The Jesse Chappus Show 658: Sugar Diet: The Scientific Truth Behind This New Fad Diet | Nick Norwitz
Jun 24, 2025
Dr. Nick Norwitz, a PhD in Metabolism from Oxford and MD from Harvard, is on a mission to promote metabolic health. He dives into the surprising benefits of the sugar diet, revealing its potential to impact energy expenditure and heart health. Amidst discussions on protein intake and glycemic monitoring, he emphasizes personalized dietary choices. Additionally, he explores the role of chlorogenic acid from coffee in heart health and reflects on innovative paths in medicine that prioritize public health education.
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Mark Bell's Sugar Diet Experiment
- Mark Bell, a keto influencer, experimented with the sugar diet involving high sugar and low protein intake.
- He reported fat loss, muscle retention, and excellent exercise performance while following this diet.
Protein Restriction Boosts Energy Expenditure
- Protein restriction raises FGF21 hormone, increasing energy expenditure by making mitochondria less efficient.
- This effect explains how low-protein diets, even high-carb or high-fat, can boost calorie burn without more activity.
Unifying Mechanism in Low-Protein Diets
- The increased energy expenditure from protein restriction likely underlies both sugar diets and ketogenic diets with low protein.
- FGF21 sensitivity and receptor response, not just hormone levels, influence these metabolic effects in humans.