Studies of thousands of elderly patients have found the blood pressure associated with the longest life is about 129-130, a number many guidelines classify as stage 1 hypertension.

Paul and Alison work through your comments from episode 1 and on Pauls' nutrition masterclass delivered to doctors.

::: spoiler Summary

1. Introduction

   • The Dr. Paul Mason Show, episode two.
   • Hosts: Allison and Dr. Paul Mason.
   • Headphones are worn to improve audio quality after feedback on the pilot episode.
   • Allison explains she is helping Paul share information after 25 years of friendship.

2. Nutrition Masterclass for Doctors

   • Paul gave an online tutorial to sports and exercise medicine trainees.
   • The session lasted two hours.
   • It focused on distilling science and addressing falsehoods in mainstream medical education.
   • The goal was to help doctors provide evidence-based care.

3. Comment on Apples and Potatoes Diet

   • A viewer suggested eating only apples and potatoes would produce the same results as low-carb diets if weight is lost.
   • Paul disagrees.
   • Complex carbohydrates are chains of glucose molecules.
   • Potatoes contain starch, which is a complex carbohydrate.
   • Apples contain fructose, which Paul calls more deleterious.
   • Digestion releases glucose into the bloodstream, raising blood sugar and insulin.
   • High glucose and insulin drive production of palmitic acid, a saturated fat in blood.
   • Glycemic instability affects brain function and weight gain.
   • Low-carb diets stabilize blood sugar and reduce hunger.
   • Ad libitum trials show spontaneous calorie intake drops when sugar and insulin are controlled.
   • Apples and potatoes do not address satiety.
   • Vegan and vegetarian diets lack substantive nutrition.
   • Missing nutrients include B12, heme iron, retinol, K2, omega-3 fatty acids, and complete proteins rich in leucine and methionine.
   • Short-term metabolic improvements may occur from calorie restriction, but long-term nutrient deficiencies will cause harm.

4. Vitamin B12

   • B12 absorption requires an acidic stomach environment and intrinsic factor.
   • Absorption occurs in the ileum.
   • Pernicious anemia is a failure of B12 absorption.
   • Before injectable B12, pernicious anemia was universally fatal.
   • Animal foods are the only source of B12.
   • Paul questions how a diet requiring supplements to avoid death can be called the most healthful.
   • Reference ranges for B12 are often 95% confidence intervals based on the general population, not optimal levels.
   • One laboratory considers 135 to 650 adequate, but literature suggests levels below 400 are suspicious.
   • The elderly are at higher risk due to reduced stomach acid and proton pump inhibitor use.
   • B12 deficiency is linked to dementia, anemia, and impaired neurotransmitter synthesis.
   • Some patients diagnosed with dementia no longer met criteria after B12 supplementation.
   • Low B12 can cause depression and high cholesterol through molecular mechanisms.
   • Paul recommends annual B12 testing at minimum.
   • Supplements often do not require stomach acid for absorption.
   • Intrinsic factor deficiency may require injections.
   • Methylated B12 is preferred.
   • Hydroxocobalamin injections are acceptable.
   • Cyanocobalamin is considered less optimal.
   • Carnivore dieters often have B12 levels of 800 to 1000, which Paul says is healthy.

5. Weight Loss and Blood Pressure Medication

   • A viewer reported losing 35 lbs, stopping blood pressure medication, and ending indigestion and sciatica.
   • Paul quotes JH from 1931: "The greatest danger to a man with high blood pressure lies in its discovery because then some fool is certain to try and reduce it."
   • The caveat is that 1931 treatments included bromides and mercury.
   • Modern blood pressure targets encourage prescribing anti-hypertensives.
   • A 2018 British Medical Journal prospective cohort study examined over 4,500 elderly Chinese people with a mean age of 92, including 825 centenarians.
   • The optimal systolic blood pressure was about 129 mmHg.
   • Lower and higher pressures increased risk.
   • Diastolic blood pressure was nearly meaningless as a risk factor for all-cause mortality in that study.
   • A UK study of females over 80 found lowest death risk with blood pressure between 120 and 139.
   • A Korean study of over 68,000 adults found optimal range between 130 and 139.
   • The American Heart Association would classify 129 as just below stage 1 hypertension.
   • Paul views 130 as fine and desirable for most people.
   • Very low systolic pressure increases death risk.
   • In the last three months of life, blood pressure under 120 is common; under 110 carries the highest risk.
   • The theory that lifelong elevated blood pressure is harmful lacks convincing data.
   • Evidence for blood pressure medication improving mortality in younger people is weak, even up to 160 mmHg.

6. Deprescribing

   • A viewer commented that doctors are not interested in deprescribing.
   • Paul says deprescribing is hard and not taught in mainstream medical education.
   • Example: a diabetic on insulin who starts low-carb must have insulin reduced to avoid hypoglycemia.
   • Blood pressure medication must be reduced as blood pressure improves to avoid dizziness and falls.
   • Low blood pressure is more dangerous in the short term than moderately high blood pressure.
   • Doctors receive guidelines on starting drugs but not on stopping them.

7. Proton Pump Inhibitors

   • PPIs reduce stomach acid and impair B12 absorption.
   • Rebound acid hypersecretion occurs after stopping PPIs.
   • The body upregulates acid production to compensate for PPI suppression.
   • Stopping PPIs suddenly causes acid secretion to spike.
   • 40% of healthy adults develop reflux symptoms after abrupt PPI cessation.
   • Doctors often misinterpret withdrawal as persistent disease and restart the drug.
   • Paul was taught PPIs were safe for indefinite use, but guidelines recommend short-term use.
   • Long-term PPI use is linked to dementia, osteoporosis, and pneumonia.
   • Deprescribing requires gradual tapering to reset acid secretion.

8. Antidepressants and Deprescribing

   • Antidepressants are technically not addictive because tolerance does not require escalating doses.
   • Many patients experience withdrawal and cannot stop.
   • Dr. Mark Horowitz developed the Maudsley deprescribing protocol.
   • Antidepressant receptor occupancy follows a logarithmic curve.
   • Small doses at the end do disproportionate work.
   • Tapering should follow a logarithmic reduction, not a fixed percentage.
   • Tablets often do not come in small enough doses.
   • Compounding pharmacists can provide liquid formulations.
   • The process can take 12 months or longer.
   • Paul does not prescribe antidepressants.

9. Informed Consent and Eminence-Based Medicine

   • A dentist commented that patients ignore lifestyle advice because other doctors contradict it.
   • Paul calls this eminence-based medicine, defined in a 1999 British Medical Journal article.
   • Medical decisions are justified by the seniority of the advisor rather than evidence.
   • Patients should ask doctors for the evidence behind recommendations.
   • Informed consent requires full and accurate information on risks and benefits.
   • Doctors often confuse absolute risk reduction with relative risk reduction.
   • Example: a risk dropping from 0.1% to 0.05% is a 50% relative reduction but only 0.05% absolute reduction.
   • Patients should ask for the actual paper or data, not just guidelines.
   • Number needed to treat and realistic benefits should be disclosed.
   • Some treatments, such as certain peptides, rely on preclinical animal or cell-culture research.

10. Biofilms and H. pylori

    • A viewer compared microbial biofilms eating holes in stainless steel pipes to human abscesses.
    • Paul agrees.
    • Abscesses are acidic and have poor blood supply.
    • Antibiotics and local anesthetics often fail in abscesses due to acidity.
    • H. pylori was discovered by Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, who won the 2005 Nobel Prize.
    • Marshall infected himself, developed ulcers, and cured them with antibiotics.
    • Standard H. pylori therapy combines two antibiotics and a PPI, with a 70% to 80% success rate.
    • H. pylori may live inside Candida albicans, which shields it from immune cells and drugs.
    • Biofilm disruptors such as vitamin C and certain probiotics may improve treatment success.
    • Paul tests patients with reflux, bad breath, or epigastric tenderness.
    • Tests include urea breath test, fecal test, blood test, or biopsy.
    • Urea breath test results can be nuanced; borderline readings may indicate low-level H. pylori or other urease-producing microbes.
    • Second-line treatments include bismuth and fluoroquinolones, which have toxicities.
    • Antifungals such as amphotericin B lozenges or nystatin may help in resistant cases.

