March 23, 2026
Episode #2: Creatine Explained + Colloidal Silver & Bioavailability
Jason and Brian kick off Episode 2 with their Hot Topic: Creatine, one of the most researched and misunderstood supplements in nutrition. They break down how creatine supports strength, muscle performance, brain health, and energy production — plus who should consider taking it and how to use it effectively.
🔥 Rapid Fire: Buy or Don’t Buy – Jason and Brian give quick, research-backed takes on trending supplements and wellness practices including NAC, intermittent fasting, electrolyte powders, curcumin, and colloidal silver, helping you cut through marketing hype and focus on what actually supports your health.
🎙️ Guest Conversation: Theo Quinto, Co-Founder of Sovereign Silver – Jason and Brian sit down with Theo Quinto, second-generation co-founder of Sovereign Silver and Sovereign Naturals, to discuss the history of the company, the science behind silver hydrosol, and how their flagship product has become a trusted name in the natural health space.
⚡ Health Deep Dive: Bioavailability – Not all supplements are created equal. Jason and Brian explain bioavailability—how well nutrients are absorbed and used by the body—and why delivery method, formulation, and quality make a huge difference in whether a supplement actually works.
🧠 Mind & Spirit: Living a Grateful Life – The episode wraps with a conversation about gratitude and mental health, exploring how intentional daily practices can improve emotional resilience, perspective, and overall well-being. Grounded in 60+ years of combined experience, this episode helps you better understand supplements, nutrition science, and the habits that support both physical and mental health.
References
[1:03:22] BioSNEDS Berberine
The BioSNEDs version of berberine is reported to be 15 times better absorbed.
Reference: Berberine: The All-In-One Health Enhancer[1:03:21] Berberine's Absorption
Berberine has very low typical absorption, estimated at around 0.67%.
Reference: Liposomal Delivery as a Strategy to Improve Berberine Bioavailability[1:04:54] BioSNEDS' Curcumin
BioSNEDS’s curcumi had 40 times better absorption.
Reference: Curcumin: The Powerhouse for Holistic Health[1:04:53] Turmeric's First Pass
Over 90% of the turmeric is eliminated during first-pass metabolism.
Reference: Chemopreventive efficacy of oral curcumin: a prodrug hypothesis[1:09:05] Gratitude and the Immune System
The intention of being grateful in your life may help improve immune system markers.
Reference: Major Depression[1:09:05] Anxiety and Gratitude
You cannot be anxious and grateful at the same time.
Reference: Effects of gratitude intervention on mental health and well‐being among workers[2:20] Turmeric's Active Compound
The active compounds in turmeric are curcuminoids.
Reference: Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers[4:40] Creatine and Bodybuilding
Creatine first gained popularity in the bodybuilding world, but research on its effects dates back over 50 years. Early studies—some conducted in military settings—explored its impact on energy, endurance, and strength.
Reference: Beyond Muscles: The Untapped Potential of Creatine[5:15] Creatine at the Cellular Level
Creatine works at the cellular level to help regenerate energy, allowing your muscles to push past fatigue and perform better during weightlifting.
Reference: Effects of Creatine Supplementation and Resistance Training[5:30] Feeling Effects of Creatine
You can feel the effects of creatine relatively quickly—often within just a few days.
Reference: Elevation of creatine in resting and exercised muscle of normal subjects by creatine supplementation[5:55] Cognitive Effects of Creatine
Recent research suggests creatine may also be an effective tool for supporting cognitive health.
Reference: The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults[6:55] Creatine and ATP Recycling
Creatine works at the cellular level by helping recycle ATP—the body’s primary energy molecule—so it makes sense that it can also help energize neurons in the brain.
Reference: Creatine and creatinine metabolism[7:45] Creatine Loading Cycle
There’s some debate around dosing—especially the “loading phase,” which was traditionally around 20g per day for about two weeks.
Reference: Muscle creatine loading in men[9:30] Dosing for Creating
The typical daily supplemental dose of creatine is 3 to 5 grams, with the goal of reaching what’s known as muscle saturation.
Reference: International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand[10:15] 20g of Creatine is a Waste
Regardless of whether you use a loading phase or not, you’ll still reach muscle saturation. The traditional 20g loading phase is unnecessary.
Reference: Muscle creatine loading in men[10:45] Creatine - No Side Effects
No long-term side effects have been identified with creatine use.
Reference: International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand[12:00] Creatine Powder is the Most Stable Form
Creatine is most stable in its powder form. Outside of that, other forms can present stability challenges.
Reference: Analysis of the efficacy, safety, and regulatory status of novel forms of creatine[12:25] Creatine Gummies
Recent reports have found that some creatine gummies do not meet their labeled dosage claims.
Reference: Those Creatine Gummies You Bought Online Might Not Contain Any Creatine[13:30] Downside to Creatine Gummies
There have been recent reports of creatine gummies not meeting their labeled dosage claims. When creatine is improperly formulated or stored, it can potentially degrade into creatinine, reducing effectiveness and raising concerns about product quality and stability.
Reference: Analysis of the efficacy, safety, and regulatory status of novel forms of creatine[13:50] Creatine in Drink Form
Getting creatine into drinks in a stable format requires careful formulation. It’s important to look at stability studies, since creatine can degrade over time depending on factors like temperature, pH, and storage conditions.
