EB. 135: Eric Westman Debate Follow-Up: The Research on Low-Carb Vs High-Carb Diets

In this episode we discuss:   How the Randle Cycle actually works Whether eating carbs and fats in the same meal causes weight gain and insulin resistance The efficiency of using fats as a fuel vs carbohydrate How stress impacts fuel usage in the mitochondria How to determine the optimal amount of carbs and fats in your diet Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/ Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/eb-139-the-truth-about-the-randle-cycle-why-you-can-eat-carbs-and-fats-together/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  0:53 – misconceptions regarding the Randle cycle in the alternative health world  4:57 – what is the Randle cycle?  7:06 – what most people get wrong about the Randle cycle  10:44 – fat oxidation leads to increased ROS production and a decreased NAD+/NADH ratio  16:29 – how fat oxidation inhibits the utilization of carbohydrates  21:03 – the Randle cycle shows the benefits of burning carbs for energy  25:56 – how fat oxidation inhibits the utilization of carbohydrates cont’d  26:57 – metabolic dysfunction, not glucose, drives insulin resistance and aging  32:07 – fat metabolism causes a buildup of citrate which reduces glucose uptake and utilization  38:39 – how glucose oxidation inhibits the uptake and utilization of fats  45:32 – whether you can “activate” or “deactivate” the Randle cycle  47:22 – glucose oxidation leads to an optimal NAD+/NADH ratio and decreased ROS production  52:08 – the protective effects of CO2 and why the brain can’t use fats as a fuel  53:17 – whether we should strive for metabolic flexibility  55:55 – fat metabolism and ketone production as a mechanism for energy conservation and glucose sparing  1:00:02 – insulin resistance as a state of excess fat metabolism and decreasing fat metabolism or stress hormones improves this state  1:05:28 – should we avoid eating carbs and fats together due to the Randle cycle?  1:08:08 – different cells, tissues, and organs can use different fuels at the same time   

In this episode we discuss:   How glucose and insulin decrease glycation Why ketogenic diets can be worse than high-carb diets when it comes to AGE formation How autophagy helps to clear AGEs, but increasing autophagy is not the answer The true primary drivers of AGE accumulation The best diet and supplements for minimizing glycation   Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/   Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/eb-138-low-carb-diets-increase-glycation-and-what-to-do-instead/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  0:57 – how glycation products are detoxified and cleared from the body  4:03 – glycation detoxification is impaired by oxidative stress and inflammation, as seen in type 2 diabetes  7:56 – the benefits of carbohydrates for the detoxification of glycation products  10:42 – the benefits of insulin for the detoxification of glycation products  12:45 – how AGEs are cleared  14:36 – increasing autophagy via hormesis is not the answer for clearing AGEs  19:09 – autophagy can drive disease  20:50 – ATP protects against oxidative stress and allows for proper autophagy when needed  24:37 – impaired mitochondrial along with fatty acid oxidation impairs autophagy and increases oxidative stress  26:54 – carbohydrates do NOT inhibit autophagy  29:18 – adequate thyroid hormone supports proper autophagy  30:15 – adequate ATP and mitochondrial function is needed for the UPS (ubiquitin proteasome system)  32:56 – do high-carb diets actually impair metabolism and insulin sensitivity  35:26 – is fructose really worse for blood sugar regulation and glycation?  37:16 – are low-carb or ketogenic diets the solution to reduce glycation?  40:32 – increased glycation and oxidative stress on ketogenic diets  44:09 –low-carb diets don’t prevent glucose exposure  47:56 – there are still considerable insulin and glucose excursions on low-carb diets  50:06 – gluconeogenesis leads to same glycolytic intermediates as glucose metabolism  51:52 –the main driver of AGE formation and impaired AGE clearance  53:40 – the role of vitamin B1 (thiamine) and mitochondrial energy production in decreasing AGEs  56:27 –endotoxin as a driver of glycation and increased AGE production  58:12 – hypothyroidism as a driver of glycation and AGE accumulation  59:37 – dietary solutions for reducing glycation and AGEs  1:03:33 – how to support the glyoxalase pathway to support the detoxification of glycation products  1:05:56 – avoid calorie restriction, low-carb diets, fasting, resveratrol, cold exposure, excess exercise, and iron overload to decrease glycation and AGEs  1:07:33 – iron as a double-edged sword for oxidative stress 

