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520. Is Your Diet Killing You? | Dr. Benjamin Bikman

The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

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Published: Mon Feb 10 2025

Jordan Peterson sits down with bestselling author and bioenergetics Ph.D., Dr. Benjamin Bikman. They discuss the epidemic of insulin resistance in America and its profound effects on health, the sugar addiction crisis, how dopamine hijacks your brain, how to navigate the American diet, and the potential to fix it invitationally from the top down over the next four years. Benjamin Bikman earned a Ph.D. in bioenergetics at East Carolina University with a focus on the adaptations to metabolic surgeries in obesity. He continued to explore metabolic disorders, with a particular focus on insulin resistance, as a postdoctoral fellow at the Duke-National University of Singapore. As a professor at Brigham Young University and the director of its Diabetes Research Lab, Dr. Bikman has continued to study insulin, including its role as a regulator of human metabolism, as well as insulin’s relevance in chronic disease. In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Bikman actively serves as a r...

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Episode 520: "Is Your Diet Killing You?" | Dr. Benjamin Bikman
Release Date: February 10, 2025

Join Dr. Jordan B. Peterson and Dr. Benjamin Bikman in this enlightening episode as they delve deep into the profound impact of diet on overall health, focusing primarily on the perils of excessive carbohydrate intake and insulin resistance. This comprehensive discussion uncovers the metabolic underpinnings of numerous chronic diseases and offers insights into effective lifestyle modifications.

Introduction

[00:00] Dr. Benjamin Bikman opens the conversation by critiquing the prevalent craving for carbohydrates and their metabolic effects, notably the spike in insulin levels.

[00:42] Jordan Peterson introduces Dr. Bikman, highlighting his expertise in cell biology and his contributions to the Peterson Academy. He frames the discussion around the "Make America Healthy Again" movement, emphasizing the need to identify and address the primary causes of America's health crises efficiently.

Cardiometabolic Crisis: The Root of Chronic Diseases

[05:17] Jordan Peterson poses a strategic question: "If you had to zero in...what are the major problems?" This leads to a focused discussion on the Cardiometabolic Crisis, which Dr. Bikman identifies as the central issue contributing to numerous top chronic diseases.

[05:50] Dr. Benjamin Bikman explains that many leading health issues—type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, certain cancers, COPD, chronic high blood pressure, immunological diseases, depression, and anxiety—can be traced back to insulin resistance and poor metabolic health. He emphasizes that insulin resistance is the linchpin in this crisis.

Notable Quote:
[05:17] Dr. Benjamin Bikman: "The problem is a cardio metabolic crisis. And at the heart of this is... insulin resistance."

Insulin Resistance and Obesity

[08:19] Jordan Peterson seeks clarity on the relationship between insulin resistance and obesity.

[08:26] Dr. Bikman elaborates on how insulin resistance develops, distinguishing between fast and slow insulin resistance. He explains that as fat cells expand, they become resistant to insulin, leading to ectopic fat deposition and systemic inflammation.

Notable Quotes:
[09:43] Dr. Benjamin Bikman: "Insulin tells a fat cell to grow... but the fat cell has to adapt, becoming insulin resistant to survive."
[16:11] Jordan Peterson: "What's the fundamental problem?"

The Role of Insulin in Metabolism

[18:58] Jordan Peterson prompts a deeper exploration of insulin's role and the consequences of insulin resistance.

[19:47] Dr. Bikman underscores insulin as a critical hormone essential for survival, regulating blood glucose levels, and facilitating fat storage. He contrasts the glucose-burning pathways with fat-burning mechanisms, highlighting insulin's dominance in dictating metabolic states.

Notable Quote:
[21:59] Dr. Benjamin Bikman: "Insulin is an absolutely essential hormone in the body. As much as I am going to go on...it's critical."

Historical and Evolutionary Perspectives on Diet

[23:47] Jordan Peterson raises an evolutionary question about the presence of high-sugar carbohydrates in historical human diets.

[24:33] Dr. Bikman responds by emphasizing that historically, easily digestible high-sugar foods were scarce, necessitating a diet rich in fats and proteins to survive lean times. He criticizes modern agricultural practices that heavily subsidize carbohydrates like high-fructose corn syrup, which are now ubiquitous in processed foods.

