The Benefits of Keto: Debunking Modern Diets with Prof David Harper

For years, there have been long-standing debates on what aspects of our food cause obesity. Most healthcare guidelines advise us to follow a high-carb, low-fat diet. But recent findings of nutrition research reveal that this way of eating is not the most effective method to lose weight, nor does it prevent chronic illnesses. And instead of leading a healthy lifestyle, we are eating ourselves to death.

In this episode, Prof David Harper joins us to share the benefits of keto on our health. He also explains why the high-carb, low-fat diet doesn’t work and how it ironically leads to weight gain and diseases. Finally, he shares tips on what to eat to start a healthy lifestyle and how keto can help us achieve this purpose. 

Check out this episode and find out the benefits of keto and which diet could help you lead a healthy lifestyle and help prevent chronic illnesses.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Learn why it’s unhealthy to follow a low-carb, high-fat diet. 
2. Understand the importance of avoiding highly processed food and sugar. 
3. Discover the three axes of illness.

If you would like to check out Lisa's keto products in her anti-aging and health supplement range click here: 

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Read our latest keto blog too 

Keto for Bone Strength

Also check out this episode with Dr Dom D'Agostino on the Keto diet, hyperbaric, fighting cancer and more 

Podcast with Dr Dom D'Agostino

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Episode Highlights

[02:56] Dr David’s Background

Dr  David switched his research focus to the therapeutic benefits of keto for chronic diseases ten years ago. His recent research collaboration with Dr Jeff Volek looked into the benefits of ketogenic diets for women with metastatic breast cancer. 

Like many others, Dr David thought it was healthy to have a high-carb, low-fat diet. Dr David's book, BioDiet, was made for a layperson to understand the benefits of ketogenic diets

[05:05] Debunking High-Carb, Low-Fat Diet 

The high-carb, low-fat diet is an experiment conducted by health bureaucrats on millions of North Americans for years. Exercise is good for the body, but it’s not the key to losing weight. Instead, people must focus on their diet to shed off some pounds. 

Obesity is your body's physiological reaction to excess carbohydrates in your diet. Tune in to know how David came to this realisation through a radio show! 

[09:06] Why Ancel Keys Is Wrong

Ancel Keys is an American physiologist who discovered that, supposedly, high saturated fat and cholesterol cause heart diseases. While his hypothesis seems intuitive, there is no evidence to prove Keys’ statement. 

It’s incorrect to consider calories as the primary contributor to weight loss or gain. It’s the food's effect on your metabolism that matters. 

The health industry is now revisiting the high-fat, low-carb model due to recent studies revealing sugar and smoking as the primary causes of heart disease and not fat.    

[13:56] Obesity in America

The rise of obesity rate in America happened during the 1980s when it released its first dietary guidelines on a high-carb, low-fat diet. The benefits of keto are therapeutic; it’s not a fad.

It’s difficult to gather all relevant data debunking fat as unhealthy; Proving a nutritional intervention prevents disease means controlling the diet of 1000 people for decades. Studies show that a ketogenic diet is an effective intervention for some chronic illnesses.  

[19:12] On Starting a Ketogenic Diet 

Always consult with your physician first before trying a ketogenic diet. Some might experience mild side effects because of their changing metabolism. 

There are multiple benefits of keto: weight loss, fair skin complexion, protection from chronic diseases, and more.

[22:29] The Factors of Illness

Chronic diseases and cardiovascular diseases are interrelated. Another one of the benefits of keto is as a therapeutic intervention for neurological disorders. Insulin resistance, inflammation, and obesity are the axes of illness. Listen to the whole episode to learn how these three factors result in chronic diseases. 

Most doctors treat the symptoms and not the disease. The root of diseases is at the cellular metabolic level. 

[27:00] Poor Metabolic Health Amid the Pandemic

Most people who contracted COVID-19 are those with poor metabolic health. If we could solve the public's diet problem, we could reduce the burden on hospitals. 

There are no definitive findings that keto can help decrease the risk of contracting COVID-19. However, studies show promising results on how it can boost one's immune system against the virus. 

