BV #13: Ken Berry’s Fructose Fearmongering, Glycation Myths, & ChatGPT Says We’re Wrong

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Jun 26, 2025

The podcast dives into Dr. Ken Berry's provocative claims about fructose and its impact on human diets, questioning whether our ancestors truly only consumed sweet foods a few times a year. It challenges the oversimplified associations of fructose with weight gain and emphasizes the complexities of glycation processes. The speakers advocate for a nuanced understanding of carbohydrates, metabolic health, and the influence of modern lifestyles on dietary choices. They also critique the reliability of AI in nutritional advice, encouraging listeners to think critically about health information.

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INSIGHT

Bears' Weight Gain Misunderstood

Bears gain weight for winter primarily due to hormonal and metabolic changes, not just sugar intake from fruit or honey.
Human physiology differs significantly making the bear analogy invalid for human diet advice.

INSIGHT

Glycation Complexity Explained

Glycation involves damage through interactions between proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, but carbohydrates contribute less than lipid peroxides.
Fructose is more glycating than glucose in vitro, but in the body this effect is minimal due to low blood fructose levels and conversion in the liver.

ADVICE

Manage Glycation with Diet Choices

To reduce glycation and oxidative stress, including carbohydrates in diet can improve insulin sensitivity and metabolic function.
Lowering polyunsaturated fats and processed foods can support better metabolic health.

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In this episode we discuss:

Dr. Ken Berry’s claim that humans would historically only eat sweet foods (like fruit and honey) 1-2 weeks out of the year
Whether we should always do what our ancestors did to optimize our diets
Dr. Ken Berry’s claim that fructose causes glycation
Whether we can trust AI to provide accurate information

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide

The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/

Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

0:38 – Dr. Ken Berry’s claim that humans historically ate fruit and honey to gain weight like bears for the winter

3:45 – whether fructose and fruit are responsible for weight gain in bears and whether this applies to humans

8:53 – whether humans evolved eating a high-carb diet

11:30 – what about carbohydrate consumption in native human cultures and ancestral environments?

17:27 – Dr. Ken Berry’s claim that fructose is 10x more glycating than glucose

20:51 – whether sugar and carb consumption cause high blood sugar and AGEs (advanced glycation end products)

27:05 – how low-carb diets can increase glycation and AGEs

32:22 – blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C are often higher on low-carb diets than on diets that include healthy carbohydrates

33:41 – how keto diets cause glycation and increase AGEs

37:41 – what really influences hemoglobin A1C levels

44:32 – the importance of finding optimal carb sources – why candy is not the same as fruit

45:43 – problems with hyper-focusing on one single lab value

48:18 – Dr. Ken Berry’s claim that there is no way to test whether fructose is causing glycation

54:05 – regulating blood sugar for type 1 diabetes

59:01 – is glycation happening in the background on a high-carb diet even if your health is improving?

1:00:17 – can we trust AI like Grok and ChatGPT to provide accurate health information?

1:07:42 – debunking Grok’s logic on carb vs. fat efficiency as a fuel source

1:13:16 – how to properly use AI – DON’T use it to replace your own thinking

1:18:01 – Grok is wrong about fat being a more efficient fuel source than carbs

1:22:33 – strategies for understanding complex research papers

1:24:14 – using personal experience and logic as a guide toward optimizing health

1:32:35 – the gratification that comes with the process of true learning