

Protocols

Concrete recipes — what, when, how much, and why

3 items

Morning creatine gummy intake with immediate consumption

WhatTake 4 Zenos blueberry creatine gummies (providing ~5 g creatine monohydrate from Creapure) in a smoothie or with liquid, and drink immediately. Optionally snack on extra gummies during the day.
WhenMorning, in a smoothie.
Dose4 gummies (5 g creatine) per serving.
For whomAnyone seeking a convenient, stable form of creatine; those who dislike powders or want to avoid GI issues.
WhyMaintains muscle creatine stores and supports energy/cognition while avoiding the conversion to creatinine that plagues many powders and gummies.
CaveatsEnsure the gummies use high‑purity creatine like Creapure and low‑water manufacturing; never let mixed creatine sit.

Ben learned that many creatine gummies degrade because water in the gummy or liquid causes creatine to convert to creatinine. Zenos uses Creapure and processes that minimize water activity, preserving creatine stability. He stressed that even a short delay after mixing makes the creatine useless, so immediate consumption is key. This protocol reflects his personal adoption and his message that creatine supplementation should be as efficient as possible.

Mechanism

Creatine monohydrate hydrolyzes to creatinine when exposed to water over time, especially in the warm, wet environment of a gummy or after mixing. Immediate ingestion bypasses this, ensuring more creatine reaches muscle for ATP regeneration.

Personal experience

Ben is “addicted” to the blueberry gummies, uses four in his smoothie daily, and occasionally eats more. He finds them tasty and free of bloating because they use alulose instead of sugar alcohols.

I'm basically addicted to your creatine gummies.

Also said
“Four in my smoothie every morning… I'm getting around five grams of creatine in my smoothie. And then I I may or may not munch on a handful throughout the day.”— Exact dose and habit
“if you make like a creatine smooth… you should not wait to drink it. The longer that you wait, the more the water converts the creatine into creatinine… it's basically a waste of money.”— Critical timing advice

Layered at‑home lab testing to guide supplement choices

WhatStart with a basic blood panel (CBC, comprehensive metabolic profile, lipids, vitamin D, minerals). Then add: a micronutrient test (e.g., NutrEval) for fatty acids/amino acids/metals; a DUTCH urine hormone test; a 3‑day stool panel (GI Effects) for gut pathogens; a salivary genetics test; and a food sensitivity/allergy test. Most can be done at home via mail‑in kits.
WhenBaseline assessment and repeat every 6–12 months, or before starting a new supplement regimen.
DoseOne‑time panel, then follow‑up as needed.
For whomBiohackers, anyone on a supplement stack, or those with unexplained symptoms.
WhyEliminates guesswork and trend‑driven supplementation; reveals hidden deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, gut dysbiosis, and genetic susceptibilities that blood work alone misses.
CaveatsCosts can add up; some blood tests still require a lab draw, though the Generation Lab tasso device now enables at‑home blood collection.

Ben described how he moves clients beyond standard blood work. He sees blood as just the surface; the deeper layers—micronutrient, hormone metabolites, stool, genetics—give a complete picture. He specifically recommends the DUTCH test for upstream/downstream hormone metabolites and the GI Effects stool test for comprehensive gut analysis. He noted that all these tests are now orderable online and many can be done entirely at home, removing barriers to data‑driven health optimization.

Personal experience

Ben has used this approach with clients. He starts with the basic blood panel, then layers on the additional tests to design personalized supplement protocols. He advocates this as the way to avoid 'the guessing game.'

well blood kind of scratches the surface I mean it is for me to get an ideal picture… I'm looking at the basic blood panel right… and then now you can get a micronutrient test, right… and then you branch out beyond blood. I mean what I like to see is like a urinary hormones test, right? which shows like upstream and downstream metabolites of hormones called a Dutch test. A gut panel… the GI effects. It's like a 3-day stool panel.

