The Primal Podcast Ep 148 - Dr Koutnik - NEW 100-Year Study Proved We’re Wrong About Carbs!
Jan 10, 2026
Dr. Andrew P. Koutnik, a researcher and type 1 diabetes advocate, challenges common beliefs about carbohydrate intake and its necessity for athletes. He discusses his groundbreaking study that reveals low-carb diets can actually reverse metabolic diseases, including diabetes. Koutnik shares personal insights on living with diabetes, the immediate effects of carbs on glucose levels, and practical tips for a high-fat diet. He emphasizes that both athletes and the general public can thrive without high-carb diets, presenting compelling evidence for a protein-centric, high-fat lifestyle.
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Carbs Drive Immediate Glucose And Insulin Shifts
- Carbohydrates have the most potent, immediate effect on blood glucose and insulin at every meal.
- Lowering carbs rapidly reduces glucose and insulin, raising ketones within 24 hours.
Listener Reversed Diabetes After A TED Talk
- A TED Talk listener emailed that they lost over 100 pounds and reversed type 2 diabetes after changing diet.
- That message convinced Andrew Koutnik of the real-world power of nutritional strategies.
Carbs Aren't Biologically Essential
- The brain and survival don't require dietary carbs; only amino acids and free fatty acids are essential.
- Historical and experimental data show the brain functions fine with very low or zero carbs.