Ben Greenfield’s Weekly Roundup: May 1

Welcome to Ben Greenfield’s Weekly Roundup!

In this weekly post, I share with you my most interesting discoveries of the week, including the latest news on the fronts of fitness, nutrition, health, wellness, biohacking, and anti-aging research. I also recap my upcoming events and special announcements so you can keep up with opportunities to learn, giveaways, discounts, and more!

New Discoveries

Sleep Deprived But Still Need To Perform? *Here’s* Where Creatine May Help (& Where It Won’t!) 🧠😴

You know the feeling: a red-eye flight, a late work push, the kids up all night, and the next day you still have to think clearly, make decisions, and perform.

It’s easy to reach for caffeine, which can help with alertness, but it doesn’t necessarily fix the deeper issue, which is your brain running low on usable energy.

This is where creatine gets interesting (yes, creatine can help during sleep deprivation, but not in the way most people expect). It’s likely not going to keep you “awake” or improve simple, repetitive tasks. 

Instead, research shows that creatine (my preferred brand is Kion) can specifically support complex brain functions, such as decision-making, problem-solving, and focus.

For example, in one study, creatine improved performance on central executive tasks after 36 hours without sleep, while simpler functions saw little benefit.

And a newer study adds another layer: even a single dose of creatine can help preserve cognitive performance during a night of sleep restriction. At around 0.2 grams/kg body weight (roughly 16 grams for a 175 lb./80 kg person), participants showed better performance in logic, numerical tasks, language processing speed, and reaction time, and scored better on the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), one of the most widely used measures of behavioral alertness.

Creatine essentially buffered the typical cognitive drop-off that comes with sleep loss.

What’s likely happening is that creatine is acting as a rapid energy reserve for the brain, helping to maintain ATP availability when your system is under stress. This effect seems to show up most when you actually need it, including during fatigue, sleep deprivation, or high cognitive demand (or when all three combine!).

So no, creatine won’t replace sleep. But if you’re running on fumes and still need to think clearly, it can help your brain stay sharper for the tasks that matter most.

Want to go deeper on how creatine supports brain function, performance under stress, and recovery?

I’ve broken down the research and exactly how I use it in the resources below:

Panicking over what to get Mom this Mother’s Day and have no idea where to start, or just don’t want to give her another *boring* gift this year? 

Skip the usual suspects: flowers that fade within three days, candles that quickly burn out, and bath bombs that stain your bathtub cotton candy blue.

The special woman in your life deserves something incredible that *actually* lasts. I mean, she changed your diapers, right?

So… I put together my 2026 Mother’s Day Gift Guide with one thing in mind: helping you give Mom a vetted present that delivers her fresh energy, better recovery, unparalleled sleep, and long-term health.

🎁 Just a few highlights from the guide:

• Sunlighten mPulse Sauna: Personalized infrared sauna sessions for recovery, relaxation, detox, and deeper sleep.
• Apollo Neuro: A wearable designed to support calm, stress resilience, and better sleep.
• Young Goose Gift Sets: Advanced skincare protocols focused on repair, cellular energy, and skin longevity.
• Pendulum Metabolic Daily: Clinically studied probiotics for gut health, metabolism, and steady energy.
• LIFEprint HTMA Test: At-home testing to expose hidden mineral imbalances, stress patterns, and energy roadblocks.
• Boundless: My bestselling health optimization book packed with strategies for hormones, metabolism, longevity, and peak performance.

So, what are you waiting for?

Scroll through, find Mom a memorable gift, and use the discount codes listed in the guide for extra savings on these time-sensitive deals.

👉 Grab the Perfect Gift for Mom