CBF Cheatsheet

Disclaimer: The views expressed are the author’s alone and are for informational purposes only. Do your own research and draw your own conclusions. This is not medical advice, and the author makes no medical claims. Always consult a qualified physician before changing your lifestyle or attempting any intervention.

What is CBF, and why is it important for longevity?

Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) is the continuous delivery of blood to the brain, supplying essential oxygen and glucose. Since the brain drives nearly all systems that regulate metabolism, hormones, and repair, sustained CBF is essential for maintaining both brain and body health across life. Reduced CBF, especially to deep regions such as the hypothalamus and brainstem, might accelerate systemic aging. You can learn more about this in the Science section.

What interventions can potentially improve CBF and delay aging?

CBF is not a fixed state and can be meaningfully improved through simple lifestyle changes. There are three foundational ways in which you can improve your CBF:


01

Build Vascular Reserve

Exercise training: Aerobic exercise (walk, cycle, run, swim) maintains brain vasculature, anaerobic exercise (sprints, HIIT) promotes new blood vessels, and resistance training (big muscle groups) improves venous return and overall CBF.


Inversions: Inversions are physical postures where your head is positioned below your heart, reversing the body's typical orientation to gravity.

They can range from advanced exercises like a handstand (active inversion) to passive methods such as lying on commercial inversion tables at an angle between 6 to 45 degrees or using accessible options like a head-down tilt on a bed or a legs-up-the-wall pose.


Impact movement: Light jumping, skipping, or sit-ups help build cerebrovascular reactivity.


Weight & blood pressure fundamentals: Keep both in a healthy range.


Altitude/hypoxia: Mild high-altitude/hypoxia exposure promotes capillary growth.


02

Keep Daily Flow High

Move often: Every hour, do 2–3 minutes of brisk steps, stairs, or calf raises; add a short post-meal walk.


Breathwork: Slow, nasal breathing 5-10 minutes daily at about 4-6 breaths per minute (box breathing works too).


Sleep: 7–9 hours; keep consistent times. Fix snoring if present.


Hydration: Steady intake of water and electrolytes throughout the day.


Light & air: Morning outdoor light; clean indoor air (ventilation/filters).


Mind work: Daily learning, focused practice, or skill drills.


Cold immersion: Activates the diving reflex and improves brain perfusion.


Heat exposure: Sauna or hot baths stimulate passive vasodilation.


Laughter: Stimulates respiratory and vascular activity.


03

Food & Supplements

Foundational foods: Nitrate-rich greens (spinach, kale, arugula), beetroots, berries, Fatty fish, Extra-virgin olive oil


Essential micronutrients: Zinc, Magnesium (glycinate or L-threonate), Selenium, B vitamins, Vitamin D3 + K2


Metabolic & vascular support: Berberine, Agmatine, Bacopa, L-citrulline, L-arginine, Ginkgo biloba, Omega-3s (EPA/DHA)


Targeted phytochemicals: Cocoa flavanols, EGCG, Resveratrol, Grape-seed extract, Curcumin, Astaxanthin


Cellular energy & longevity cofactors: CoQ10/Ubiquinol, Quercetin, Resveratrol, Creatine, Taurine, Alpha-lipoic acid, NR/NMN