Is This Like Drinking HUNDREDS of Bottles Of Hydrogen In A Single Sitting? The Massive Antioxidant Benefits of *Inhaling* Hydrogen, With Dr. Tyler LeBaron & Alex Tarnava.
What I Discuss with Dr. Tyler LeBaron & Alex Tarnava:
- Why today’s low-fiber diets have reduced your gut’s natural hydrogen production, and how supplementing it through water or inhalation can restore balance, ease stress, speed recovery, and protect against muscle damage and hormone decline.04:06
- Alex Tarnava’s co-authored research showing how six weeks of drinking hydrogen-rich water impacts exercise-related biomarkers, recovery, and overall performance…5:58
- A trial in Olympic-level athletes where the placebo group showed massive spikes in muscle damage markers (CK and myoglobin), while the hydrogen group was protected from these rises…6:14
- How molecular hydrogen works like an adaptogen by spiking healthy stress during exercise, speeding recovery, and mimicking the benefits of training or caloric restriction without the downsides…10:00
- Hydrogen inhalation as the “next big thing” in biohacking, how it delivers hydrogen directly to the brain and muscles in ways water can’t, and the safety concerns around hydrogen machines…13:05
- Why staying below 4% hydrogen is critical for safety, how nasal cannulas often dilute the dose below therapeutic levels, and the real risks of explosions and burns that have been documented when machines deliver higher concentrations…22:03
- How the Inhale H2 machine stands out, ensuring every breath matches clinical study doses, and solving the dilution problem that makes most other machines ineffective…27:37
- Early cancer studies showing how the dose can flip hydrogen from protective to anti-tumor, new insights on the 20–30 minute sweet spot for inhalation, and real stories of people finding sharper focus and effortless sleep within minutes…34:50
- Why inhalation delivers far more hydrogen than water but works differently, how combining both gives unique benefits, and how machines split distilled water into pure hydrogen for safe use…45:43
- How hydrogen baths may rival the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) protocol for injuries, boost skin health, and raise questions about whether hydrogen can truly enter the bloodstream through the skin…49:20
- Hydrogen as a “universal stacker” that amplifies benefits and buffers risks when combined with red light, sauna, cold plunges, or exercise…53:07
- The price of Inhale H2, its safety and efficiency, and the hidden dangers of cheaper hydrogen machines…59:19
In this episode with Dr. Tyler LeBaron and Alex Tarnava, you’ll get to discover the cutting edge of molecular hydrogen science and its surprising benefits for recovery, stress modulation, athletic performance, and even sleep. You’ll hear first-hand updates on the latest research and technology behind hydrogen-rich water and hydrogen inhalation, why hydrogen acts as a redox adaptogen rather than a conventional antioxidant, and how it stacks with other wellness tools like red light and cold therapy. Along the way, Tyler and Alex also tackle the potential risks and rewards of hydrogen inhalation devices—including flammability concerns—while sharing practical advice on dosing, delivery methods, and the best practices for safely and effectively using one of the most fascinating compounds in modern health optimization.
Tyler W. LeBaron, MSc, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the science-based, nonprofit, Molecular Hydrogen Institute. His background is in biochemistry, physiology, and exercise science. He has taught physiology and currently teaches exercise physiology and chemistry lab classes at Southern Utah University as an adjunct instructor. He interned at Nagoya University in Japan, in the Department of Neurogenetics, to research the molecular mechanisms of hydrogen gas on cell-signaling pathways. Tyler is a director of the International Hydrogen Standards Association (IHSA) and the International Molecular Hydrogen Association (IMHA). He speaks at medical conferences in the US for doctors’ Continuing Medical Education (CME)/Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and at academic biomedical hydrogen symposia and conferences around the world. Also, he is a member of the Academic Committee of Taishan Institute for Hydrogen Biomedical Research. He collaborates with researchers at home and abroad and helps advance the education, research, and awareness of hydrogen as a potential therapeutic medical gas. When not doing research, he is often found training and competing in running and, recently, as a competitive arm wrestler.
Alex Tarnava is a self-taught scientist, inventor, and author whose work sits at the intersection of biomedical innovation, sovereign health, and philosophical disruption. He is the inventor of the world’s only open-cup molecular hydrogen tablet—a patented delivery system that has become the most studied and widely adopted form of hydrogen therapy globally. The technology has been used in over 21 published clinical trials and has helped catalyze a new wave of research into the therapeutic potential of molecular hydrogen.
Alex has co-authored 17 papers through peer review, with one additional publication in press and several others under review. His contributions are widely cited in the field and have played a prominent role in advancing research on molecular hydrogen as a therapeutic.
He is also the co-inventor—alongside Tyler—of Inhale H₂, the first safe and effective hydrogen inhalation system. Alex’s work on advancing research in the field of hydrogen has been recognized by the Molecular Hydrogen Institute (MHI), which invited him to become the first chairman of the MHI Research Committee.
So stay tuned, because by the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with a clear understanding of the science and best practices behind hydrogen therapy—one of the most fascinating frontiers in health, recovery, and performance.
Please Scroll Down for the Sponsors, Resources, and Transcript
Episode Sponsors:Â
LeelaQ: Not only do LeelaQ’s products neutralize EMFs, increase ATP production, optimize HRV, and improve blood flow, but they’ve been third-party proven to do so in placebo-controlled double-blind studies. Visit leelaq.com and use code BEN10 for 10% off.
Gameday Men’s Health: Gameday Men’s Health offers science-backed, physician-led men’s health optimization with personalized protocols for testosterone, peptide therapy, ED treatment, and more—helping you perform at your best whether you’re training hard or keeping up with life. Visit gamedaymenshealth.com/bengreenfield for a free testosterone test and consultation at a clinic near you.
BEAM Minerals: If you want to up your mineral game, give BEAM Minerals a try. Go to beamminerals.com and use code BEN at checkout for 20% off your order.
Thrive Market: Discover how Thrive Market delivers premium, clean-label groceries from top brands like Simple Mills and Primal Kitchen at up to 30% off retail prices, making healthy eating accessible without compromising your budget or values. Skip the junk without overspending—visit thrivemarket.com/ben for 30% off your first order plus a FREE $60 gift.
BIOptimizers MassZymes: MassZymes is a powerful, best-in-class enzyme supplement that improves digestion, reduces gas and bloating, and provides relief from constipation. Go to bioptimizers.com/ben and use code ben10 for 10% off your order.
BON CHARGE: BON CHARGE is a holistic wellness brand with a wide range of products that naturally address the issues of modern life. Their products can help you sleep better, perform better, recover faster, balance hormones, reduce inflammation, and so much more. Go to boncharge.com/GREENFIELD and use coupon code GREENFIELD to save 15%.
Resources from this episode:Â
- Guest Name:
- Alex Tarnava
- Tyler LeBaron, Director of Molecular Hydrogen Institute
- Podcasts:
- Ben’s podcast episode with Dr. Tyler LeBaron:
- Ben’s podcast episode with Alex Tarnava:
- Books:
- Alex Tarvana, Stress Hacked (coming out soon!)
- Studies:
- Tyler LeBaron, Hydrogen-Rich Water Decreases Muscle Damage and Improves Power Endurance in Elite Athletes: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- A rat study that showed administration of hydrogen gas drastically prevented the brain damage from the stroke, published in Nature Medicine in 2007.
- A joint project by Baylor and Texas A&M University, published in the 1970s on hydrogen and cancer.
- Analysis of the effects of hydrogen gas inhalation and drinking hydrogen water.
- Other Resources: