A podcast episode by Brian Johnson arguing that a therapeutic ketogenic diet can be used as a targeted therapy against cancer by exploiting cancer cells' metabolic inflexibility. The host describes practical parameters (very low carbs — about 20 net carbs/day — adequate protein, high healthy fats), references Miriam Kalamian and her book "Keto for Cancer," and shares a personal anecdote about his brother measuring glucose and ketones. The episode closes with a promotion for the Optimize membership (Philosopher's Notes and Optimal Living 101 classes).
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Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another optimize plus one. In our last plus one we talked about our 8020180 phase in which we implemented a number of high leverage and lifestyle changes. After that stabilization and optimizing process, we went deep into what research shows to be a really powerful targeted therapy for cancer, a ketogenic diet. In fact, we hired the woman who literally wrote the book on it. That book is called Keto for Cancer. Its author, Miriam Kalamian, has been my brother's day to day nutritionist for the last X weeks. She and her book are amazing. If you're wondering what nutritional approach we're following, that's it. I was laughing as I created this, but my brother went from pretty much eating whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, in whatever quantity he wanted, to following a nutritional plan with the precision of an Olympic athlete, such that he knows, in his words, whether or not he can have a couple more walnuts with lunch. All of which begs a few questions. First, you may wonder, what's a ketogenic diet and why is it relevant? Well, a therapeutic ketogenic diet is a very low carbohydrate, adequate protein, high healthy fat, nutrient dense diet that shifts your body's primary source of energy metabolism from glucose to what's known as ketones. The ketones produced in a therapeutic ketogenic diet are relevant because this is how we strike cancer where it's weak. Here's the deal. Remember our chat about the fact that cancer loves sugar? Well, cancer cells don't just love sugar. Cancer cells pretty much literally can't live with without sugar. And I had goosebumps as I typed that and as I say that. Know this, you don't need to rewind that far in our 1.5 million year evolutionary history to arrive at a time when the next meal wasn't guaranteed, let alone arriving as edible food, like substances that was made in a factory and available in your fridge all day, every day, all consumed with basically no effort, et cetera. Know this as well. We evolved to not just survive during times of food scarcity, but to thrive. This fact required what's known as metabolic flexibility. Healthy cells had to be able to burn either glucose or ketones for fuel. A little parenthetical side note here. Here's a little known fact that all dietitians know, but nearly all keep secret. We can function just Fine, with zero carbs, we need fats and proteins, we do not need carbs. But and this might be the most important point in our entire discussion about how to conquer cancer, so let's pay attention here. Cancer cells are metabolically inflexible, which means that cancer cells can't make the switch from using glucose for fuel to using ketones, whereas again, healthy cells easily can. And that is how you checkmate the seemingly immortal cells and their out of control growth, leverage their metabolic inflexibility, cut off their fuel source, step on their Achilles heel. And practically speaking, what that means is we need to drastically reduce carb intake in the range of around 20 net carbs per day. When done with precision, ideally with the guidance of a nutrition pro. Within the healthy fat, adequate protein, nutrient dense parameters Miriam maps out in her book, you radically change your energy metabolism, nourishing your healthy cells with ketones while starving your cancer cells of glucose. This is why my brother measures his glucose and ketones all day, every day. He's driven the glucose down now into the 80s, which again is an epically awesome drop from the 145 diabetic cancer feasting on glucose zone to the optimal where's the glucose Cancer cell starvation D while driving up his ketone levels. Again nourishing the metabolically flexible healthy cells while exploiting the metabolically inflexible cancer cells. Achilles. That is how we use targeted nutritional therapy to win the war on cancer.
Isn't it a bit odd that we went from math to science to history, but somehow missed the class on how to live? For some wacky reason, optimal living 101 never made the schedule. Of course it's too late to go back and change that and you're too busy to read full time to catch up. But if you're like us, you're all about optimizing your life and actualizing your potential. So imagine this. Imagine having someone read the best books on how to optimize your life and pull out the big ideas that can really change your life. You know those sections, you underline an asterisk and mark all up. Then imagine that guy me connecting those awesome ideas to other great books and helping you actually apply the wisdom to your life today. Well, that's what I do with something we call philosopher's notes where I've distilled hundreds of great books into 20 minute super practical summaries. Then imagine me taking the absolute best big ideas from those great books and sharing them with you in hour long Optimal Living 101 classes on everything from productivity, purpose and confidence to nutrition, goal setting and conquering procrastination. Helping you optimize every facet of your life so you can actualize your potential. You've got a personal trainer? I'm kind of like your personal philosopher. Ancient wisdom plus modern science plus practical tools. That's what our optimized membership program is all about. If you're feeling it, we'd love to have you join us.