Notable Quote:
[24:33] Dr. Benjamin Bikman: "A purely plant-based diet is so deficient in nutrients it is utterly incompatible with human survival."

Impact of Diet on Reproductive Health

[43:29] Jordan Peterson highlights the connection between insulin resistance and reproductive issues.

[43:31] Dr. Bikman discusses how insulin resistance leads to conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women and erectile dysfunction in men. He explains the biochemical pathways where excess insulin inhibits enzymes critical for hormone balance, thereby disrupting reproductive functions.

Notable Quote:
[43:29] Dr. Benjamin Bikman: "The most common forms of infertility... are caused by insulin resistance."

Insulin Resistance and Neurological Disorders

[50:05] Jordan Peterson connects insulin resistance to neurological conditions.

[51:24] Dr. Bikman elaborates on Alzheimer's disease, referring to it as "type 3 diabetes." He presents case studies where ketogenic diets improved cognitive functions in patients by providing an alternative energy source—ketones—which the insulin-resistant brain can utilize more effectively than glucose.

Notable Quote:
[51:24] Dr. Benjamin Bikman: "Alzheimer's disease... the brain is becoming insulin resistant."

Lifestyle Modifications: Embracing Ketogenic Diets

[78:38] Jordan Peterson suggests that adopting a ketogenic diet might be a fundamental solution to the discussed health issues.

[78:43] Dr. Bikman agrees, advocating for carbohydrate control as the primary intervention. He emphasizes that unlike essential fats and proteins, carbohydrates are non-essential and their excess is detrimental. Transitioning to a low-carb or ketogenic diet can reverse insulin resistance and mitigate numerous chronic diseases.

Notable Quote:
[78:37] Dr. Benjamin Bikman: "Control carbs. They are the main contributor to your disease."

Critique of Government Policies and the Food Pyramid

[64:05] Jordan Peterson and Dr. Bikman delve into the historical development of the Food Guide Pyramid, criticizing its carbohydrate-heavy foundation. They argue that the pyramid was influenced by religious ideologies and led to increased obesity and diabetes rates by promoting excessive carbohydrate consumption.

Notable Quote:
[71:02] Jordan Peterson: "The people who designed that bloody pyramid were told by their own scientists that they were going to produce an epidemic of obesity and diabetes."

Cancer and Metabolism: A Paradigm Shift

[55:45] Dr. Bikman discusses emerging research on the relationship between metabolism and cancer. He cites studies where ketogenic diets have been shown to reduce tumor growth by depriving cancer cells of their preferred glucose fuel.

Notable Quote:
[56:10] Dr. Benjamin Bikman: "Cancer cells don't use ketones, they use glucose."

Conclusion: Addressing the Root Cause

[63:00] Jordan Peterson and Dr. Bikman summarize the discussion by reiterating that excessive carbohydrate intake leads to insulin resistance, which in turn triggers a cascade of chronic diseases. They advocate for dietary changes—primarily reducing carbohydrate consumption—as the most effective strategy to combat these health issues.

Notable Quote:
[63:12] Dr. Benjamin Bikman: "Type 2 diabetes is absolutely reversible. It's just that you have to respect that. It's food. The food we eat is the culprit or the cure."

Recommendations and Further Resources

Dr. Bikman encourages listeners to explore his Peterson Academy courses, which offer in-depth knowledge on biology and physiology related to metabolic health. He also emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in dietary choices to improve health outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Insulin Resistance is identified as the central factor contributing to a multitude of chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and reproductive issues.
  • Excessive Carbohydrate Intake, driven by modern dietary guidelines and government subsidies, is the primary cause of insulin resistance.
  • Ketogenic and Low-Carb Diets are presented as effective interventions to reverse insulin resistance and mitigate associated health problems.
  • Government Policies, particularly the Food Guide Pyramid, are criticized for promoting carbohydrate-heavy diets that have led to widespread health crises.
  • Lifestyle Modifications focusing on diet, especially reducing carbohydrate consumption, are advocated as essential for improving public health.

For those interested in a deeper exploration of these topics, Dr. Benjamin Bikman's lectures on the Peterson Academy platform are highly recommended.