The Metabolic Classroom with Dr. Ben Bikman

For our entire lives we’ve always heard that “healthy whole grains are an essential part of a balanced diet.” In light of what we now know about nutrition and insulin, does that statement hold up? Join Dr. Bikman and the Insulin IQ team for a conversation about the evidence. Here are the resources that Ben references during the episode: Study #1 -  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/articl...

Some of the most common diabetes drugs work in interesting ways. Let’s talk about some of the most common: SGLT inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists. Here are the resources that Ben references during the episode: Study #1 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24917578/ Study #2 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30240793/ Study #3 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32827151/ Learn mo...

“Good” cholesterol? “Bad” cholesterol? Decades of unclear and misinterpreted science have led to widespread misunderstanding of this vital component of every cell in our bodies. Join Dr. Ben Bikman, special guest Dr. Bret Scher, and the Insulin IQ team as we distill down what you need to know about cholesterol. Learn more at Insulin IQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite sharing a name, type 1 and type 2 diabetes have surprisingly little in common. Let’s explore what they have in common and their many differences. Here are the resources that Ben references during the episode: Study #1 -  https://www.endocrinology.org/endocrinologist/129-autumn18/features/endogenous-insulin-its-role-in-the-initiation-progression-and-management-of-diabetes Learn more at...

Metformin is the most widely used drug to fight diabetes. Let’s talk about how it works and when it doesn’t work well. Here are the resources that Ben references during the episode: Study #1 -  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891584910003874?casa_token=z96rcmkuc7YAAAAA:pxbbTkuPhL7Nop4oUECKmCq81Ev4Dc7z4XYvbaNMXLorp-F9p4nrHLo9bkUiIL0Trjv9EhNNGds Study #2 -  https://...

A spike in glucose levels each morning can be startling, but it doesn’t need to be scary. To understand the dawn phenomenon, you need to understand hormones. Here are the resources that Ben references during the episode: Study #1 -  https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm198811103191901 Study #2 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6389230/ Study #3 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.g...

Stress is an essential part of being human—we need a stress response. However, when stress is turned on indefinitely, metabolic health suffers. Learn more at Insulin IQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sex hormones control many processes in the body and estrogens have multiple and diverse effects on telling the body where and how to store fat. Learn more at Insulin IQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know about leptin’s effects on hunger, but it’s involved in so much more. Let’s learn about this metabolic heavyweight. Learn more at Insulin IQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dietary fiber enjoys a lofty position in the hallowed halls of dietary advice, but the truth is more complicated. Whether fiber is helpful or harmful depends on other factors. Here are the resources that Ben references during the episode: Study #1 -  https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article-abstract/59/6/1386/4715907 Study #2 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6259919/ Study #3 -  http...

The brain is among the highest metabolic rate organs in the body. It needs a lot of energy, and it needs insulin’s help. When the brain becomes insulin resistant, we create an “energy gap” that stems from a genetic level. Here are the resources that Ben references during the episode: Study #1 -  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0144116 Study #2 -  https:/...

Within the field of nutrition, fewer topics are as hotly debated and defended as the view that red meat causes cancer. Let’s explore the data, keeping in mind that correlation is not causation. Learn more at Insulin IQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How glucose moves in and out of cells is important to understanding insulin resistance, fuel use, and more. Let’s learn about glucose transporters on cells and how they regulate glucose in the body. Learn more at Insulin IQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve been told for decades that saturated fats cause plaques that block blood vessels. What if that’s wrong? Study #1 - https://www.pnas.org/content/76/1/333.short Study #2 - https://www.cell.com/fulltext/S0092-8674(00)81574-3#BIB40 Study #3 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9488997/ Study #4 - https://www.plefa.com/article/S0952-3278(12)00146-9/pdf Study #5 - https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/346/...

While a calorie is certainly a calorie, overlooking the effect of those calories on insulin means we miss a piece of the metabolic puzzle. We’ll explore some studies that reveal what insulin does to metabolic rate in the body. Learn more at Insulin IQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A low-carb diet can do a lot of good things, but does it come at the expense of the thyroid? We’ll review the evidence and explore the relationship between thyroid and carbs. Here are the resources that Ben references during the episode: Study #1 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11167929/ Study #2 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6865775/ Learn more at Insulin IQ Hosted on Acast. See...

When fat cells get too big rather than too many, they start to suffer. This week Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ Team review the evidence for why this happens and what you can do about it. Here are the resources that Ben references: Source #1 -  https://jim.bmj.com/content/64/5/989 Source #2 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30649347/ Source #3 -  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/...

Are you worried about your fatty liver. This week Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ Team explore what the sweet carbohydrate, fructose, does to liver fat. Here are the three studies that Ben references during this session: Source - #1 https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa332/6056215?fbclid=IwAR3K6hXW-NlQFWUdsnr0RcQuzgSatgJEosx_8Q3gE79VFL-XkLkYldeRD-c Source - #2 - htt...

Are you eating enough salt to stay insulin sensitive? Dietary salt is too often viewed as something to avoid, but could eating too little salt actually make your metabolic problems worse? Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ Team discuss what you need to know. Here is the link referenced in this episode: Source #1 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9589654/ Learn more at Insulin IQ Hosted on Acast. Se...

Long term restriction of calories seems like the simplest answer to losing weight; eat less weigh less, right? However, this approach the serious consequences that chronic calorie restriction has on your fat cells and hormones. This week Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ Team explain the metabolic reasons why getting healthier is not just about calories. Here is the link referenced in this episode...

What's the best way to lose body fat? That's the question at the center of a multi-billion dollar tug of war. But when we focus on the fundamentals of metabolism, the answer becomes clear. Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ Team discuss the simple truth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We hear it all the time from the media, medical figures, and even well-intentioned friends and family. "Fatty foods will clog your arteries". But are fats themselves really to blame? Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ Team explain what the science says about that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does high insulin lead to more migraine headaches? Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ team examine the evidence showing why people who suffer from migraines may want to reevaluate their nutrition and lifestyle to control insulin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your brain uses more energy than any other organ in your body, but the type of fuel you give it is critical for lifelong mental health. This week join Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ Team as they discuss the direct link between what you eat and how it affects your chances of getting Alzheimer's disease. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When our lives get busy, oft times the first thing that we drop is our sleep schedule. This episode of the Metabolic Classroom is your wake up call. You cannot sacrifice sleep. This week Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ team review why getting enough sleep is absolutely vital to your metabolic health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.