Also said
“you can order a lot of these tests now like to your home.”— Convenience factor

Adopt alulose (allulose) as your go‑to sweetener

WhatUse alulose (allulose) in place of stevia, monk fruit, or sugar alcohols for sweetening supplements, smoothies, and cooking.
WhenAnytime you need sweetness without blood sugar impact.
DoseTo taste.
For whomAnyone aiming to avoid blood sugar spikes, insulin resistance, or digestive discomfort from artificial sweeteners.
WhyAlulose provides sweetness with zero net carbs, potentially improves insulin sensitivity (negative glycemic index), and does not cause the bloating and gas associated with sugar alcohols.
CaveatsAlulose is more expensive than other sweeteners.

Ben discovered alulose as the sweetener in Zenos creatine gummies. He noted it is unique because, while delivering sweetness, it may stabilize insulin sensitivity, making it a 'negative glycemic index' sweetener. He contrasted it with sugar alcohols like erythritol and mannitol that cause bloating, and with stevia/monk fruit which can have off‑tastes. He declared alulose the healthiest sweetener currently available.

Mechanism

Alulose is a rare sugar that the body absorbs but does not metabolize, so it doesn’t raise blood glucose. Some research suggests it may lower postprandial glucose and enhance insulin sensitivity.

Personal experience

Ben said, 'I like alyos because it's like the healthiest form of like sweetener that you can put right now in your body without getting any of the bad negative side effects from the other stuff.'

I like alyos because it's like the healthiest form of like sweetener that you can put right now in your body without getting any of the bad uh negative side effects from the other stuff.

Also said
“alulose is actually I consider that to be kind of like a negative glycemic index sweetener. It's a little bit more expensive as a raw ingredient, but basically it seems to … stabilize insulin sensitivity.”— Why he rates it high
“the other thing I like about it is it doesn't produce a lot of the bloating and the gas that you get from the sugar alcohols”— Digestive advantage

What's new

Personal practice updates, fresh positions, predictions

4 items

daily creatine gummy replacement for powder

Ben shifted from creatine powder to Zenos blueberry gummies, taking four in his smoothie daily.

Why this matters: Demonstrates a reliable, tasty delivery form that eliminates common stability issues with creatine powders and gummies.

Background

Creatine gummies recently drew negative press for inadequate potency and conversion to creatinine; Ben was skeptical but found a formulation using Creapure that solved these problems.

Ben had used creatine powder for years but switched after learning about contamination and conversion issues. He tested Zenos blueberry gummies, which use Creapure (the purest creatine monohydrate) and a low‑water manufacturing process to prevent creatine degrading to creatinine. He now adds four gummies to his morning smoothie for a 5 g dose, occasionally snacking on more. He emphasizes that any creatine mixed with liquid should be consumed immediately—otherwise the creatine becomes creatinine, essentially wasting money.

Personal experience

Ben says he is “addicted” to the blueberry gummies and uses them daily. “Four in my smoothie every morning… I’m getting around five grams of creatine in my smoothie. And then I may or may not munch on a handful throughout the day.”

I'm basically addicted to your creatine gummies.

Also said
“if you make like a creatine smooth, put creatine in your smoothie, let's say, or mix creatine with water, you should not wait to drink it. The longer that you wait, the more the water converts the creatine into creatinine… it's basically a waste of money.”— Explains why immediate consumption matters
“the blueberry is a uh it holds a special place in my heart.”— Flavor preference

daily kidney support for recurrent UTIs

Ben gave his wife the Uriven supplement for urinary tract and kidney health, rather than relying only on acute antibiotic treatment.

Why this matters: Highlights an underappreciated area—kidney health—and a practical daily supplement for women with frequent UTIs.

Background

Women who are sexually active commonly get UTIs; many take prophylactic antibiotics like macrobid with side effects. Uriven combines cranberry, dandelion, alpha‑lipoic acid, astragalus, and a stone‑breaker herb to support kidney function and urinary tract defense.

Ben noticed his wife got a UTI every few months, causing discomfort and interfering with their sex life. He gave her Uriven after learning it works on multiple pathways: dandelion as a diuretic, cranberry to acidify urine and prevent bacterial adhesion, alpha‑lipoic acid and astragalus to boost kidney microcirculation, and phyllanthus niruri to reduce mineral deposits. Unlike antibiotics, it can be taken daily without gut disruption, making it a maintenance supplement rather than a reactive fix.

