📢 Ask Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind (multilingual):

https://benbikman.com/ben-bikmans-digital-ai-mind

📢 Dr. Bikman’s Community & Coaching Site: https://insuliniq.com

Topic:

Bile acids are powerful hormone-like signaling molecules that regulate liver fat, glucose production, insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure, inflammation, and GLP-1 release through FXR and TGR5 receptors. Gallbladder function and bile acid signaling play a far greater role in metabolic health than most people realize.

Summary:

Ben explores a largely overlooked metabolic regulator: bile acids. While bile is commonly understood as a digestive fluid that helps emulsify fats, bile acids are now recognized as powerful hormone-like signaling molecules that influence insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial function, thyroid hormone activation, inflammation, GLP-1 release, and fat cell behavior.

Dr. Bikman explains the remarkable efficiency of enterohepatic circulation, where bile acids are reabsorbed and recycled multiple times per day. This recycling process allows bile acids to interact with key receptors — FXR (a nuclear receptor) and TGR5 (a G-protein coupled receptor) — triggering metabolic effects throughout the body.

Activation of FXR reduces liver fat production, improves hepatic insulin sensitivity, lowers glucose output, and stimulates FGF19, which further suppresses excess glucose production. TGR5 activation increases energy expenditure via thyroid hormone activation in brown fat and muscle, stimulates GLP-1 release in the intestine, reduces inflammation in immune cells, and supports healthier adipose tissue signaling.

Ben also examines the metabolic consequences of gallbladder removal. Without the gallbladder’s concentrated, timed bile release, signaling patterns change, and epidemiological data suggest increased risk of metabolic syndrome and fatty liver. Finally, Dr. Bikman discusses bile supplements such as ox bile and TUDCA, reviewing mechanistic rationale and human data showing improved insulin sensitivity in certain contexts.

The overarching message: bile acids are not merely digestive detergents — they are among the most important and underappreciated metabolic signaling molecules in the body.

References:

For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber. You’ll enjoy real-time, livestream Metabolic Classroom access which includes live Q&A with Ben after the lecture, unlimited access to Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind, ad-free podcast episodes, show notes and references, and Ben’s Weekly Research Review Podcast. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com

NOTE: The information presented is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Bikman is not a clinician—and, he is not your doctor. Always seek the advice of your own qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#BileAcids #MetabolicHealth #FXR #TGR5 #Gallbladder #Cholecystectomy #InsulinResistance #GLP1 #TUDCA #OxBile #FatDigestion #Mitochondria #EnergyExpenditure #LiverHealth #FattyLiver #Type2Diabetes #MetabolismScience #HormoneHealth #BrownFat #DrBenBikman

Ben’s favorite yerba mate and fiber: https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/1BA884

Exogenous ketones: A high-quality option is the NSF-certified goBHB from Clean Form Nutrition, where you can use the code BEN10 for a 10% discount: https://cleanformnutrition.com/products/go-bhb

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

📢 Ask Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind (multilingual):

https://benbikman.com/ben-bikmans-digital-ai-mind

📢 Dr. Bikman’s Community & Coaching Site: https://insuliniq.com

Topic:

LDL cholesterol is a weak predictor of heart disease compared to markers of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio. True cardiovascular risk is driven far more by metabolic dysfunction than by cholesterol numbers alone.

Summary:

In this episode, Ben challenges the long-standing belief that LDL cholesterol is the primary driver of heart disease. While LDL has dominated cardiovascular conversations for decades, large-scale data show that nearly half of people hospitalized with heart disease have “normal” LDL levels.

Instead, the strongest predictors of cardiovascular risk — especially premature heart disease — are markers of metabolic dysfunction, particularly insulin resistance. Measures like the lipoprotein insulin resistance (LP-IR) score, type 2 diabetes status, metabolic syndrome, and even the simple triglyceride-to-HDL ratio dramatically outperform LDL cholesterol in predicting who will develop heart disease.

One of the most practical tools discussed is the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio, which can be calculated from a standard lipid panel. This ratio reflects underlying insulin resistance and small, dense LDL particles far better than LDL levels alone.