11. LDL Cholesterol Causes

    • A viewer asked what else raises LDL besides underactive thyroid.
    • Paul treats high cholesterol as a symptom with root causes.
    • B12, folate, betaine, and choline are methyl donors.
    • Undermethylation of genes regulating cholesterol production raises cholesterol.
    • Underactive thyroid is associated with undermethylation.
    • H. pylori can cause nutrient malabsorption and low B12.
    • LDL is part of the innate immune response and binds bacterial toxins.
    • Chronic infection is the most overlooked contributor to elevated LDL.

12. Water, Electrolytes, and Heart Palpitations

    • A 57-year-old viewer reported drinking 2 liters of water daily and having nighttime heart palpitations after starting carnivore.
    • Paul advises seeing a doctor for cardiac symptoms.
    • Drinking plain water can deplete electrolytes.
    • Low-carb and carnivore diets lower insulin, causing kidneys to excrete more sodium.
    • Reduced sodium lowers blood volume, which can reduce stroke volume and raise heart rate.
    • This is called keto flu or Atkins flu.
    • Paul recommends supplementing electrolytes, including sodium, when starting strict low-carb diets.
    • Magnesium loss can contribute to palpitations and arrhythmias.
    • Most magnesium is inside cells, so blood levels may not reflect total body status.
    • Beverage hydration index: adding electrolytes increases fluid retention.
    • Commercial electrolyte supplements often lack phosphate, calcium, and individualized ratios.
    • Iodized salt is good for iodine intake.
    • Paul prefers mined salt over sea salt due to concerns about microplastics and impurities.
    • Excessive iodine can cause the Wolff-Chaikoff effect and hypothyroidism.
    • Too much sodium increases urinary calcium loss.
    • Paul uses reverse osmosis filtered water to reduce microplastics, forever chemicals, and fluoride.

13. Diet While Traveling

    • A viewer found it challenging to maintain diet during a month in Japan and gave up.
    • Paul says do not let perfect be the enemy of good.
    • He uses a hierarchy: some foods are non-negotiable, others are flexible.
    • In Korea, he avoided seed oils but ate some sweet potato.
    • Travel requires more planning, supermarket visits, and food preparation.
    • Example: roasting a chicken in the morning and packing it in a cooler for theme parks.

14. Sugar Cravings and Dopamine

    • A viewer reported going full carnivore, losing cravings, and walking past bakery aisles without temptation.
    • Paul describes his own past sugar addiction, including Froot Loops, soft drinks, and up to six sugars in coffee.
    • Stabilizing blood sugar reduces hunger and hangry episodes.
    • Dopamine synthesis requires B12, iron, zinc, and low inflammation.
    • Improved nutrient status raises baseline dopamine and reduces cravings.
    • Ketones provide alternative brain fuel and improve energy.
    • Better sleep and stable glucose reduce comfort eating.
    • Leptin sensitivity improves when insulin is fixed.
    • Paul does not fast because he believes benefits mainly help those on poor diets.
    • He notes therapeutic fasting research by Dr. Matt Phillips for cancer.
    • Intense exercise may boost autophagy more effectively than fasting.

15. MCT Oil

    • MCT oil can boost ketones therapeutically.
    • It may help conditions such as dementia by raising ketone levels.
    • Paul cautions against coconut oil due to phytosterols.
    • C8 or C10 MCT oil is preferred.

16. Carbohydrates and Body Composition

    • A viewer asked whether 30 to 50 grams of carbs would slow muscle gain or fat loss on a high-meat diet.
    • Excess carbohydrates are converted to saturated fat via de novo lipogenesis.
    • The body stores about 400 grams of glycogen in muscles and 100 grams in the liver.
    • Glycogen stores deplete after 12 to 24 hours of fasting.
    • Exercise depletes glycogen faster.
    • Carbs consumed around training may refill glycogen without raising triglycerides.
    • Paul recommends continuous glucose monitors to observe individual responses.
    • A glucose spike that looks like something you would not want to sit on is probably excessive.
    • Bodybuilders with more muscle can tolerate more carbs than sedentary elderly people.

17. Phytonutrients and Herbal Medicine

    • A viewer reported craving phytonutrients after going keto.
    • Paul states phytonutrients have no known role in mammalian physiology.
    • There is no recommended daily intake or deficiency syndrome for phytonutrients.
    • Some plant chemicals may have pharmacological effects, which makes them drugs rather than nutrients.
    • Polyphenols such as resveratrol show benefits in lab studies but not in humans.
    • Herbal medicine can have utility as pharmacological agents.
    • Examples: aspirin from willow bark, digoxin from foxglove, artemisinin, morphine from poppies.
    • Oregano oil has antimicrobial properties.
    • Berberine may lower cholesterol through antimicrobial effects.
    • Nattokinase may act as a biofilm disruptor.
    • Plant substances used as drugs require awareness of dosing and side effects.

18. Boron Deficiency

    • A viewer raised boron deficiency as an important issue.
    • Boron is not classified as an essential nutrient, but Paul believes it should be.
    • Benefits include bone metabolism, reduced arthritis pain, parathyroid hormone regulation, vitamin D metabolism, and steroid hormone health.
    • Veterinarians and farmers recognize boron deficiency, such as hip problems in pigs.
    • Boron is the second most common deficiency Paul identifies in his patients.
    • High-rainfall areas leach boron from soil, affecting crops and animals raised there.
    • Testing is not covered by Medicare and is rarely done.
    • Common use cases for supplementation include low testosterone, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis pain.
    • Dosing should be precise rather than a pinch.

19. Protein and Kidney Health

    • A viewer claimed eating too much animal protein destroys kidneys.
    • Paul says this common belief is unproven and likely false for healthy kidneys.
    • High protein intake does not damage healthy kidneys.
    • A landmark study restricting protein in kidney disease patients found no benefit.
    • Higher protein intake is associated with lower risk of chronic kidney disease in observational studies.
    • Advising protein restriction causes sarcopenia and malnutrition.
    • Meat provides protein and most micronutrients.
    • The myth arose from animal models showing hyperfiltration after high-protein meals, but this is an adaptation, not damage.
    • Damaged kidneys leak protein into urine.
    • Restricting protein reduces urinary protein simply by lowering circulating protein, but it does not improve kidney health.
    • Paul does not restrict protein in kidney disease.

20. Conclusion

    • Allison and Paul end episode two.
    • They encourage viewers to ask doctors for evidence and to seek informed consent. :::

Dr Georgia Ede is a Harvard trained psychiatrist specialising in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry. She is the author of the book, ‘Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind: A powerful plan to improve mood, overcome anxiety and protect memory for a lifetime of optimal mental health’.

::: spoiler Summary

1. Metabolic Psychiatry and Root Causes

• Many mental illnesses are driven by metabolic malfunction rather than mysterious chemical imbalances.
• Three key root causes are brain inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance.
• Over 90% of Americans have insulin resistance, which disrupts brain energy production.

1. The Ketogenic Diet as Intervention

• The ketogenic diet switches the brain's fuel from high-carb and high-insulin to low-carb and low-insulin.
• This shift allows brain cells to heal and function more efficiently.
• A study in Toulouse, France followed 31 inpatients with treatment-resistant bipolar, depression, or schizophrenia.
• 43% of those patients achieved clinical remission.
• 64% left the hospital on less psychiatric medication.
• Personalization is essential based on metabolic health, gut function, and individual preferences.