[33:52] The Benefits of Keto 

Most postmenopausal women with chronic illnesses found that the benefits of keto include working against brain fog. Ketone is a cleaner brain fuel and causes less inflammation. And switching to a keto diet activates the essential proteins for a healthy brain. 

[38:18] On Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is a form of type three diabetes or insulin resistance of the brain. Suzanne de la Monte’s study found that exogenous ketones called MCT oil can improve the cognitive function of people with Alzheimer’s disease. 

Hence, ketones improve health and brain function. 

[42:16] The Global Burden of Disease

Diet is the primary global burden of disease. Approximately a sixth of the calories young people take in America is fructose.

To maintain a healthy life, avoid highly processed food and sugar. 

[45:08] Why Natural is Not Always Good For You

Not all plants are good for our bodies and minds. Plants don’t exist for good health. They’re there to do whatever it takes to survive. The plants we eat today are not the same as our ancestors ate 50 years ago.

[48:56] Getting the Trend Right 

Reduce your sugar, high glycemic index carbohydrates, flour, and the like to see great results on your health. It’s okay to eat some treats, but you have to be conscious about it. There must be a limit set to maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

[53:32] Keto Flu 

Keto flu involves having cravings for food that you previously consumed. In the first phase, it's good to take MCT oil to help familiarise your body with the ketones. It's good to take lots of magnesium and potassium iIf you don't have any kidney problems. 

Some might experience side effects when starting the keto diet. These include nausea, changes in stomach acid, brain fog, sleep disturbance, and the like. Adapting to a keto diet decreases your insulin level that subsequently reduces your body water.  

[55:57] Fully Adapting to Keto

The side effects of the keto diet may last for a couple of days. However, you’ll feel a sudden boost of energy once you get over the keto flu. 

It’s not advisable to cycle in and out of keto. The best lifestyle decision you can make every day is on what’s the end of your fork.

About Prof David

Prof David Harper is a health educator, researcher, and technology CEO. He finished his Bachelor of Science and Doctorate in Mathematical biofluid dynamics from the University of British Columbia; and completed his post-doctoral fellowship in Comparative Physiology at the University of Cambridge.

He is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at the University of the Fraser Valley and a visiting scientist at the BC Cancer Research Center, Terry Fox Laboratory. 

Prof David is also a member of the scientific advisory board of the Canadian Clinicians for Therapeutic Nutrition and the Institute for Personalised Therapeutic Nutrition.

His current research interest focuses on the therapeutic benefits of ketogenic diets among women with metastatic breast cancer. Due to his passion for studying the impact of diet on our health, he recently launched his book called: BioDiet: The Ketogenic Way to Lose Weight and Improve Health.

You can contact David through his social media channels: LinkedIn and Twitter.

Powerful Quotes

[10:48] ‘When you consider the calories to be the cause of weight loss or gain, you're going down the wrong road. It's the effect of the foods you eat on your metabolism—in particular, I would argue, on your hormone balance and insulin.’ 

[23:07] ‘If you're insulin resistant, you become more inflamed and more obese. If you're more obese, you become more insulin resistant. So they make each other worse…eventually, it results in a state of poor metabolic health that will then manifest itself…as one of these chronic diseases.’ 

[24:05] ‘The thing is you're treating the symptom, not the disease. So the disease is at the cellular metabolic level.’ 

[27:00] ‘If you look at the people that are having bad COVID outcomes, those are people with poor metabolic health—that is absolutely known. So if we can improve the overall metabolic health of the public, we would reduce the burden on our hospitals again.’

[35:44] 'What happens is you put these stressors on your cells to change its metabolism and that turns the genes on.'

[40:32] 'So we're realising that the ketones don't just provide optimal health. They might actually even improve brain function over and above what you expect.'

[45:52] ‘Plants aren't there for good health. They're there to do whatever it is that makes the plant more successful.’

Resources

• Gain exclusive access and bonuses to Pushing the Limits Podcast by becoming a patron! 
• Read BioDiet by David Harper
• BioDiet website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
• Check out the Keto Salt Lake
• Alzheimer's Disease Is Type 3 Diabetes by Suzanne de la Monte and Jack Wands
• The Lancet: Global Burden of Disease
• Contact David LinkedIn | Twitter

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