Dr. Bikman also reviews the modest benefits of statins in primary prevention and highlights a critical point: lowering LDL does not address the root metabolic dysfunction driving cardiovascular disease. In fact, statin use — particularly in women — may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The takeaway is clear: cardiovascular prevention should shift from being LDL-centric to metabolism-centric. Insulin sensitivity, triglycerides, HDL, fasting insulin, and glycemic control are far more powerful indicators of risk than LDL cholesterol alone.

References:

For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber. You’ll enjoy real-time, livestream Metabolic Classroom access which includes live Q&A with Ben after the lecture, unlimited access to Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind, ad-free podcast episodes, show notes and references, and Ben’s Weekly Research Review Podcast. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com

NOTE: The information presented is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Bikman is not a clinician—and, he is not your doctor. Always seek the advice of your own qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Ben’s favorite yerba mate and fiber: https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/1BA884

Exogenous ketones: A high-quality option is the NSF-certified goBHB from Clean Form Nutrition, where you can use the code BEN10 for a 10% discount: https://cleanformnutrition.com/products/go-bhb

Ben’s favorite meal-replacement shake: https://gethlth.com (discount: BEN10)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

📢 Ask Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind (multilingual): https://benbikman.com/ben-bikmans-digital-ai-mind

📢 Dr. Bikman’s Community & Coaching Site: https://insuliniq.com

Topic:

Exercise prompts your muscles to release extracellular vesicles — tiny molecular packages that deliver health-boosting instructions to your brain, liver, fat, and more. These signals improve metabolism, reduce inflammation, and may even help reverse insulin resistance and obesity-related damage.

Summary:

Dr. Ben Bikman explains how extracellular vesicles (ECVs) — tiny biological packages released by cells — are revolutionizing our understanding of how exercise improves metabolic health. These vesicles act like molecular mail, delivering proteins, lipids, and microRNAs from one tissue to another, with effects that include improved insulin sensitivity, enhanced fat burning, and reduced inflammation.

When we exercise, our muscles and other tissues release more ECVs, which travel throughout the body delivering beneficial molecular signals to organs like the liver, brain, fat cells, and immune system. Different types of exercise (aerobic vs. resistance) and different intensities produce ECVs with distinct “cargo,” which helps explain the diverse benefits of various workout styles.

In conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes, however, the story shifts. Dysfunctional tissues release harmful ECVs that can spread metabolic disease. Fortunately, exercise helps reverse this, replacing harmful signals with beneficial ones. Even brief bouts of exercise can shift this internal “conversation” in a healthier direction.

Ben closes by highlighting the future potential of ECV research: personalized exercise prescriptions, new biomarkers, and even therapeutic applications like “exercise in a bottle.” But until then, the takeaway is clear: exercise isn’t just about movement — it’s a system-wide signal for better health.

References:

For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber. You’ll enjoy real-time, livestream Metabolic Classroom access which includes live Q&A with Ben after the lecture, unlimited access to Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind, ad-free podcast episodes, show notes and references, and Ben’s Weekly Research Review Podcast. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com

NOTE: The information presented is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Bikman is not a clinician—and, he is not your doctor. Always seek the advice of your own qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

#MetabolicHealth #ExtracellularVesicles #ExerciseScience #InsulinResistance #MolecularHealth #DrBenBikman #MuscleHealth #CellCommunication #MetabolismMatters #FatBurning #BrownFat #microRNA #FitnessScience #HormoneHealth #HealthyLiving #BloodSugarBalance #ResistanceTraining #AerobicExercise #MetabolicTherapy #SystemicHealth

Ben’s favorite yerba mate and fiber: https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/1BA884

Exogenous ketones: A high-quality option is the NSF-certified goBHB from Clean Form Nutrition, where you can use the code BEN10 for a 10% discount: https://cleanformnutrition.com/products/go-bhb

Ben’s favorite meal-replacement shake: https://gethlth.com (discount: BEN10)

Ben’s favorite health check-up for men: https://blokes.co/drben15 (discount: DRBEN15)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.