1. Ketosis and Mental Health

• Ketosis is the state where the body burns fat and produces ketones, an efficient fuel for the brain.
• Transitioning into ketosis can cause temporary headaches and discomfort known as "keto flu."
• Easing into the diet and supplementing electrolytes can reduce this discomfort.
• Processed foods are engineered to be addictive and unsatisfying.
• Whole foods stabilize appetite hormones and break the cycle of constant craving and hunger.

1. ADHD and Nutrition

• Older European "few foods" studies showed 62-82% response rates in children with ADHD.
• Some children showed a 70% cure rate within weeks.
• Major health organizations do not currently recommend dietary changes for ADHD due to a lack of large-scale randomized control trials.
• Two major studies at Oxford and the University of Michigan in 2025 will investigate the ketogenic diet for adults with ADHD.

1. Practical Application

• The benefit of dietary change comes mainly from subtracting harmful ingredients such as refined carbohydrates and vegetable oils.
• Continuous glucose monitors and ketone meters help patients objectively track metabolic response.
• Successful treatment works best as a team approach including a nutrition therapist, a prescribing doctor, and a coach or therapist. :::

Is a plant-based diet the best for supporting metabolic health? Cardiologist Dr. Jaimela Dulaney spent years practicing plant-based nutrition before her own experience with insulin resistance, blood sugar swings, and endurance running led her to rethink what personalized nutrition can look like.

In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Dulaney about what changed her perspective, both personally and professionally.

They cover:

• How CGMs helped reveal unexpected blood sugar patterns
• Why insulin resistance can show up even in active, normal-weight individuals
• How Dr. Dulaney thinks about LDL cholesterol in the context of metabolic health
• Why low-carb and ketogenic diets may help some people improve energy, recovery, and blood sugar stability
• Why there may not be one “best diet” for every patient

This conversation highlights the importance of listening to patients, tracking meaningful lab trends, and staying open to new evidence when personal experience and clinical outcomes begin to tell a different story.

::: spoiler Summary

I. Introduction and Background

A. Dr. Jaimela Dulaney's Professional Credentials

• Medical school: West Virginia University
• Cardiology fellowship: University of Pittsburgh
• As ultra-endurance athlete and cardiologist

B. Original Practice Philosophy

• Membership-based medical practice
• Strictly plant-based nutrition focus
• Emphasis on exercise and lifestyle interventions
• Value on physical exam over algorithm-based "menu doctoring"
• Individualized care approach

II. Personal Journey: The Catalyst for Change

A. Family History and Motivation

• Strong family history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• Grandparents died from complications related to these conditions
• Personal desire to avoid similar diagnoses

B. Athletic Pursuits and Dietary Approach

• Marathon and ultra-endurance running career
• Following standard plant-based, low-fat dietary advice
• Belief this was the optimal approach for both health and performance

C. Emerging Problems and Symptoms

• Frequent energy "bonks" during training and racing
• Debilitating fatigue after meals
• Post-meal symptomatic crashes
• Inability to effectively access fat stores despite high activity levels

D. Observing Patient Patterns

• Patients at healthy weight showing insulin resistance signs
• Rising Hemoglobin A1C levels
• Complaints of fatigue and abdominal weight gain
• Recognition that high-carbohydrate intake was preventing metabolic flexibility

E. Identifying Knowledge Gaps

• Discovery of dangerously low DHA levels in patients avoiding fish
• Recognition that insulin as a storage hormone was causing issues
• Realization that her previous dietary assumptions might be flawed

III. The Turning Point: Influences and New Information

A. Key Influential Works

• Dr. Tim Noakes: "The Lore of Nutrition"
• Nina Teicholz: "The Big Fat Surprise"
• Critical re-evaluation of plant-based dogma

B. Initial Experimentation

• Began low-carb fueling for ultra-running
• Immediate results: no "bonks," improved energy
• Surprising reduction in post-run muscle soreness

IV. The Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Revelation

A. Concrete Data Acquisition

• Used CGM to obtain precise metabolic feedback
• Revealed significant glucose spikes from perceived "healthy" meals
• Example: poke bowls with white rice causing major spikes

B. Understanding Symptom Patterns

• Identified correlation between glucose peaks and symptomatic crashes
• Recognized that symptoms occurred during the drop after glucose spikes
• Data challenged previous beliefs about which foods were truly healthy

C. Personal Dietary Transformation

• Transitioned from plant-based to low-carb/ketogenic approach
• Re-introduced eggs, fish, and eventually meat
• Maintained non-starchy vegetables (greens, broccoli, cauliflower)
• Eliminated energy crashes and improved overall metabolic function

V. Clinical Practice Transition

A. Managing Change in Practice

• Total transparency with patients about her evolution
• Hosted "town halls" to explain reasoning
• Presented own data and clinical observations
• Framed change as adding "another tool in the toolbox"

B. Patient Reception

• Majority of patients appreciated willingness to evolve
• Patients valued transparency and evidence-based approach
• Many patients benefited from new dietary strategies

C. Shift in Treatment Philosophy

• From plant-based advocacy to individualized metabolic optimization
• New approach: personalized rather than one-size-fits-all
• Willingness to adapt based on individual patient responses

VI. New Clinical Approach and Insights

A. Metabolic Health Prioritization

• Shift from LDL cholesterol focus to comprehensive metabolic health
• Key markers now prioritized:
  • Fasting insulin levels
  • Triglyceride-to-HDL ratio
  • Hemoglobin A1C
  • Inflammation markers

B. Insulin Resistance as Primary Driver

• Recognition that insulin resistance is primary cardiovascular driver
• Traditional cardiology often ignores this factor
• Metabolic dysfunction occurs long before clinical diabetes diagnosis

C. Individualized Care Philosophy

• Medicine fails by treating patients as "average" rather than individuals
• Importance of listening to patients beyond "normal" lab ranges
• Need for early intervention using proper metabolic markers

VII. Specific Clinical Recommendations

A. Addressing LDL Concerns

• For cardiologists worried about LDL rising on low-carb diets
• Metabolic health improvements prioritized over LDL numbers
• Willingness to monitor rather than blindly treat with medication
• Focus on particle size and other cardiovascular risk markers

B. Performance and Ketones

• Experimentation with exogenous ketones for ultra-running
• Performance benefits observed
• ketone level requirements depend on patient goals:
  • Performance athletes vs. general metabolic health
• Different approaches for different objectives

VIII. Broader Professional Philosophy

A. Evidence-Based Evolution

• Importance of keeping an open mind
• Willingness to follow actual data vs. theoretical frameworks
• Learning from personal and patient experiences

B. Avoiding Dietary Dogma

• No "one size fits all" diet
• Risk of dietary "religions" over patient-centered care
• Need for flexibility and individualization

C. Patient-Centered Care

• Transparency about evolving understanding
• Sharing personal data and experiences
• Building trust through honesty about practice evolution

IX. Conclusion and Key Takeaways

A. Core Message

• Metabolic health is foundational to overall cardiovascular health
• Individual responses vary widely
• Data-driven approach superior to theoretical adherence

B. Professional Evolution

• Demonstrates importance of scientific openness
• Shows value of personal experimentation
• Models evidence-based practice for other clinicians

C. Resources and Further Information

• Website: doctordulaney.com
• Podcast: Jami Dulaney Wellness Podcast
• Instagram: @Jaimeladulaney :::

New results from first-of-its-kind randomized controlled trial on a ketogenic diet for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychosis offer important insights into metabolic psychiatry and mental health treatment.

In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Julie Milder to walk through the study results, recently published in Schizophrenia Bulletin. As the first RCT in psychosis-spectrum conditions to publish in the peer-reviewed literature, it’s an important step toward understanding how metabolic interventions may play a role in serious mental illness.

Key insights from the study:

In the 1-month randomized portion of the trial, the ketogenic group showed significant improvements in metabolic health markers compared to diet-as-usual Psychiatric symptoms trended toward improvement, but were not statistically significant at 1 month Participants who opted into the ketogenic extension part of the study (4 total months of keto), saw improvements in depression, cognition, and positive and negative symptoms.

