The Metabolic Classroom with Dr. Ben Bikman Podcast Por Insulin IQ arte de portada

The Metabolic Classroom with Dr. Ben Bikman

The Metabolic Classroom with Dr. Ben Bikman

De: Insulin IQ
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Welcome to The Metabolic Classroom, a nutrition and lifestyle podcast focused on metabolism, which is how our bodies use energy, and the truth behind why we get sick and fat. Every week, Dr. Ben Bikman shares valuable insights that you can apply in your own life and share with friends and loved ones. The Metabolic Classroom is brought to you by BenBikman.com and InsulinIQ.com.

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

Copyright © Insulin IQ. All rights reserved.
Ciencia Ciencias Biológicas Higiene y Vida Saludable
Episodios
  • Why Women Enter Ketosis Faster Than Men - What the Science Reveals
    Nov 10 2025

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

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


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


    📢 Become an Insider, Ben’s website: https://www.benbikman.com


    In this lecture, Dr. Bikman explores how ketogenesis—our body's ability to produce ketones from fat—operates differently in men and women. While the foundational metabolic machinery is the same, hormonal influences, fat distribution, and physiological demands like pregnancy and lactation create meaningful divergences in how each sex mobilizes fat and enters ketosis.


    Women typically exhibit higher levels of free fatty acids and ketones during fasting compared to men. Estrogen drives this effect by enhancing both fat storage in subcutaneous areas and the enzymes responsible for fat breakdown. This dual effect—storing fat in a metabolically healthy way and releasing it efficiently when needed—makes women more metabolically flexible, especially during periods of energy demand like fasting or exercise.


    Men, by contrast, tend to have higher lean mass and rely more heavily on glucose oxidation. Their metabolic machinery still supports fat burning and ketogenesis but often ramps up more slowly. Interestingly, while women tend to reach ketosis faster, men may show more consistent weight loss over time on ketogenic diets—partly due to greater muscle mass and a more sustained shift toward fat burning once adapted.


    A fascinating part of the lecture touches on lactation-induced ketoacidosis, a rare but documented condition in breastfeeding women following strict low-carb diets. This underscores how a woman’s enhanced capacity for fat mobilization and ketone production, while advantageous, can potentially overshoot during intense metabolic demands—highlighting the importance of mindful dietary strategies that are tailored to sex-specific physiology.


    Show Notes/References:

    For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber or member. 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 online, live Office Hours access with Ben. It also includes Ben’s Weekly Research Review Podcast, and a searchable archive. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com


    IMPORTANT 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.

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

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    27 m
  • How Ketones Help the Brain Recover From Concussions
    Nov 3 2025

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


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

    📢 Become an Insider, Ben’s website: https://www.benbikman.com


    In this mini lecture Dr. Bikman explores how concussions cause more than just structural damage to the brain—they create a serious metabolic energy crisis.


    A concussion reduces the brain’s ability to use glucose by impairing glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes, leaving neurons starved for energy just when demand spikes. This disruption persists even after initial symptoms fade and can worsen inflammation and oxidative stress, further harming brain function.


    Fortunately, ketones provide a powerful alternative energy source. Unlike glucose, ketones can bypass the damaged pathways and fuel the brain directly via mitochondria, improving ATP production, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating inflammation.


    Both ketogenic diets and exogenous ketones (like goBHB) can dramatically improve brain recovery after a concussion and even provide preventative protection for athletes and others at risk of head injuries.


    Animal and limited human studies confirm that after injury, the brain increases its ability to use ketones, especially when they are available immediately. Studies show improvements in mitochondrial function, reduced lesion volume, and even increased neuroplasticity and antioxidant gene expression. Whether through fasting, dietary restriction, or supplementation, making ketones available may be a crucial part of supporting the injured brain.


    Show Notes/References:

    For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber or member. 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 online, live Office Hours access with Ben. It also includes Ben’s Weekly Research Review Podcast, and a searchable archive. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com


    IMPORTANT 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.


    Exogenous ketones—especially beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), the most effective and bioavailable form—can provide an immediate and practical energy source for the brain and body, particularly during times of increased demand. 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.

    Más Menos
    19 m
  • The Power of Plasmalogens: Boost Metabolism & Improve Insulin Sensitivity
    Oct 27 2025

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


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


    📢 Become an Insider, Ben’s website: https://www.benbikman.com


    In this Metabolic Classroom lecture, Dr. Bikman explains the crucial role of plasmalogens—a unique type of fat found in the membranes of cells, especially in metabolically active tissues like the brain, heart, and fat cells.


    These special fats help keep cells flexible, support insulin signaling, protect against oxidative stress, and even regulate energy production by stabilizing mitochondria. Dr. Bikman details how plasmalogens act as “sacrificial shields” to defend cells from damage and how they enable cell signaling by keeping membranes fluid.


    Ben explores how plasmalogens directly impact fat cell behavior, enabling white fat to transform into more metabolically active beige fat. This shift enhances fat burning and improves insulin sensitivity. In fat cells and mitochondria alike, plasmalogens influence thermogenesis, mitochondrial efficiency, and even gene expression related to fat storage and breakdown. Dr. Bikman also highlights how lower plasmalogen levels are linked with obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.


    The lecture then connects plasmalogens to insulin signaling, showing how they support proper insulin receptor function through membrane fluidity and lipid raft formation. Without enough plasmalogens, insulin signaling is impaired, leading to elevated blood sugar and higher disease risk.


    Finally, he provides actionable steps to support plasmalogen levels through diet and supplements, including DHA-rich foods, alkylglycerol from shark liver oil, and even prebiotic fibers like inulin.


    Show Notes/References:

    For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber or member. 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 online, live Office Hours access with Ben. It also includes Ben’s Weekly Research Review Podcast, and a searchable archive. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com


    IMPORTANT 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.

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

    Más Menos
    25 m
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I love listening to this podcast. It makes the science of metabolism accessible to a much wider audience. If you want true health, I highly recommend you listen to this podcast and begin to apply the principles to your life.

Making the science of metabolism accessible

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Thank you for helping us listeners put the pieces of the metabolism puzzle together.

Excellent, accessible information

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I just recently found this podcast. It is already become my #1 favorite. Top notch research. Engaging top notch presentation and explanations. Superb!

top notch health info

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Easily understood with research to back it up and easy to listen, well spoken. Thank you.

Excellent information on metabolism

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I listen regularly to your podcast. thanks for your time. education is the key to better health

excellent

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