Huge thanks for those who are in Applied Growth 2026- awesome I am stoked to work with you!

Today I’m joined by my good friend Dr. Eric Trexler, exercise scientist, educator, and Director of Education at Stronger by Science, for a wide-ranging, no-BS conversation on what physiology actually looks like in the real world.

We dig into beetroot juice, nitric oxide, and “pump” supplements, why the blood-flow story is usually oversold, and why neuromuscular function and calcium handling may matter far more than chasing a swollen muscle.

We also talk about why most supplement mechanisms sound great on paper… and quietly fall apart once you look at healthy humans who already function pretty well.

From there, the conversation expands into human variability, elite athletic outliers, and why normal distributions actually guarantee that “freaks” exist — whether people are comfortable admitting it or not.

We also unpack NEAT, energy expenditure, and why exercise doesn’t scale linearly for fat loss, including how the body aggressively manages its energy budget when stress or activity gets too high.

If you care about performance, body composition, or just understanding how the human system really works, this episode will recalibrate a lot of assumptions.

​Beetroot, Blood Flow & More << details here

Episode Chapters:

• 05:01 Diving into Beet Root and Nitrate Research
• 05:58 Mechanisms and Effects of Nitrate Supplements
• 10:14 Challenges and Insights in Supplement Research
• 34:19 Elite Athletes and Physiological Variability
• 43:16 Debating the Value of Outliers in Research
• 44:38 The Importance of Studying Rare Genetic Conditions
• 45:46 Challenges in Grant Writing for Rare Conditions
• 47:39 Blood Flow and Muscle Performance
• 49:14 The Science Behind Muscle Pumps and Hypertrophy
• 56:09 Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity
• 58:02 The Non-Linear Relationship Between Activity and Energy Intake
• 01:01:28 Exercise, Appetite, and Weight Management
• 01:14:19 Balancing Cardio and Strength Training for Optimal Health
• 01:21:14 Closing Remarks and Resources

Check out the YouTube link below if you prefer to watch the podcast.

​Beetroot, Blood Flow & More << YouTube

Much love,
Dr Mike
PS - If you are liking the podcast, if you could do me a huge favor and subscribe to our channel in Youtube, that would be a massive help.
We are working to get over 1,000 subscribers. It will take you 5 seconds, go HERE. Thank you!

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Mike T Nelson CISSN, CSCS, MSME, PhD
Associate Professor, Carrick Institute
Owner, Extreme Human Performance, LLC
Editorial Board Member, STRONG Fitness Mag

Mike T Nelson is a PhD and not a physician or registered dietitian. The contents of this email should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health.

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