252. What Is Bioavailability and Why It Matters for Your Supplements

The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka

Gary Brecka

Health & Fitness

4.8 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 12 March 2026

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

You’ve been told that supplements just make “expensive urine,” and if you’re taking the wrong forms, that criticism is completely valid. In this episode, I’m breaking down the science of bioavailability and exposing why the supplement industry has been prioritizing cost and shelf stability over what actually works in your body. From creatine HCl vs. monohydrate to methylfolate vs. folic acid, the form of a nutrient determines whether it does anything at all. CLICK HERE TO BECOME GARYS VIP!: https://bit.ly/4ai0Xwg Thank you to our partners A-GAME: “ULTIMATE15” FOR 15% OFF: http://bit.ly/4kek1ij AION: “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4h6KHAD AIRES: "ULTIMATE20 " FOR 20% OFF: https://bit.ly/4a3Duze BAJA GOLD: "ULTIMATE10" FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/3WSBqUa BODYHEALTH: “ULTIMATE20” FOR 20% OFF: http://bit.ly/4e5IjsV CARAWAY: “ULTIMATE” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/3Q1VmkC COLD LIFE: THE ULTIMATE HUMAN PLUNGE: https://bit.ly/4eULUKp GENETIC METHYLATION TEST (UK ONLY): https://bit.ly/48QJJrk GENETIC TEST (USA ONLY): ⁠https://bit.ly/3Yg1Uk9 GOPUFF: GET YOUR FAVORITE SNACK!: https://bit.ly/4obIFDC H2TABS: “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4hMNdgg HEALF: 10% OFF YOUR ORDER: https://bit.ly/41HJg6S PEPTUAL: “TUH10” FOR 10% OFF: https://bit.ly/4mKxgcn RHO NUTRITION: “ULTIMATE15” FOR 15% OFF: https://bit.ly/44fFza0 SNOOZE: LET’S GET TO SLEEP!: https://bit.ly/4pt1T6V WHOOP: JOIN & GET 1 FREE MONTH!: https://bit.ly/3VQ0nzW Watch the “Ultimate Human Podcast” every Tuesday & Thursday at 9AM EST: YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RPQYX8 Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3RQftU0 Connect with Gary Brecka Instagram: https://bit.ly/3RPpnFs TikTok: https://bit.ly/4coJ8fo X: https://bit.ly/3Opc8tf Facebook: https://bit.ly/464VA1H LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4hH7Ri2 Website: https://bit.ly/4eLDbdU Merch: https://bit.ly/4aBpOM1 Newsletter: https://bit.ly/47ejrws Ask Gary: https://bit.ly/3PEAJuG Timestamps 00:00 Intro of Show 01:46 What is Bioavailability? 02:29 Different Types of Creatine 04:04 Folic Acid vs. Methyfolate vs. Vitamin B12 07:04 Magnesium Deficiency Solutions 09:19 Risks of Supplementation without Proper Understanding Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. It is not intended for diagnosing or treating any health condition. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making health or wellness decisions. Gary Brecka is the owner of Ultimate Human, LLC which operates The Ultimate Human podcast and promotes certain third-party products used by Gary Brecka in his personal health and wellness protocols and daily life and for which Ultimate Human LLC and / or Gary Brecka directly or indirectly holds an economic interest or receives compensation. Accordingly, statements made by Gary Brecka and others (including on The Ultimate Human podcast) may be considered promotional in nature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Maybe you've heard that supplements are only good for making expensive pee.
0:03.3	And honestly, the critics aren't entirely wrong.
0:06.1	Walk into any pharmacy or health food store and you'll find shelves packed with supplements that your body can't even use.
0:11.6	Today we're talking about bioavailability. It's the percentage of a substance that enters your bloodstream and becomes available for your body to use.
0:19.1	The supplement industry has prioritized cost and shelf stability over what actually works
0:23.8	in the human body.
0:25.0	And most people have no idea.
0:26.6	They're taking supplements based on marketing claims without understanding the form
0:30.6	of the ingredient determines whether it will do anything at all.
0:34.4	Iowa availability isn't a marketing term.
0:37.1	It's absolutely real and it's rooted in
0:39.2	biochemistry and genetics. And you understand it, you stop wasting money on supplements that don't
0:44.1	work and you start giving your body what it actually needs in the form it can use. This is
0:49.1	fixable when the nutrient is... Maybe you've heard that supplements are only good for making expensive pee.
1:07.0	And honestly, the critics aren't entirely wrong.
1:09.5	Walk into any pharmacy or health food store and you'll find shelves packed with supplements
1:13.3	that your body can't even use, which means you're spending money on tablets and capsules
1:17.2	and most of it is passing right through you unchanged.
1:20.5	But the problem isn't supplementation itself.
1:22.8	The issue is that most supplements are formulated with the cheapest possible ingredients
1:26.6	informs your body
1:27.7	was never designed to absorb. I'm biohacker and human biologist Gary Breka, and you're
	...

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