In this episode we discuss:   Why glucose and fructose are not the primary drivers of AGE formation Whether blood sugar spikes cause glycation How fats and ketones can cause glycation What’s really responsible for glycation in type 2 diabetes Whether fructose causes more glycation than glucose   Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/   Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/eb-137-what-really-causes-glycation-is-sugar-really-the-problem/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  0:46 – common beliefs about carbohydrates and glycation  2:35 – what are glycation and advanced glycation end products?  6:57 – the process of glycation from glucose  9:30 – is sugar the only source of AGEs?  15:00 – primary drivers of glycation: dicarbonyls  19:30 – how fatty acids, amino acids, and ketones cause AGE formation  21:23 – how increased gluconeogenesis on low-carb diets increases AGE formation  22:53 – glucose metabolism produces very few glycation products in the context of a healthy metabolism  25:33 – omega-6s form AGEs more than 10x faster than glucose  28:24 – the role of ALEs (advanced lipoxidation end products) in glycation and chronic disease  30:36 – whether blood sugar spikes cause glycation  38:52 – whether fructose causes more glycation (or fructation) than glucose  47:05 – can glycation from fructose (fructation) be measured, and does this matter?  52:06 – problems with research looking at fructose’s AGE formation in animal models 

In this episode we discuss:   Whether there are benefits to taking massive amounts of glucose for healing   Whether there is a limit to the amount of glucose we should consume   Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  2:10 – David Stephens’ claim that glucose can't harm you in any way, no matter the amount  7:46 – the difference between glucose and fructose and whether fructose just gets converted to fat  11:13 – whether extreme acidity, alkalinity, and corrosivity are what make substances harmful to humans  15:14 – David Stephens’ claim that sucrose can't cross the blood-brain barrier   18:59 – how authoritarianism shapes the health industry and the difficulties of verifying information with AI  23:14 – whether the “chemical heaviness” of sucrose means that it can’t be helpful in the body  25:51 – whether we agree with David Stephens on the benefits of glucose  29:14 – whether anxiety, irritability, depression, autoimmune disorders, and diabetes are caused by a lack of glucose for your brain  34:37 – what David Stephens misses about the large amounts of glucose he recommends – poor glucose utilization, gut issues, and blood sugar instability  38:06 – whether glucose deficiency is possible and whether most people are eating enough carbs to thrive vs survive  39:04 – David Stephens’ claim that it’s impossible for glucose to be harmful to the body in any way  45:25 – why someone might feel better using large amounts of dextrose as their main carbohydrate source  48:00 – how large quantities of glucose can lead to weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and cardiovascular problems  52:27 – how to avoid dietary extremes and what balance really means  58:41 – weight loss and recovery from mental health issues using a bioenergetic approach   

In this episode we discuss:   Andrew Huberman’s ideas about what causes of nighttime wakings and what to do about them   How to meet all our nutrient needs   Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  0:21 – what Huberman misses when it comes to nighttime wakeups  4:50 – the most common causes of nighttime wakeups and how to resolve them  9:44 –Huberman’s advice to go to sleep earlier is impractical for most people  11:42 – what a healthy sleep schedule looks like and whether running out of melatonin is a concern  13:38 – the relationship between blood sugar and sleep, and whether to have a bedtime snack  16:21 – common drivers of sleep disturbances: gut irritation and elevated stress hormones  19:25 – hidden stressors that could be impacting your sleep: SSRIs, EMFs, devices, and more  22:13 – how to handle unavoidable stressors that interfere with sleep  24:05 – strategies for improving sleep quality and circadian rhythm  26:32 – whether to avoid drinking too many fluids before bed  27:52 – the metabolism-suppressing effects of melatonin and whether supplementing with melatonin is a good idea  29:48 – supplements that may interfere with sleep, and paradoxical reactions that occur while using medications such as SSRIs  33:09 – sleep strategies for shift-workers and recovering from working night shifts  36:33 – the effects of Wi-Fi, EMFs, and dirty electricity on sleep  39:21 – how hormones impact sleep for post-menopausal women  40:54 – evaluating whether supplements are affecting your sleep  44:34 – how low-carb diets impair sleep and increase stress  47:01 – improved thyroid function and weight loss on a bioenergetic approach  48:14 – meeting daily micronutrient needs with food and supplementation  52:57 – how to identify nutrient gaps and excesses  55:37 – which labs to get to gauge micronutrient status and how thiamine (vitamin B1) impacts nutrient absorption  1:00:00 – how concerned should we be with nutrient absorption?  1:03:00 – how anti-nutrients like phytates and oxalates impact nutrient absorption  1:04:37 – navigating different forms of nutrients (non-heme iron vs heme iron, retinol vs beta-carotene, and vitamin K2 vs vitamin K1), and how to know if gut issues are interfering with nutrient absorption  1:07:42 – problems with dietary camps that demonize single nutrients (low vitamin A, low vitamin D, and iron overload)  1:11:24 – how fear and stress deplete critical nutrients

