Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Drop Acid summary
The Surprising New Science of Uric Acid--The Key to Losing Weight, Controlling Blood Sugar, and Achieving Extraordinary Health
25 mins
Brief summary
Drop Acid by David Perlmutter is a comprehensive guide on how to optimize brain health and function using a combination of diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes. It presents evidence-based strategies for improving cognitive performance, enhancing mood, and preventing or reversing neurological disorders.
Topics
Table of Contents
Drop Acid
Summary of 4 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 4
Part One: The Suspect
Key takeaway: High uric acid levels are linked to many of today’s leading causes of premature death.
What do Leonardo da Vinci, Queen Anne of Britain, and Henry VIII all have in common? Many things, probably. But for now there’s only one commonality that concerns us – gout. That’s right, they all had gout, a form of arthritis that induces throbbing joints and excruciating inflammation, and is otherwise known as “that thing that causes your big toe to swell up and become super painful.”
Gout is often regarded as a malady of the past, like rickets or consumption. And that’s not totally inaccurate: it used to be more common. But that doesn’t mean gout isn’t still with us.
Over the last century, cases of gout have continued to rise. Between the 1960s and 1990s in the United States, the number of patients with gout doubled. Today, almost 10 million people in the US have gout.
Just like kidney stones, the main marker of those with gout is chronically elevated uric-acid levels. Here’s the rub: until very recently, these two ailments were the only reason most doctors paid attention to their patients’ UA levels. The reference range – often under 7 milligrams per deciliter – is mostly derived from UA’s connection to gout. But anything higher than 5.5 is what the author calls a “high normal,” and comes with a host of other dangers. According to a study over an eight-year period by the American College of Rheumatology, high uric-acid levels are to blame for 16 percent of all-cause mortality – that just means death from any cause. And for cardiovascular diseases such as stroke or coronary heart disease? That jumps to 39 percent.
There may be no immediate symptoms. But chronically elevated levels of uric acid can cause major problems. These often play out over a longer period, culminating in all sorts of diseases based on inflammation, from Alzheimer’s to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and other disorders linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome, as well as sexual dysfunction in men.
So what is it exactly that’s causing our uric-acid levels to rise? Remember: uric acid is made in our body. And there are two main sources that cause this process to happen.
The first is fructose. Along with its turbo-charged sibling, high-fructose corn syrup, fructose has become the cheapest ingredient in recent decades. In concentrated form, it’s added to nearly everything, from (as you’d expect) sodas and desserts to (as you might not expect) breads, sauces, and yogurts.
The second is something called purines. They’re a class of chemicals present in nearly all living cells – including the human body. Purines are necessary for healthy physiology, but elevated levels can be harmful. You can find them in many foods, from seafood and meat to beer and some vegetables.
When you ingest purines or fructose, the body naturally breaks them down in the liver, the intestines, and the inner cellular lining of blood vessels. As a result, voilà. Uric acid is born.
It can then trigger fat production. Even for those who are not obese, excessive uric acid can cause fat to build up within the liver.
OK! You’ve made it through the main science part. Time for a celebratory deep breath.
Want to see all full key ideas from Drop Acid?
Key ideas in Drop Acid
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Drop Acid about?
Drop Acid (2022) is an in-depth exploration of uric acid, a substance increasingly linked to many modern health issues, from obesity and diabetes to hypertension and stroke. Uric acid has long been seen as a precursor to gout and kidney stones, but new research suggests that high levels of uric acid can contribute to many other health issues over the long term. With reference to scientific studies and a three-week “LUV” (Lower Uric Values) diet plan complete with recipes, this Blink will prepare you to optimize your health by reducing foods and behaviors that play a part in raising uric-acid levels.
Drop Acid Review
Drop Acid by David Perlmutter (2021) is an eye-opening exploration of the power of psychedelic substances in improving mental health. Here's why this book is a fascinating read:
- With compelling case studies and extensive research, it presents a convincing argument for the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.
- Delving into the history of psychedelic use and its impact on the brain, it offers a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
- Its balanced and thought-provoking approach challenges popular misconceptions and encourages open-mindedness towards psychedelic therapy.
Who should read Drop Acid?
- People living with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or gout
- Health enthusiasts looking to optimize their diet
- Doctors eager to add more nutritional expertise to their repertoire
Categories with Drop Acid
Book summaries like Drop Acid
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Drop Acid FAQs
What is the main message of Drop Acid?
The main message of Drop Acid is about the potential benefits of using psychedelics for therapeutic purposes.
How long does it take to read Drop Acid?
The reading time for Drop Acid varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Drop Acid a good book? Is it worth reading?
Drop Acid is a fascinating book for those interested in exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. It provides valuable insights and research-backed information.
Who is the author of Drop Acid?
The author of Drop Acid is David Perlmutter.
What to read after Drop Acid?
If you're wondering what to read next after Drop Acid, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The 40-Day Sugar Fast by Wendy Speake
- Wheat Belly by William Davis
- How Not to Age by Michael Greger
- Good Energy by Casey Means
- Women, Food, and Hormones by Sara Gottfried
- Brain Wash by David Perlmutter
- Marriage Be Hard by Kevin and Melissa Fredericks
- Tapping by Donna Eden
- Lagom by Linnea Dunne
- The Singularity Is Nearer by Ray Kurzweil