Personal experience

Ben says, “my wife, you know, I I actually gave her yours in cuz she gets UTI. I mean, she probably loves me sharing this publicly, but maybe like once every three months she'll she'll get a UTI. And I don't like it because I don't like to see her suffering. And I also like to have sex with her.” He hasn’t yet followed up on her results.

I don't like to see her suffering. And I also like to have sex with her.

Also said
“You know, my wife, you know, I I actually gave her yours in cuz she gets UTI.”— Personal adoption for wife
“it's not an irritant. It's not something that you need to take only for a short term short period of time. This is something so natural that you can actually take every single day”— Guest’s point that Ben endorsed (daily safety)

oral probiotics for vaginal microbiome

Ben gave his wife Visen, an oral probiotic that targets vaginal flora, intrigued by the gut‑vagina axis concept.

Why this matters: Shifts from traditional vaginal inserts to an oral route; broadens the view of how supplements can influence intimate health.

Background

Vaginal health is often addressed with suppositories or antibiotics; Visen contains specific lactobacillus strains and cranberry, taken orally, aiming to balance the vaginal microbiome and reduce UTIs, discharge, and odor.

Ben was unfamiliar with oral probiotics for vaginal health until he learned from the guest about the gut‑vagina axis. Visen is formulated with targeted lactobacillus strains that populate the gut and can migrate to the vaginal tract, helping to maintain pH and prevent overgrowth of bad bacteria. It also includes cranberry for urinary protection. Ben gave it to his wife and found the concept compelling, joking that she’s “keeping your vagina in tip‑top shape.”

Personal experience

Ben said, “I gave that one to my wife when it arrived because I didn't feel a strong urge to take Vzen myself,” and later he quipped, “You know what? She she started keeping your vagina in tiptop shape.”

I gave that one to my wife when it arrived because I didn't feel a strong urge to take Vzen myself.

Also said
“You know what? She she started keeping your vagina in tiptop shape.”— Humorous personal note

comprehensive at-home lab testing for supplement personalization

Ben now guides clients away from trend‑chasing by recommending a layered set of at‑home tests: basic blood panel, micronutrient test, DUTCH urine hormone test, GI Effects stool test, salivary genetics, and food sensitivity test.

Why this matters: Moves beyond the standard annual blood test to a full‑body biomarker map that eliminates guesswork in supplement selection.

Background

Many people take supplements based on marketing or friends’ advice without knowing what their body actually needs. Ben had previously relied mainly on blood tests, but after digging deeper he added urine, stool, and genetic assessments.

Ben described his approach for clients: start with a basic blood panel (CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipids, vitamin D, minerals). Then layer on a micronutrient test like NutrEval to check fatty acids, amino acids, and metals. A DUTCH urine test reveals upstream and downstream hormone metabolites. A 3‑day stool panel (GI Effects) screens for parasites, yeast, fungi, and bacteria. Salivary genetics adds hereditary insight, and food sensitivity/allergy tests close the loop. Almost all of these can be ordered online and done at home, making the full stack more accessible than ever. He ties this to a philosophy: “I took away that whole guessing game out of it.”

Personal experience

Ben uses this protocol when designing supplement protocols for clients. He personally considers blood work just the start and advocates for this layered approach.

well blood kind of scratches the surface I mean it is for me to get an ideal picture ma let's say I'm helping somebody design a diet or optimize a supplement protocol I'm looking at the basic blood panel right some of the stuff that you mentioned like the complete blood count the lipid s comprehensive metabolic profile, you know, vitamin D, minerals, etc. And then now you can get a micronutrient test, right, that looks at fatty acids, amino acids, fungal markers, metals. Usually that test is called like um a neutraal or a metabolomics test.

Also said
“what I like to see is like a urinary hormones test, right? which shows like upstream and downstream metabolites of hormones called a Dutch test. A gut panel… the GI effects. It's like a 3-day stool panel.”— Specific tests he recommends
“you can order a lot of these tests now like to your home.”— Accessibility

Recommendations

Products, supplements, and tools mentioned in the episode

6 items

Zenos Creatine Gummies (blueberry)

Supplement

Ben switched to these gummies after learning about their Creapure monohydrate and low‑water manufacturing that prevents creatine from degrading to creatinine. He takes four gummies (5 g creatine) in his morning smoothie.

The gummies address common shortcomings of creatine powders (degradation in liquid) and poor‑quality gummies. Zenos uses Creapure, the purest form, and a proprietary process to limit water activity, ensuring the creatine remains intact. Sweetened with alulose, they avoid the bloating of sugar alcohols and offer a convenient, tasty delivery.

vs alternatives

vs. powders: no need to mix and drink instantly; vs. typical gummies: better stability, no creatinine formation, no sugar alcohols.

Personal experience

Ben says he is addicted and prefers blueberry over mango; he uses them daily and sometimes snacks on extra gummies.

I'm basically addicted to your creatine gummies.

Also said
“the blueberry is a uh it holds a special place in my heart.”— Flavor endorsement
Find Zenos

Zenos Uriven (urinary tract / kidney support)

Supplement

Ben’s wife suffers from recurrent UTIs; he gave her Uriven, a daily supplement that combines dandelion, cranberry, alpha‑lipoic acid, astragalus, and phyllanthus niruri to support kidney and urinary tract health.

Uriven works on multiple pathways: dandelion acts as a gentle diuretic to flush out bacteria, cranberry acidifies urine to discourage adhesion, alpha‑lipoic acid and astragalus improve microcirculation to kidney tissue, and the stone‑breaker herb helps prevent mineral deposits. Because it is natural and non‑irritating, it can be taken daily as a maintenance supplement rather than resorting to antibiotics only during acute infections.

vs alternatives

vs. cranberry‑only supplements: adds kidney support and circulation boost; vs. prophylactic antibiotics: no side effects, safe for daily use.

Personal experience

Ben shared that his wife got UTIs every few months, and he gave her Uriven to reduce their frequency. He values both her comfort and the impact on their intimacy.

my wife, you know, I I actually gave her yours in cuz she gets UTI.

Also said
“I don't like it because I don't like to see her suffering. And I also like to have sex with her.”— Personal motivation behind the recommendation
“it's not an irritant. It's not something that you need to take only for a short term short period of time. This is something so natural that you can actually take every single day”— Guest’s explanation of daily safety, echoed by Ben’s endorsement
Find Zenos

Zenos Visen (oral vaginal microbiome probiotic)

Supplement

An oral probiotic containing targeted lactobacillus strains and cranberry, designed to balance the vaginal microbiome, reduce UTIs, discharge, and odor. Ben gave it to his wife as a daily supplement.

Visen leverages the gut‑vagina axis: the lactobacillus strains populate the gut and can migrate to the vaginal tract, supporting a healthy pH and crowding out pathogens. Cranberry adds urinary tract protection. Ben praised the idea of an oral route instead of intravaginal suppositories and saw it as a progressive approach to women’s intimate health.

vs alternatives

vs. vaginal suppositories: non‑invasive, easy to take daily; vs. plain cranberry pills: adds microbiome support.

Personal experience

Ben handed the bottle to his wife with the quip that she’s now “keeping your vagina in tip‑top shape.” He hasn’t yet collected detailed feedback but is enthusiastic.

I gave that one to my wife when it arrived because I didn't feel a strong urge to take Vzen myself.

Also said
“You know what? She she started keeping your vagina in tiptop shape.”— Amusing personal remark showing his endorsement
Find Zenos

Zenos Beauty Zen (oral skin/hair supplement)

Supplement

An oral supplement that supports skin elasticity, collagen integrity, and hair density via bioavailable keratin, biotin, saw palmetto, and a DHT‑regulating stack. Ben highlights the “inside‑out” beauty concept.

Beauty Zen aims to improve what shows on the outside by supplying ingredients from the inside—keratin for hair/skin/nail structure, biotin and saw palmetto to blunt DHT‑related hair thinning, and a blend of clinically supported actives for collagen synthesis. Ben notes that taking it orally may be more effective than topical application because the nutrients are delivered through the bloodstream.

vs alternatives

vs. topical serums: systemic delivery may produce more consistent results; vs. generic biotin pills: added DHT blockers and keratin.

