The core insights center on the harmful effects of high insulin, the therapeutic benefits of the ketogenic diet and ketone production, and strategies for chronic disease management and optimal brain health.
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Insulin's Role in Chronic Disease and Aging
Excess insulin is a chronic disease maker, contributing to conditions such as high blood pressure and cancer. It is also linked to debris accumulation in the brain, associated with depression, brain fog, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's.
High insulin levels accelerate aging by promoting the accumulation of "trash" in the body and brain, hindering the natural cleanup process that should occur, for example, during sleep.
Physical signs of chronically high insulin or insulin resistance include abdominal girth (where fat is stored first), skin tags (especially in armpits or where skin rubs), velvety/darkened skin (acanthosis nigricans, often on the neck), and the loss of hair on the lower extremities (starting with the toes).
A key dietary driver of excessive insulin production is eating late at night, as calories consumed after 6:00 PM are metabolically disproportionately impactful (worth 10 bites before noon).
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The Therapeutic Power of Ketosis
A ketogenic state reverses a high insulin state, and sustained ketosis can potentially restore health and improve quality of life. It can also help preserve muscle mass.
Ketones are a cleaner fuel source than glucose, producing less cellular "trash" or byproduct, and operating in an "antioxidant state".
For the brain, ketones are particularly beneficial because they penetrate the blood-brain barrier easily, bypassing the "war" insulin creates in trying to get glucose to brain cells in insulin-resistant patients.
Cognitive benefits from ketosis include improved brain performance, concentration, energy, mood control, focus, and reduced impulsivity.
Long-term adherence to a ketogenic diet (6 to 18 months) is required for muscles to fully switch from using glucose to using fat effectively, leading to significant increases in power and endurance (up to 50% more than counterparts).
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Achieving and Measuring a Ketogenic State
To initiate ketosis, total carbohydrate intake must be reduced (often to 20 grams or less per day initially).
Fat intake should be increased (a "fat-forward" diet including foods like eggs, beef brisket, pork belly, and ribs) because high insulin locks the body's stored fat ("fat under this insulin bed"); consuming external fat is often necessary to jumpstart ketone production.
A sardine challenge (eating sardines exclusively for a few days) is highly recommended as an advanced tool because sardines are high-fat, high-protein, nutrient-dense, affordable, and push the body quickly into a ketogenic state.
The time needed to achieve ketosis varies; a highly insulin-resistant person may take up to 15 days of low-carb dieting to exhaust glycogen stores and produce their first ketone.
Blood testing is the best way to measure ketones and glucose (which acts as a proxy for insulin levels). A ketone reading of 0.5 or greater, combined with a non-triple digit blood sugar, indicates fat burning.
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Ketosis, Hormones, and Disease Management
In the context of Down syndrome (which often involves advanced insulin resistance and early Alzheimer's), a ketogenic diet resulted in profound cognitive improvement, including the ability to form three-syllable words for the first time in one patient.
Lowering high insulin allows fat-derived hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone, and Vitamin D, to mobilize from fat cells where they had been stored/trapped, which can help sync menstrual cycles and raise Vitamin D levels.
High ketones naturally stimulate hormones like GLP-1, which suppresses appetite and cravings, providing a natural mechanism for weight and craving management.
For cancer patients (particularly those with insulin-driven cancer), the ketogenic diet creates a less cancer-friendly physiological environment by reducing glucose availability (the Warburg effect), preserving muscle mass, and potentially enhancing the effectiveness of treatments like chemotherapy.
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Key Supplements for Health Optimization
Magnesium is essential as a cofactor for almost every enzyme and ATP recycling, and supplementation is widely recommended due to low levels in food/soil. Magnesium can also be absorbed topically via floats.
Creatine is highly beneficial for the brain, aiding focus (especially for those with ADHD) and assisting with the reset of sleep schedules following jet lag. Doctors should be aware that creatine supplementation can falsely elevate creatinine readings in standard kidney function tests.
Methylene Blue is an old dye that crosses the blood-brain barrier to act as a powerful brain energizer, helping mitochondria move fuel.
Exogenous ketones (externally consumed) can be used as a jumpstart, especially for insulin-resistant individuals or those recovering from a high-carb meal, as they signal the liver to produce more natural ketones.