Reference: Evaluation of the stability of creatine in solution prepared from effervescent creatine formulations[14:40] Creatine is Safe for Women
Creatine is safe for women and does not cause male characteristics such as facial hair.
Reference: International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand[14:50] Creatine is Safe and Effective
Creatine is both safe and effective.
Reference: International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand[16:25] HMB Helps You Retain Muscle
HMB helps support muscle retention. Creatine and HMB can be a worthwhile combination, especially during a weight-loss regimen such as with GLP-1 therapies, as they may help support muscle maintenance while losing fat.
Reference: Effect of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate supplementation on muscle loss in older adults[19:00] EPA and DHA are Important
EPA and DHA are important for cell structure and function, and they also play a key role in supporting cognitive health.
Reference: Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Brain Functions[19:30] NAC and Glutathione
NAC converts to glutathione in the body.
Reference: Medical and Dietary Uses of N-Acetylcysteine[19:30] NAC - Wrongly Categorized
NAC (N-acetylcysteine) was often pigeonholed as a drug, despite its broader applications and use as a supplement.
Reference: N-Acetylcysteine[20:15] Alpha GPC at High Doses
Alpha GPC is sometimes used at higher doses, but some research suggests it may be best used in cycles rather than continuously—for example, limiting use to around six months at a time.
Reference: Alpha-Gpc - Uses, Side Effects, and More[21:00] Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting has been linked to weight loss and improvements in energy levels for some people.
Reference: Intermittent fasting and weight loss[23:00] Curcumin and Absorption
Curcumin is not well absorbed on its own.
Reference: Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers[23:15] Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 has often been referred to as the “vitamin of the decade”.
Reference: Vitamin D: a D-Lightful health perspective[24:55] Magnesium is Crucial
Magnesium is crucial for helping muscles relax in the body, while calcium supports muscle contraction. Imbalances in these minerals can contribute to muscle cramping.
Reference: Magnesium in Disease Prevention and Overall Health[25:20] Magnesium Dosing
100 mg of magnesium provides about 24% of the RDI. In many cases, doses above 200–300 mg may be unnecessary unless there are specific circumstances or other factors involved.
Reference: Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals[25:20] Magnesium - Bowel Tolerance
Magnesium glycinate is a well-absorbed form of magnesium. With supplementation, bowel tolerance can vary—some people gradually build up intake over time as the body adapts.
Reference: Adequacy Rate of Magnesium Citrate Bowel Preparation in a Large Retrospective Cohort[26:50] DeHydration
The majority of people are chronically dehydrated.
Reference: Inadequate Hydration, BMI, and Obesity Among US Adults[27:00] Function of Electrolytes
Electrolytes play a key role in maintaining fluid balance, nerve signaling, and muscle function. The three main electrolytes are sodium, potassium, and chloride.
Reference: Electrolytes[29:00] Sugar and Electrolytes
A small amount of sugar can help electrolytes work more effectively. Around 4–6 grams of sugar can aid absorption by supporting the transport of sodium and water in the gut, helping the body take in electrolytes more efficiently.
Reference: Glucose-stimulated sodium transport by the human intestine during experimental cholera[29:30] Silver's Support
Silver is sometimes marketed for immune support, but there is no strong clinical evidence that it is effective for that purpose. It is not considered safe for routine daily use, as chronic intake of silver can lead to a condition called argyria, where silver accumulates in the body and can permanently discolor the skin.
Reference: Silver as an Antibiotic-Independent Antimicrobial[37:25] Silver's Conductivity
Silver is the most electrically conductive metal.
Reference: Electrical resistivity and conductivity[38:40] Silver's Purity
Bio-active silver hydrosols are marketed as highly purified colloidal silver products. Five-nines purity (99.999%) is significantly higher than jewelry silver, which is typically around 92.5% pure, and products like Sovereign Silver are often described as reaching this level of purity.
Reference: The Silver Story[43:10] Argyria Misinformation
Argyria misinformation is common out there. There is PR against silver, but the claim is that pure silver at low concentrations is safe.
Reference: Silver in Drinking-water[53:30] Bioavailability
Bioavailability vs absorption — absorption is what gets into the bloodstream, while bioavailability is how much of it actually remains available in the system in an active form once it’s processed.
Reference: Bioavailability Studies Submitted in NDAs or INDs[56:15] First Pass Elimination
First-pass elimination in the liver is the primary elimination pathway. High doses are often cleared quickly.
Reference: First Pass Effect[56:50] Liposomes
Liposomes can enter the bloodstream faster than standard supplements. They help compounds reach circulation more quickly.
Reference: Bioavailability of Liposomal Vitamin C in Powder Form[57:45] BioSNEDS
BioSNEDs maximize absorption and bioavailability.
Reference: BioSNEDS™ High-Bioavailability Nutraceuticals[57:46] BioSNEDS and Creatine
BioSNEDs provide up to 22x the bioavailability of standard creatine.
Reference: Creatine Monohydrate: Supporting Optimal Performance[57:47] PK Studies
Human pharmacokinetic (PK) studies are the gold standard for measuring enhanced absorption.
Reference: Bioavailability and Bioequivalence in Drug Development