In this episode we discuss:   Whether Dr Ray Peat had it all wrong   Potential reasons why someone may be bloating from carbs How to add carbs back in following restrictive diet   Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  0:32 – Justine Stenger’s claim that Dr Ray Peat had it all wrong  6:15 – did Ray Peat ignore physics, structured water, and light?  11:41 – carbs vs fat: which fuel produces more ROS?  16:50 – Justine Stenger’s claim that carbs act as a crutch for a damaged metabolism, and restoring redox is the solution  21:58 – carbs vs fat: which fuel produces more ATP?  25:27 – conflicting health information on social media and why the “Ray Peat diet” doesn’t work  31:55 – common challenges with implementing Ray Peat’s work  34:09 – Justine Stenger’s mischaracterization of Ray Peat’s work as a “dietary roadmap for people with a broken metabolism”  41:20 – why you shouldn’t outsource critical thinking to social media influencers or AI  45:17 – Ray Peat’s generosity with freely sharing advice and information  46:21 – improvements on a bioenergetic approach without extreme restriction  47:31 – why you may experience bloating from carbs and what to do about it  54:52 – what to do about gut dysbiosis and biofilms  56:56 – how to restore gut health and digestion when transitioning away from keto

In this episode we discuss:   Whether you should be concerned about low T3 or high glucagon on low-carb diets Whether insulin resistance is a problem of excess glucose metabolism or excess fat metabolism Whether a low metabolic rate allows you to live longer Whether high-carb diets cause overeating and insulin resistance Whether you should be concerned about glycation on a high-carb diet And much more   Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/   Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/eb-136-eric-westman-debate-follow-up-part-2-high-carb-diets-cause-insulin-resistance-overeating-and-glycation/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  1:02 – Isabella Cooper paper: does shifting from a low-carb diet to a high-carb diet increase inflammation?  9:12 – whether you should be concerned about low T3, low testosterone, or high glucagon on a low-carb diet  16:53 – how we know that the brain does not use fat as a fuel source  20:59 – whether a low metabolic rate on a low-carb diet allows you to live longer  25:13 –increased fatty acid oxidation drives insulin resistance  31:12 – increased fat metabolism in the heart occurs in type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and heart failure, and decreasing this fat metabolism improves cardiovascular health and insulin sensitivity  36:37 – whether babies being born in ketosis means that being in ketosis is beneficial for adult humans  40:29 – do high-carb diets cause glycation?  41:56 – low-carb diets don’t eliminate blood sugar and insulin spikes  46:10 – evidence that high-carb diets don’t cause chronically high blood sugar and insulin levels  49:56 – the benefits of high-carb diets on insulin resistance  55:33 – are carbs inherently addictive? do they cause overeating? 

In this episode we discuss:   The mitochondrial effects of low-carb diets, and whether they’re actually worse for energy production The downstream hormonal effects of low-carb diets Whether insulin resistance is a problem of excess glucose metabolism or excess fat metabolism Whether high-carb diets cause overeating and insulin resistance And much more   Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/   Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/eric-westman-debate-follow-up-the-research-on-low-carb-vs-high-carb-diets/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  1:05 – why I’m recording this debate follow-up  3:38 – how the body responds to carbohydrate restriction and the broader biological context  9:47 – the mitochondrial effects of low-carb diets: glycolysis vs beta-oxidation, NADH/FADH2 ratios, NAD+/NADH ratios, and effects at the electron transport chain  15:16 – fat oxidation leads to slower rates of ATP production and higher rates of ROS production  18:14 – how fat oxidation blocks glucose utilization, slows mitochondrial respiration, and reduces carbon dioxide production  20:58 – ketone vs. glucose metabolism   21:52 – glucose metabolism confusion, glycolysis, and whether ketones are beneficial   24:25 – the hormonal effects of low-carb diets  28:13 – how do we know that fat metabolism is less efficient than glucose metabolism?  34:09 – whether research on fat metabolism in rodents applies to humans and other animals  37:02 – the research showing that fat oxidation increases ROS production and reduces mitochondrial efficiency in various animals (including humans)  40:31 – the research showing the mechanisms of increased ROS production and reduced efficiency of ATP production with fatty acid metabolism  47:41 – mitochondrial uncoupling increases during fat metabolism due to increases in oxidative stress  49:19 – are there adaptations on a keto diet that would prevent the harmful effects of fat metabolism?  52:48 – are there biopsies done on long-term ketogenic diets showing that fat oxidation doesn’t lead to a decreased NAD+/NADH ratio and more ROS production?  59:17 – whether increased fatty acid oxidation enzymes would reduce ROS production in the mitochondria as Dr. Westman suggested  1:02:58 – low-carb and ketogenic diets in rodents cause increased oxidative stress and less efficient ATP production   1:11:41 – do ketones protect against ROS?  1:16:18 – do the potential positive effects of ketones outweigh the negative effects of ketogenic diets?  1:27:47 –low-carb and ketogenic diets cause oxidative stress and insulin resistance in humans1:36:30 – the evidence that glucagon is a stress hormone  1:39:45 – low-carb and ketogenic diets cause physiological stress in humans  1:43:46 – the effects of low-carb and ketogenic diets on cortisol  1:48:29 – low-carb and ketogenic diets decrease thyroid activity  1:53:54 – effects of low-carb and ketogenic diets on reproductive hormones

