Blue Dye Hype - Worth the Risk?

There’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — the guy who wants to ban artificial dyes from your kids’ candy — calmly adding a bright blue liquid to his drink on a plane.

The internet exploded.

Was that methylene blue?

RFK hasn’t confirmed. But many people recognized that telltale blue right away. Methylene blue has been making the rounds in the wellness world for a while now — hyped by influencers, biohackers, and even a few doctors as the latest brain-boosting, mitochondria-loving miracle.

But what is it really?

I was curious, too. So I did some digging.

This is not some Big Pharma breakthrough.
It’s not an ancient herbal remedy.

And it’s not natural — not at all.

Methylene blue is a synthetic dye, first developed in 1876 by German chemist Heinrich Caro to dye textiles. Later, it was used to treat malaria and a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia.

That history comes straight from the American Journal of Therapeutics (Clifton & Leikin, 2003).

So how did this old-school chemical dye become the darling of the anti-aging, brain-health, and biohacker scene?

Names you might recognize — Paul Saladino, Dr. Scott Sherr, Ben Greenfield, Gary Brecka, Tim Gray — all talking about methylene blue.

Dr. Sherr even sells it through his company Troscriptions, in a precision-dosed product line.

The benefits being tossed around sound pretty tempting:

• Boosts your mitochondria

• Increases energy and focus

• Improves memory and mood

• Protects the brain

• Maybe even slows aging

These claims aren’t pulled entirely out of thin air.
There are some pilot studies. There are animal models.

But the human data?
Still pretty thin.

Psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer discussed this in a 2024 conversation with Dr. Andrew Huberman (YouTube link here). Palmer describes the research as “small pilot trials — not super well-done, but intriguing.”

So there’s the “why.”

And I want to buy in, I do.

I want all the brain boosting benefits.

But...

I want to love it.
I am such an easy target for anything that says “brain health.” Anything promising just a little hope.

Anything “natural.”

But this one?

Not natural.

It’s synthetic. It’s a dye.

Sure — it’s been around.
And I don’t doubt that many of my favorite health gurus genuinely benefit.

But for me?

I wish it were a yes, but...

...this one’s a no for me.
At least for now.

Have you tried methylene blue?
Have you been tempted by the hype?

Do you have personal experience with this synthetic dye that so many are calling the ultimate brain hack?

I’d love to hear about it.

I am not a doctor. I provide no medical advice. But I am someone who reversed early cognitive decline through food.

Want to learn more?

I've created a free guide to help you take action right now: 7 Days to a Clearer Mind