In this video, Dr. Milder also breaks down important additional context about the limitations of the study, including the length of the randomized portion of the trial and the variance in dietary support between the two diet groups.

This study adds to growing evidence linking metabolic health and psychiatric conditions and explores whether ketogenic therapy may play a role in addressing underlying mechanisms.

A new RCT suggests ketogenic therapy can rapidly improve metabolic health in schizophrenia-spectrum and bipolar I disorders, and shows early signals of psychiatric improvement.

In this video, Dr. Bret Scher breaks down this newly published study led by Dr. Judith Ford at UCSF: the first randomized controlled trial investigating ketogenic therapy in people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and bipolar-1 disorder with psychotic features.

You’ll learn:

How the study was designed (a 1-month randomized phase plus an optional 4-month single-arm extension) What changed at 30 days (clear improvements in metabolic markers; psychiatric outcomes showed trends that did not reach statistical significance in the randomized portion) What improved over longer follow-up in the extension phase (encouraging changes in metabolic health, cognition, and psychiatric measures) Why this matters for patients and families today, and what future, longer controlled trials need to confirm

Published in Schizophrenia Bulletin and funded by the NIMH and Baszucki Group, this study adds to the growing literature on the potential benefit of ketogenic therapy for psychiatric disorders.

These results indicate the need for larger, extended randomized controlled trials to test the safety and efficacy of ketogenic therapy in patients living with serious mental illness.

The end has a really fancy technique for making a concentrated consomme, perfect for jellies. Watch to the end!

500 ml heavy cream (48%) 5 egg yolks

Whisk until frothy, chill for an hour, then whisk again to evenly distribute ice crystals. Repeat until satisfactory ice cream texture is achieved.

If ketogenic add berries and other condiments (vanilla paste, dark chocolate, coffee) to taste.

Our body needs iron to carry oxygen, help enzymes work, and to regulate and maintain itself. Iron exists in two forms in the diet: heme iron, from animal foods such as meat and fish, and non-heme iron, found in plants and widely used in iron supplements.

How well do we absorb iron?

Heme iron is absorbed at about 25-30%, while non-heme iron is absorbed at about 3-5%.

Does anything interfere with our ability to absorb iron?

Heme iron seems to be mostly unaffected by dietary inhibitors. Non-heme iron is inhibited by phytates, polyphenols, calcium, and some forms of protein, but can also be enhanced by ascorbic acid and meat.

Meat Factor

Meat also contains a "meat factor" that enhances non-heme iron absorption from other foods.

Improving absorption of non-heme iron using Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid forms a chelate with insoluble non-heme iron in the low pH of the stomach, which persists and remains soluble in the alkaline environment of the duodenum. This greatly improves absorption.

References:

• Biochemistry, Iron Absorption: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448204/
• Iron Absorption: Factors, Limitations, and Improvement Methods: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9219084
• Meat protein fractions enhance nonheme iron absorption in humans: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17056805

Coach Stephen on why counting calories is a reductionist and impractical means of choosing what food to eat.

Coach Stephen is a health, fitness, and dietary coach. He holds an honors degree in Physiology and Health Sciences, and was a former private laboratory director performing blood marker analysis and phlebotomy.

::: spoiler Summary

1. Origin and Flaws of Calorie Counting

• Definition: Calorie (lowercase 'c') = energy required to heat 1 ml water by 1°C
• Nutritional context: Uses kilocalories (kcal), referred to as "Calories" (capital 'C')
• Historical origin: Developed by Wilbur Atwater, late 1800s
• Methodology: Used "bomb calorimeter" to burn food, measure heat produced
• Core flaw: Human body ≠ bomb calorimeter
  • Sophisticated biological system
  • Processes food differently based on:
    • Composition
    • Mechanical preparation
    • Metabolic state

2. "A Calorie Is Not a Calorie"

Mechanical Processing Impact

• Preparation method affects energy extraction
• Factors:
  • Raw vs. cooked
  • Whole vs. blended
• Pistachio Paradox example: Swallowing nuts whole = minimal energy absorption; chewing thoroughly = higher absorption

Thermic Effect of Food (TEF)

• Different macronutrients require different digestion energy costs

3. Key Experiments Challenging Calorie Model

Sam Feltham's Overfeeding Experiment

• Protocol: ~5,800 calories/day for 21 days across three diets

Hall Metabolic Ward Study (1995)

• Setting: Controlled environment
• Findings:
  • 75–85% of excess carbohydrate calories stored as body fat
  • Fat overfeeding resulted in different:
    • Storage patterns
    • Energy expenditure

"That Sugar Film" (Damon Gameau)

• Protocol: 2,300 calories/day, replaced fat with sugar from "healthy" foods
• Results:
  • Weight gain: 8.5 kg
  • Waist increase: 10 cm
  • Fatty liver disease development
  • Mood and energy deterioration

4. Metabolic States

Glucose-Dependent State

• Insulin spikes and crashes dominate
• Body primed to store excess energy as fat

Fat-Adapted State (Keto/Carnivore)

• Insulin remains low and stable
• Body efficiently accesses stored fat for energy

5. Recommendations

• Stop relying on calorie counting
  • Outdated metric
  • Unreliable
• Focus on species-appropriate foods
• Listen to natural hunger and satiety signals
• Consider food quality and source over energy value :::

On the lack of food noise: "I just felt that my hunger was switched off. It made me realize how much our whole existence is programmed around our addiction to food."

I feel this way as well.

::: spoiler Summary

Detailed Outline: "She Didn't Die So I Tried It Too" — No Carb Life

Guest: Clare (Australian, homeschooling mother, works with horses/dogs)

I. Introduction & Discovery of Carnivore (~0:00–1:25)

• Claire learned about the carnivore diet ~3 years ago from a homeschooling friend
• Friend said she was eating "just meat, no veggies"
• Claire's initial reaction: "You're going to die. Your kidneys are going to fail"
• Couldn't wrap her head around it, so she researched on YouTube
• Found Ken Berry — called him "a godsend"
• Watched Ken Berry's interview with Kelly Hogan — seeing Hogan alive and healthy after years on carnivore was a turning point
• Also found Jordan Peterson's story (meat and salt for 5–6 years, still healthy)
• Found Nutrition with Judy for the science behind the diet

II. Background: Keto & Diabetes (~1:25–3:15)

• Diagnosed with gestational diabetes during second pregnancy (~10 years ago)
• Doctors told her to eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables, balanced diet
• Refused to go on insulin; researched on YouTube instead
• Discovered carbohydrates spike blood sugar
• Cut all carbs, tested blood sugar constantly, learned what spiked it and what didn't
• Found milk spiked her blood sugar — cut it out
• Managed diabetes successfully on keto but found it "boring" and struggled with cravings
• Still tried to keep vegetables in her diet

III. Starting Carnivore — First Week (~3:15–5:00)

• Decided to try carnivore without her kids; got kidneys and health markers tested first
• Went "hardcore carnivore" cold turkey
• Day 4: Brain fog, couldn't think, extremely thirsty — later realized this was electrolyte deficiency, not the diet itself
• Day 4–5: Mental health dramatically improved — "like I was on anti-depressants"
• Within one week: Gut issues improved significantly
• Initially ate lots of heavy cream and butter
• Diet "switched off" her hunger — no longer thought about food constantly

IV. Weight Loss & Divorce Aftermath (~5:00–6:20)

• Lost 17–18 kilos on carnivore
• Had previously lost weight (from ~70 kg down to ~57 kg) during her divorce
• Gained all the weight back afterward
• Reached a point where she bent over to pick something up and fell, couldn't get up from excess weight
• Tried keto again before carnivore — it didn't work, weight wouldn't come off
• Carnivore "dropped the weight" and changed her biology