In this episode we discuss:   Ryan Fischer’s claim that the body only changes weekly, not daily   Whether all calories are created equal How to fix lactose intolerance   Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  0:18 – why Ryan Fischer’s claim that the body only changes weekly is false  6:38 – major problems with the “calories in, calories out” model of weight loss   11:27 – Ryan Fischer’s claim that it takes 3,500 calories to gain one pound  15:07 – whether it’s possible to have more “freedom” on the weekends without wrecking your health  18:11 – Jesse James West & Jeff Nippard on apples vs Sour Patch Kids: are calories all that matter?  24:29 – what calories actually represent and their true role in health  29:03 – is sugar always bad for you?  32:25 – whether tracking calories has any real value  34:21 – problems with equating weight loss with health  38:15 – how to know if excess calories are actually an issue for you  45:33 – why high FODMAP fruits like apples may cause bloating and which fruits would be a better option  49:40 – strategies for reversing lactose intolerance  56:35 – what really drives lactose intolerance and how to tell if it’s affecting you  58:34 – factors that affect lactose intolerance and additional strategies to reverse lactose intolerance  1:04:18 – do leafy greens, digestive enzymes, or slippery elm help with lactose intolerance?

In this episode we discuss:   Jay Campbell, Hunter Williams, and Mark Bell’s supplement stacks for staying insulin sensitive on the sugar diet   Whether using Metformin while on the sugar diet helps improve insulin sensitivity   The major differences between the sugar diet and the bioenergetic approach   Real-life examples of weight regain and other negative experiences after the sugar diet   Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/   Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  0:24 – the costs of metformin: mitochondrial toxicity, increased lactate, inefficient ATP production, and slowed metabolism  5:22 – is using Metformin a good idea on the sugar diet?  10:30 – the dangers of increasing FGF21 while on Metformin  13:53 – increasing FGF21 activity is counter to the bioenergetic view of health  20:23 – Hunter Williams’ supplement stack for insulin sensitivity: metformin, Jardiance, retatrutide, and dihydroberberine  21:42 – the negative effects of Jardiance  24:59 – whether retatrutide and other GLP-1 agonists are healthy from a bioenergetic perspective  27:30 – whether there are any benefits to using medications like metformin, Jardiance, retatrutide, and dihydroberberine  31:54 – how increasing FGF21 with the sugar diet could lead to heart problems such as arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation (AFIB)  38:58 – does the sugar diet boost metabolic rate the same way the bioenergetic approach does?  46:27 – examples of how the sugar diet downregulates metabolism through stress  50:51 – the cumulative effects of stress: how much stress can we handle?  55:15 – how to recover from the negative effects of the sugar diet  58:24 – is stress beneficial? is it possible to avoid stress altogether?  59:51 – problems with dropping fat too low, especially in lean individuals  1:03:50 – the risks of rapid weight loss and the importance of keeping long-term goals in mind  1:08:02 – why cutting out entire macronutrient groups can backfire and what to do instead  1:11:20 – how extreme diets prime our bodies for weight regain  1:14:54 – real-life examples of weight regain after the sugar diet and why it happens  1:20:18 – is there a smarter way to do the sugar diet?  1:24:01 – are there legitimate benefits to the sugar diet?