Personal experience

Ben hasn’t used Beauty Zen personally but remarks on the sophistication of the formula.

beauty zen is not a generic hair and skin type of biotin bomb… it's built to support skin elasticity, collagen integrity and hair density from the inside out using bioavailable keratin, biotin, saw palmetto and a stack of clinically backed actives that hit the inflammatory DHT hormone.

Also said
“if you take it orally and you're taking the right ingredients, it can actually work better than just applying to the skin. You're supplying your body from the inside out with blood supplies of the right ingredients.”— Mechanism claim for oral over topical
Find Zenos

Generation Lab 470‑biomarker at‑home blood test (Zenos partnership)

Tool

A tasso‑based blood test that collects a sample painlessly from the arm and mails it in, yielding results for 470 biomarkers across 21 organs within two weeks. Ben highlighted it as a convenient entry into comprehensive self‑quantification.

The tasso device adheres to the skin and draws blood into a tube without finger pricks. It simplifies the lab draw process, making a wide panel accessible from home. Ben referenced it while discussing his layered testing philosophy, indicating that such tools remove the friction of going to a lab or dealing with painful finger pricks.

vs alternatives

vs. traditional Labcorp/Quest draw: fully at‑home, painless; vs. finger‑prick kits: larger sample volume, less discomfort.

Personal experience

Ben hasn’t used this specific test yet but endorsed it as a game‑changer for at‑home biomarker tracking.

we at Zenos also kind of partner up with generation lab. So we're going to have our own biomarket testing. We're going 470 biomarkers across 20 across 21 organs

Also said
“it's a paso. It's the tassel thing that you put at home and you just uh take it out, ship it in the mail, and within like two weeks you get full results.”— Explanation of the tasso device
Find Generation

Zenos Alive Festival & Summit (Riyadh, April 8–14, 2025)

Service

A three‑day wellness and fitness festival followed by a three‑day academic summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The festival features a built wellness city with multiple districts and transforms into a Coachella‑style music event at night. Ben promoted it as a cool way to experience a healthier lifestyle.

Ben framed the event as a proof that living a health‑optimized life doesn’t mean being boring—attendees can enjoy music, social dinners, and cutting‑edge education in one place. He will be present and expressed a desire to meet podcast listeners there, noting that it’s hosted in a part of the world he hasn’t explored before.

Personal experience

Ben had discussed the event at the A4M conference in Vegas and looks forward to attending; he encourages his audience to join.

I'll include links to the uh guess the Zenos Health Summit and Zenos Alive. April 8th through 14th. … I would love to see some of my podcast listeners there and hang out in a what for me is a new part of the world.

Also said
“we're building our own fitness and wellness city… at night it turns into a Coachella type music festival.”— Unique selling point of the event
Find Zenos

Notable quotes

Lines worth pulling out — contrarian, specific, or perfectly phrased

5 items
I'm basically addicted to your creatine gummies.
Candid, humorous admission of his daily supplement habit.
The issue is not that creatine is harmful. It's that it's basically a waste of money. You know, you're not getting your creatine inside your muscles.
Clarifies a common misconception about creatine and creatinine, underlining the practical loss rather than health risk.
You know, you look at supplement companies and it's pretty easy to find stuff that supports the brain, supports the muscle, supports longevity. I like your guys's formula in many of these avenues, but then there's some stuff that people don't talk about as much. Uh, kidney health
Points out the neglected area of kidney support amidst the typical biohacking focus.
I like alyos because it's like the healthiest form of like sweetener that you can put right now in your body without getting any of the bad uh negative side effects from the other stuff.
Strong endorsement of alulose over all other sweeteners.
I don't like to see her suffering. And I also like to have sex with her.
Unfiltered personal motivation for using the urinary tract supplement, blending empathy with humor.

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Topics covered

creatine-gummiescreatine-stabilitykidney-healthurinary-tract-healthself-quantificationhome-lab-testingdutch-testgi-effectsmicronutrient-testingalulose-sweetenerlicensed-ingredientssupplement-formulationvaginal-microbiomebeauty-supplementszenos-alive-festivalmelanoma-diagnosis
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Educational summary of the cited expert source — not medical advice. Open the source recording linked above and consult a qualified physician before acting on any protocol.