V. Changing Perspectives on Food & the Food Pyramid (~6:20–8:00)

• People assume she eats steak for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Reality: she often skips breakfast, has coffee with cream, doesn't think about food
• The food pyramid is "a joke"
• Tried growing her own food for 10 years — extremely difficult; fruit only produces ~2 weeks per year
• Tried veganism — "it does not work"
• Realized meat is the most sustainable and practical food source

VI. Aboriginal Australian Connection (~8:00–10:00)

• Claire reflected on what Aboriginal Australians traditionally ate: goannas, kangaroos, some berries
• Host mentions a previous Aboriginal guest who said: "I've gone back to eating how we always ate and I've never been healthier"
• Claire references Anthony Chaffee (Perth-based) saying Aboriginal Australians could add 20 years to their life on a meat-based diet
• Theory: Westerners have had agriculture for tens of thousands of years, so their systems are more "corrupted" by modern foods; Aboriginal Australians' systems are closer to how humans were "meant to be"
• Everything she was told about diet was "moving me in the direction of making someone else money" — food companies, medical establishment

VII. Anti-Pharma Views & Statin Criticism (~11:25–12:30)

• Claire calls pharmaceutical companies "a drug cartel" — "they want you to stay sick"
• Has seen people die following doctors' orders
• Husband was prescribed statins — she calls them "the worst thing in the world"
• Claims statins stop the body from doing what it's meant to do, especially in older people
• The "cholesterol lie" is "quite widely known now as a myth"

VIII. Doctor Interactions & Cholesterol (~12:30–13:20)

• Claire avoids talking to doctors about her diet — believes they're "brainwashed"
• Doctors tell her cholesterol is high and to cut red meat
• People misunderstand carnivore: they assume massive steak consumption at every meal, but she eats no more meat than anyone else — she just doesn't crave food all the time

IX. Typical Daily Eating Pattern (~13:20–14:45)

• Evolved over time; used to fast (coffee only, one meal at dinner)
• Currently eats two meals:
  • Breakfast: Cottage cheese with cream (high fat)
  • Dinner: Chicken fried in beef tallow, or steak
• Stopped intermittent fasting because it made her "hangry" — attributes this to female hormones
• Also fasted for faith reasons previously but found it unsustainable

X. Friends' Success Stories (~14:50–17:00)

1. Diabetic friend (60s, Melbourne area):

   • Initially resisted, tried "keto-ish" with fruit, kept sneaking in chocolate
   • Scared of having a stroke; told Claire "if this can make me healthy, I owe you my life"
   • Went from 110 kg to ~70 kg
   • Neuropathy pain gone, diabetes under control, off all medications
   • Now a massive advocate

2. Diabetic man (late 60s):

   • Reversed his diabetes on carnivore

3. Vegetarian friend (hoof trimming course):

   • Pro-animal, vegetarian
   • Saw her Facebook photo — "stunning, amazing"
   • Friend said: "I listened to what you said and went carnivore — all I have is steak and eggs"
   • Older than Claire, looks "stunning and so slim"

XI. Vitamin C, Kidneys & Gut Health (~17:00–19:55)

• Was worried about vitamin C deficiency and kidney health
• Got kidneys checked — everything was fine; "the total opposite" of what she feared
• References the story about Halle Berry doing Atkins — claims the negative reports (smelling, farting, adverse health effects) were "a whole fallacy"
• Lifelong gut issues and gas completely disappeared — "I have no gas at all anymore"
• "That was the old normal and this is the new normal — this is the way it was always meant to be"
• Host agrees: "I can actually trust a fart now"
• White spots on fingernails (zinc deficiency) disappeared without supplements — attributes this to improved gut absorption
• Theory: gut inflammation from plant foods inhibits nutrient absorption; without that "white noise," the gut can do its job
• Red meat contains vitamin C; she has had no deficiencies

XII. Supplements & Husband's Transformation (~19:55–22:48)

• No supplements currently; takes only beef liver capsules occasionally

• Uses lots of salt; took electrolytes in the beginning but no longer needs them

• Eats roughly 50/50 chicken and red meat

• Husband Shane's story:

  • In his 60s, had heart issues, blockages, stroke risk
  • Sweet tooth — cakes, sugar
  • Claire told him: "I don't want to be burying my husband when he could have another good 20+ years"
  • Lost 25 kilos on carnivore — "he's a young man now"
  • Was a "walking pharmacy" — pill organizer full for every day of the week
  • Now off everything except aspirin
  • Transition was rough:
    • Carbohydrate withdrawal — "like coming off heroin," shakes
    • Felt great for 2 weeks, then crashed — blackouts, couldn't see
    • Claire panicked: "Am I going to kill him with this diet?"
    • Tried giving him sugar — no change
    • Discovered he was still on blood pressure medication — his blood pressure had become dangerously low because he no longer needed it
    • The medication was making him sick, not the carnivore diet
  • Blood pressure now excellent — doctors say "wow, that's really good for your age"
  • Doctors attributed all improvement to weight loss

XIII. Medical Establishment Criticism (~22:48–24:25)

• Doctors blamed husband's improvements solely on weight loss
• Claire believes doctors may know the truth but are constrained — "blackmailed" by the system, fear losing their licenses
• Host calls it "I've got a mortgage to pay syndrome"
• Claire adds: doctors' egos are invested in their expensive education — "don't be questioning me"
• Mentions a 7-day horse ride in the high country with doctors who were "pro pushing the vaccine" — attributes this to ego and identity

XIV. Advice for Newcomers (~24:25–27:15)

• Diabetics/pre-diabetics: Transition slowly — going hardcore can cause dangerous hypoglycemia
• Non-diabetics: Can go cold turkey (Claire did, but her body was already adapted from keto)
• Keep a food diary — write everything down, phase foods out over time
• Recognize that a high-carb diet is basically a drug — you will have addictions and withdrawals
• The biggest challenge is mental, not physical:
  • Nighttime eating while watching TV is habitual/addictive
  • Social pressure — food is central to gatherings; "it's not acceptable to not eat"
  • Food is used as "a therapy device, like a drug"
• Replacement strategies:
  • Claire uses nicocine gum for oral fixation (caveats this)
  • Sparkling water / mineral water to stay occupied
  • Find new habits to replace old food triggers

XV. Closing & Contact (~27:15–28:30)

• Claire can be found on Facebook (business profile focused on animals, horses, dogs)
• Her profile picture is Chopper Read (notorious Australian criminal/author) — she admires his toughness and "no small talk" attitude
• Host will link her Facebook in the show notes :::

This is a fried meat stew in coconut milk and spices. It's absolutely delicious, especially IMO when made with lamb. There are variations on it such as Gulai, and the ingredients vary depending on where it's made.

The preparation is interesting since the meat is simmered first in coconut milk until the fat from both the meat and coconut milk renders. This causes it to go from boiling to frying, and the dish darkens to a dark brown colour.

Have I mentioned that it's absolutely delicious?

Belinda Fettke is a public speaker and independent researcher exploring how vested interests and religious ideologies have shaped plant-biased dietary and health guidelines.

Edit, 23rd May 2026:

I was asked in another post about Belinda's credibility. Belinda’s husband, Dr. Gary Fettke, was targeted by the processed food industry for his public opinion on the perils of excessive sugar consumption and for showing the potential to put patients with Type 2 diabetes into remission. This caused him to be ‘silenced’ by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

To clear Gary’s name Belinda did a lot of work looking into the organizations linked to the accusations that led to the silencing. Belinda’s information withstood Australian legal process, and the story has a happy ending; in 2018 Gary was cleared of all charges with a full apology from the Medical Board.

Here is an interview with Dr. Fettke, with him talking about his story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5gTtQVfcos

::: spoiler Summary

• The "Blue Zones" as a Marketing Strategy

  • Trademarking and Ownership: Dan Buettner trademarked "Blue Zones" in 2005; the franchise was purchased by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2020.
  • Commercialization: The brand has expanded into books and supermarket frozen meals, including products from regions not originally part of the Blue Zones.
  • Accreditation Costs: Documentation suggested it could cost a community millions of dollars to become "Blue Zone accredited."
  • The "Myth" of Plant-Based Longevity: The claim of a 95–100% plant-based diet for longevity is a marketing narrative rather than reality, since traditional Blue Zones did not strictly follow such diets.

• Belinda Fettke’s Background and Motivation

  • Professional History: Formerly a nurse and a professional photographer, which shaped her interest in storytelling and investigating hidden influences on dietary guidelines.

• Gary Fettke’s Health Crisis and Dietary Shift

  • Cancer Diagnosis: Gary was diagnosed with an aggressive tumor in 2000, leading to years of surgery and chemotherapy.
  • The Role of Sugar: In 2011, Gary researched the link between sugar and cancer management, influenced by the work of Tom Seyfried.
  • Metformin and Glucose: After learning that the diabetes drug Metformin might help cancer by managing glucose, Gary chose to eliminate sugar and carbohydrates from his diet instead.
  • Medical Education Gaps: Gary realized that medical training is often "siloed," focusing on "sick care" rather than the metabolic connection between carbohydrates and glucose.

• The Importance of Animal Protein and Fats

  • Healing Tissues: As an orthopedic surgeon, Gary observed that diabetic ulcerations are "undernourished tissue" that requires animal protein and fats to heal, rather than just antibiotics.
  • Clinical Success: By advocating for reduced sugar/carbs and increased animal fats, Gary helped patients heal wounds and reduce their reliance on medications.

• The Diabetes "Tsunami" and Institutional Resistance

  • Rising Severity: Type 2 diabetes has evolved from a "mature onset" condition to a "tsunami" affecting younger people and requiring frequent amputations.
  • Personal Results: Gary reversed his own pre-diabetes and put his cancer into remission through these dietary changes.
  • Medical Board Conflict: In 2014, Gary was reported to the medical board by a hospital dietitian for recommending these dietary changes to a patient at risk of losing a second limb.

• The Investigation into Dietary Guidelines

  • Silencing of Gary Fettke: After being reported to the medical board, Gary was silenced and told he could not speak about nutrition. This prompted Belinda to investigate who was behind the opposition to low-carb, high-fat diets.
  • The Role of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: The origins of modern "plant-based" advocacy are traced back to the founding of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its prophet, Ellen G. White, who believed meat consumption increased "animal passions."
  • Institutional Influence: The church established sanitariums, food companies (like Kellogg’s), and universities (like Loma Linda) to promote a vegetarian agenda as a matter of religious "health reform."

• The "Plant-Based" Narrative and Blue Zones

  • Erasure of Animal Foods: The Blue Zones project systematically ignores or minimizes the consumption of meat and animal fats in the original regions.
  • Sardinia and Okinawa: Traditional Sardinians consumed significant amounts of lard, meat, and dairy, while Okinawans historically relied heavily on pork and lard, contrary to the "95% plant-based" claim.
  • The "Longevity Pill": The Blue Zones are a "plant-based longevity pill" designed for mass-market consumption, which simplifies complex regional histories into a marketable dietary product.

• Corporate and Policy Integration

  • Blue Zones 2.0: The presentation covers the expansion of the brand into "Blue Zones Project" cities, where local governments and insurance companies pay for "accreditation" to change the local environment (e.g., grocery store layouts and restaurant menus).
  • Conflicts of Interest: There is a "revolving door" between religious organizations, corporate food interests, and the medical boards that set dietary guidelines.
  • Lifestyle Medicine: The rise of "Lifestyle Medicine" is a vehicle for promoting specific religious dietary views under the guise of secular science.

• Conclusion: Reclaiming Choice

  • The Importance of Critical Thinking: We must look past the marketing of the Blue Zones and recognize the importance of animal-sourced foods for metabolic health.
  • Personal Advocacy: Belinda Fettke's work is about restoring the right of doctors and individuals to discuss nutrition based on metabolic science rather than religious or corporate ideology. :::

Worth listening to just for the section on history, notably the outsized effects that Ancel Keys and the Seventh Day Adventist Church have had on how we think about nutrition and diet.

::: spoiler Summary

Thesis

• Bad science, corporate greed, and corrupt politics drive Australia’s chronic disease crisis.
• Ultra-processed food production and marketing displace whole-food diets and expand obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Ideological origins of modern diet advice

• Ellen G. White teaches that humans should avoid “flesh meat” and adopt a plant-based diet for health and spiritual aims.
• Sanitarium Health Food Company operates as a Seventh-day Adventist institution and funds church missions with tax-free revenue.
• John Harvey Kellogg develops cereal-based dietary doctrine inside a Seventh-day Adventist sanitarium system.
• Ada Celia (AKA “Lenna Frances Cooper”) co-founds the American Dietetic Association while working at a sanitarium and builds dietetics institutions that promote plant-based doctrine.
• Dietetics professional bodies shape public beliefs and national dietary guidelines and amplify plant-based and meat-reduction messaging.

Food-industry financing of nutrition institutions

• Dietitians Australia (formerly the Dietitians Association of Australia) takes funding from breakfast-cereal manufacturers and later wins the 2009 tender to conduct the literature search for the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
• The Australian Breakfast Cereal Manufacturers Forum expects Dietitians Australia to “protect” and “defend” cereal and sugar messaging in exchange for annual payments.
• Industry-funded research produces conclusions favorable to the funder at higher rates than non-industry-funded research.
• Sanitarium partners with schools, nurses, and child health programs and distributes nutrition messaging through these channels.

Red meat, saturated fat, and chronic disease messaging

• A “50-year attack” targets foods high in saturated fat and targets red meat.
• IARC cites six experimental studies and states a “possible link” between red meat and bowel cancer.
• Cancer Council and other public-health organizations repeat a message that red meat causes bowel cancer.
• Preventive Health SA promotes a weekly meat-free day, reduced saturated fat intake, and plant-based substitutions.
• The Health Star Rating algorithm grants five stars to Weet-Bix and to UP&GO.

Corporate partnerships and policy leverage

• AdventHealth acquires Blue Zones rights in 2020 and sells city accreditation costing over $7 million per year.
• Blue Zones accreditation requires cities to enforce plant-based procurement and other food-policy changes across schools, restaurants, and workplaces.
• Coca-Cola funds and promotes “Exercise is Medicine” messaging that shifts focus to exercise instead of product reduction.
• Food and beverage lobbyists influence governments and receive at least $5 billion per year in operating-cost tax relief.

Pharmaceutical industry influence and enforcement gaps

• Public Citizen Health Research Group documents hundreds of cases of unlawful pharmaceutical promotion with tens of billions of dollars in penalties.
• Australia’s TGA funding model relies on pharmaceutical industry fees for 96% of its budget.
• A 2014 paper reports concealed drug-company influence over clinical knowledge and medical education.
• A 2016 study finds that industry payments to clinicians increase brand-name prescribing, including at low-dollar levels.
• A 2017 Cochrane review compares industry-sponsored trials with other sponsorship and finds more favorable efficacy conclusions under industry sponsorship.
• A 2009 meta-analysis reports self-admitted falsification or fabrication by scientists between 1992 and 2002 and reports a separate rate for observed misconduct.
• The FDA authorizes many drugs between 2013 and 2023 despite inadequate evidence of efficacy.

Diabetes remission and guideline conflict

• The Australian National Diabetes Strategy (2021-2030) includes type 2 diabetes remission via dietary interventions and bariatric surgery.
• The RACGP diabetes handbook includes a remission section and devotes many pages to pharmaceutical management.
• Ten of eleven handbook authors have financial ties to pharmaceutical companies.
• General practitioners trust the RACGP diabetes handbook as a core clinical reference.

Actions advocated in the talk

• Governments should remove conflicts of interest from guideline bodies and nutrition institutions.
• Governments should restrict marketing of ultra-processed foods to children.
• Governments should pursue fiscal policy options such as sugar taxes and reduced subsidies for harmful products.
• Clinical care should prioritize real food and metabolic correction over indefinite pharmacotherapy.

References

• [01:44] Seven Countries Study (Ancel Keys) — https://www.sevencountriesstudy.com/
• [06:06] Vegetarian Dietary Patterns for Adults: A Position Paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2025.02.002
• [08:40] International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs Volume 114: Evaluation of consumption of red meat and processed meat — https://www.iarc.who.int/iarc-monographs-volume-114-evaluation-of-consumption-of-red-meat-and-processed-meat/
• [11:17] Preventive Health SA: How to eat healthier — https://www.preventivehealth.sa.gov.au/eat-well/how-to-eat-healthier
• [12:59] Health Star Rating system — https://www.healthstarrating.gov.au/
• [15:42] Animal sourced protein (meat and poultry) and heart health - Sax Institute Evidence Check — https://www.saxinstitute.org.au/evidence-check/meat-and-cvd/
• [20:19] Public Citizen Health Research Group: Big Pharma’s Big Fines (drug industry penalties) — https://www.citizen.org/article/big-pharmas-big-fines/
• [25:51] Pharmaceutical Industry-Sponsored Meals and Physician Prescribing Patterns for Medicare Beneficiaries — https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.2765
• [26:08] Industry sponsorship and research outcome: systematic review with meta-analysis — https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-018-5293-7
• [26:28] How many scientists fabricate and falsify research? A systematic review and meta-analysis of survey data — https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005738
• [26:52] Pharmaceutical industry payments to leaders of professional medical associations in Australia — https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2020/april/pharmaceutical-industry-payments
• [27:04] FDA Approved - And Ineffective (database explainer) — https://www.levernews.com/fda-approved-and-ineffective-database-explainer/
• [29:29] Exercise is Medicine (ACSM/AMA initiative) — https://www.exerciseismedicine.org/about-eim/
• [30:21] Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2021-2030 — https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-diabetes-strategy-2021-2030?language=en
• [31:06] RACGP: Management of type 2 diabetes: a handbook for general practice — https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/diabetes/management-of-type-2-diabetes
• [32:01] Government of South Australia: ban on unhealthy food and drink advertising on public transport — https://www.preventivehealth.sa.gov.au/eat-well/unhealthy-advertising-on-public-transport :::

Nina Teicholz discusses the new American Dietary Guidelines.

::: spoiler Summary The article "Butter Is Not Back: The Broken Promise on Saturated Fats" critiques the updated U.S. Dietary Guidelines, highlighting a major contradiction between new food recommendations and restrictive nutrient caps.

The key points of the article include:

The Saturated Fat Conflict: Despite initial promises to move away from strict limits on saturated fats, the guidelines retain a 10% calorie cap. This creates a paradox, as the updated food pyramid now encourages cooking with butter and tallow and features red meat prominently.

Impact on Federal Programs: The author notes that while average consumers might ignore the cap, vulnerable populations relying on federal food programs must adhere to it strictly, making it nearly impossible for them to consume the newly encouraged foods.

Positive Changes: The article acknowledges some progress, such as a dramatic reduction in sugar limits and the recognition of low-carbohydrate diets as a viable option for managing certain health conditions.

Scientific vs. Political Influence: The author expresses disappointment that the saturated fat cap remains despite what they describe as evolving scientific evidence supporting its safety. The reversal is attributed to political considerations rather than a lack of scientific consensus. :::

The official website for the book is here: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/full-article/all-about-my-new-book-change-your-diet-change-your-mind

It's been a while since I've finished this book, and the details are not so fresh in my mind any more, but it's more a book about right (and wrong) nutrition and how it affects brain metabolism than it is a book purely about the brain, which was what I thought it was going to be about.

The book discusses what we eat and what foods can cause metabolic distress. It discusses things like oxidative stress, inflammation, and hormones. There is a little section on the historical reason behind the dietary guidelines and how we came to demonize saturated fat. Dr. Ede provides helpful mention of other authors to also read, such as Nina Teicholz, but does not do a deep-dive into history.

The book also spends a lot of time going over animal foods and plant foods, including things such as nutrient availability, plant toxins, anti-nutrients, and so on. None of this is new to anyone in this community, but the book makes an excellent starting point and I'd recommend it to people just starting out since it touches on just about every salient point in the ongoing debate about our diets. The book also discusses the lack of any evidence when it comes to the widely perceived "health benefits" of plant based diets.

There is a section on brain metabolism and how psychiatric disorders are being increasingly linked to poor metabolic health, including an anecdote from Dr. Iain Campbell, who is one of the research fellows at the King's College in London researching the link between metabolism and bipolar disorder. Dr Campbell suffers from BPD himself and stumbled into the ketogenic diet when he tried to lose weight on the Atkins diet, and then felt that he had to share what he discovered by doing research into the field of metabolic psychiatry. Fascinating stuff, and what I was hoping to learn more about from this book.

The book ends with a several lists of foods that do not cause inflammation ("quiet foods"). I found myself looking this up a lot when discussing the matter with friends who don't want to go fully carnivore but would like to know what foods to avoid. Useful to have around!

Recommended. Extra recommendation since it's one of the few books available in Japanese and so I've bought a physical copy so I can lend it to friends. However, for metabolic psychiatry in particular, perhaps Brain Energy by Christopher M. Palmer, MD. (I'm halfway through this one) is richer in detail.

Dr. Pollack describes a “fourth phase” of water called EZ (exclusion zone) or structured water that is physically ordered and carries a negative charge, distinct from ordinary liquid water.

::: spoiler Summary

• What the “fourth phase” (EZ or “exclusion zone”) is

  • It’s a structured form of water that forms a layered, more ordered region distinguishable from ordinary liquid H2O (sometimes represented chemically as a different species). This EZ water carries a net negative charge.

• How EZ forms

  • EZ forms adjacent to hydrophilic (water-loving) surfaces and grows sheet-by-sheet when the surface charge distribution templates the first layer. Softer hydrophilic surfaces nucleate EZ more easily than hard ones.
  • Light — especially red/infrared wavelengths — is a direct energy source that enlarges/builds EZ water, analogous to how plants use light.
  • Supplying electrons (e.g., with a negative electrode) can also convert ordinary water to EZ, producing a negative zone next to a positive zone.
  • Many biological macromolecules (proteins) present negatively charged surfaces that help build EZ inside cells.

• Key physical properties

  • EZ is negatively charged and is accompanied by an adjacent region of water with excess positive charge; together they preserve overall charge balance.
  • The separated charges create a battery-like electrical potential that can supply usable energy.

• Demonstrated experimental/physiological effects

  • In lab setups, hydrophilic tubes immersed in water exhibit perpetual flow driven by the electrical potential created by EZ — flow that requires energy and is supplied by this charge separation.
  • That same phenomenon helps explain capillary blood flow and contributes to blood/vascular flow in ways not solely attributable to the heart; flow can continue temporarily even without a pumping heart.
  • EZ-like exclusion zones have been observed adjacent to endothelial surfaces (keeping red blood cells away), indicating EZ exists in biological tissues.

• Biological/health implications

  • Cells appear to be filled with negatively charged EZ water; packing many negative charges creates potential energy that can be released during cellular activity (action potentials) and used to do work.
  • Healthy cells typically show a negative electrical potential (about −50 to −100 mV); Pollack argues this is largely a reflection of EZ-filled interiors rather than solely membrane pumps/channels (gels with no membranes show similar potentials).
  • He posits that cellular health depends on a full complement of EZ water — less EZ means reduced electrical potential and impaired function.

• Practical takeaways

  • Increasing exposure to red/infrared light can enhance EZ formation and is the basis for some therapeutic light uses.
  • Introducing electrons (controlled electrical inputs) near water/hydrophilic structures can build EZ in experiments.
  • Conceptually, EZ provides an additional, non-chemical (electrical/photonic) energy source that complements biochemical energy pathways for certain cellular processes.

:::

Transcript of the relevant part of the discussion about Blue Zone diets:

Jesse Chappus: When it comes to the food-zoning in on this piece-you mentioned how it's the polar opposite of how it's being portrayed by the Blue Zones brand. Any idea how that got so lost in translation? And I'll add to this: we're talking about one of the Blue Zones here. Have you traveled to any of the others?

Dr. Schindler: No, but I have talked to people like Mary Rodic who have. Other than Loma Linda, which is the Seventh-day Adventist community-um, which I'm confident... I haven't been there, but I'm confident what's being portrayed from a vegetarian perspective is probably very accurate-all the rest of them... I have talked to people who have been to the others, and they report a very similar thing to what I have.

Jesse Chappus: Any idea why things got so lost in translation?

Dr. Schindler: Oh, I'm confident it was intentional. In fact, I talked to-You know, one of the things that's portrayed about Sardinia is that they eat a massive amount of this minestrone soup, some vegetable-based minestrone soup. And some of the people there-in fact, I was in the home, the meal that I'm mostly referring to as I'm talking to you-that was the centerpiece of their home. The BBC came out to do a big special there, and they did it in their home, and they were joking about it the whole time. They're like, "I don't know where this minestrone soup thing came from. We eat it, but it's rare that we even eat it." It was so funny. But I'm convinced it was intentional.

They mostly talk about Sardinia, but as someone living in Japan, the Okinawan diet is also poorly reported in blue zones study. Okinawans eat fish like all of Japan and pork. It's the part of Japan that consumes the most luncheon meat, which isn't popular here in Tokyo. It's even considered Okinawan "soul food."

To quote https://www.bluezones.com/explorations/okinawa-japan/

Older Okinawans have eaten a plant-based diet most of their lives. Their meals of stir-fried vegetables, sweet potatoes, and tofu are high in nutrients and low in calories.

This is a bald-faced lie, and I'm amazed they're allowed to get away with it. "Older" Okinawans lived through postwar Japan. Everyone was poor and unable to afford food. The low cost is likely one of the reasons why luncheon meat became popular in Okinawa in the first place!

::: spoiler Summary Title: The Blue Zones Diet Debunked - THIS Is What They ACTUALLY EAT… | Dr. Bill Schindler

• Fermentation is a key ancestral food processing technique that enhances nutrition, detoxifies foods, and improves shelf life.
• Plants were a significant part of human diets long before meat was introduced, and they continued to be consumed alongside meat.
• The domestication of plants has led to a reduction in their natural defense mechanisms, making them more susceptible to pests and diseases.
• Modern agricultural practices often strip plants of their natural toxins, which can be harmful if consumed in large quantities or improperly processed.
• The Blue Zones diet, often misrepresented as plant-based, actually includes a significant amount of animal products and fermented foods.
• Salt has been an important part of human diets since ancient times, with high-quality, mineral-rich salts being the most beneficial.
• Traditional diets were highly diverse and seasonal, with a focus on locally available and hyper-seasonal plants and animals.
• The modern industrial food system has led to a loss of diversity in diets, with a focus on a limited range of crops and animal products.
• The role of plants in traditional diets was multifaceted, including nutrition, entertainment, medicine, and poison.
• The misrepresentation of the Blue Zones diet has led to a misunderstanding of the importance of animal products and fermented foods in traditional diets. :::

Dr. Georgia Ede and Dr. Bret Scher discuss the recently released EAT-Lancet diet report.

I found it particularly interesting that they responded to the criticism of the first report by re-releasing it and removing the parts of the report that were criticised, without directly addressing the criticism.

Dr. Sher:

In advance of the release of the 2.0 [diet report], there was actually a release of the "mis-influencers" who have done an organized approach to discredit and attack EAT-Lancet. Their words, not mine. And you were listed as a very high-ranking member of this. So first, how does it feel to be labeled as a "misinfluencer"?

Dr. Ede:

It's interesting. I actually think it's a very good thing. And the reason why is clearly [that] the content that I produced that criticized the EAT-Lancet report came to their attention. I think that that's no small thing, and I would like to believe that the content that I and others produced had a lot to do with the fact that they felt the need to produce this report to try to discredit all of us. I think it may also have had something to do with the way the report was re-released. I noticed that certain things that I criticized about the report are no longer there, and I'm not the only one who produced content critiquing the report.

Also, there are certain concerns that I and others voiced about the content of the report, and it appears as though the authors have gone to great lengths to try to acknowledge and address [these concerns] without actually addressing them. But they're trying to make it look as though they're addressing these shortcomings.

::: spoiler Summary Title: Exposing the Truth Behind EAT-Lancet’s Diet Report & MisInfluencer Campaign

• The EAT-Lancet report aims to control global dietary habits by promoting a plant-based diet for planetary health, but its scientific foundation is questioned.
• The report's dietary recommendations are criticized for being nutritionally inadequate, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
• The EAT-Lancet diet is accused of disregarding the nutritional benefits of animal-based foods, which are essential for optimal human health, including brain development and mental health.
• The report heavily relies on nutrition epidemiology, which is considered unreliable for making global dietary recommendations.
• The EAT-Lancet diet is criticized for being overly restrictive and not accounting for individual differences in metabolism, genetics, and cultural food preferences.
• The report's authors are accused of having conflicts of interest, as they are connected to major food corporations that produce ultra-processed foods and chemical fertilizers.
• The EAT-Lancet diet is seen as an attempt to control people's eating habits, rather than promoting a flexible and inclusive approach to nutrition.
• The report's dietary recommendations are criticized for being based on untested theories and guesswork, rather than solid scientific evidence.
• The EAT-Lancet diet is accused of being environmentally unfriendly, as it does not adequately address the environmental impact of industrial plant food production.
• The report's authors are criticized for labeling critics as 'mis-influencers' without providing substantial evidence to support their claims. :::

Loved the pictures of all the breeds of cow and also the description of how they've come about and what they taste like. I personally don't actually like A5 Wagyu that much, but plain old Japanese beef and not Wagyu I like a lot.

The colour of the fat showing how nutritious it is (yellow = grass fed) is a nice bit of knowledge to have! I'd also love to be able to dry age my own beef, but I think that's quite an endeavour. Would make a nice project to do on the side, maybe.

::: spoiler Results

I found this really pleasant to listen to so I thought I'd share. It's nice to hear someone talk about the fat loss, satiety, and all the other things that I also experienced when I went carnivore. Murray switched cold turkey and seems to have experienced some unpleasant effects like keto flu, but they resolved after a time.

::: spoiler Summary

• The speaker discovered the carnivore diet through their son, who had successfully lost weight with it.
• The speaker had a history of gout and other health issues, which were not effectively treated by conventional medicine.
• A doctor suggested that diet was the root cause of many diseases, which led the speaker to try the Pritikin diet, resulting in weight loss but not complete gout relief.
• The speaker initially doubted the carnivore diet but was convinced after seeing the positive results on their son and daughter-in-law.
• Adopting the carnivore diet led to significant health improvements, including better mobility, reduced inflammation, and better sleep.
• The speaker experienced a dramatic weight loss, going from 83 kg to 63.7 kg and maintaining a healthy weight around 64-66 kg.
• The diet has resolved various health issues, including irritable bowel syndrome and bleeding bowels.
• The speaker and their wife now follow a lifestyle change, including cooking outdoors and walking more, which has improved their overall well-being.
• The speaker expresses skepticism towards the medical and food industries, believing they contribute to health problems.
• The speaker views the carnivore diet as a miraculous and life-changing switch that has opened up new possibilities for their future health.

:::