638: Our Bodies Are Not Designed to Run on Carbohydrates (Eat This) | Dr. Gary Fettke
Feb 4, 2025
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Dr. Gary Fettke, a Tasmanian Orthopedic Surgeon, champions the role of nutrition in disease prevention. He critiques high carbohydrate diets, explaining their links to insulin resistance, inflammation, and chronic diseases. He argues for the benefits of an animal-based diet and emphasizes the importance of healthy fats for better health outcomes. Fettke also highlights the necessity of magnesium and the synergy between vitamins D3 and K2. Throughout, he encourages questioning conventional dietary guidelines and advocates for informed choices.
Dr. Gary Fettke emphasizes that high carbohydrate consumption, particularly glucose and fructose, significantly impacts metabolic health and diabetes management.
The glycocalyx, vital for vascular health, can be damaged by elevated blood glucose levels, illustrating the direct correlation between dietary choices and well-being.
Fettke critiques traditional dietary guidelines promoting high carbohydrates, advocating for low-carb, high-fat diets to combat rising chronic disease rates.
Deep dives
The Role of Carbohydrates in Health
Carbohydrates, particularly glucose and fructose, have significant impacts on health, especially regarding diabetes management. High carbohydrate consumption leads to spikes in blood glucose levels, prompting the body to work intensely to regulate this glucose, sometimes resulting in insulin resistance. The body’s mechanisms to remove glucose from the bloodstream highlight its potential harmful nature, contrary to common beliefs about its health benefits. Ultimately, carbohydrates can be considered non-essential to our survival, as the body can produce necessary glucose from fats and proteins.
The Glycocalyx and Blood Glucose Spikes
The glycocalyx, the body’s largest functioning organ, plays a crucial role in vascular health by producing nitric oxide and facilitating blood flow through the capillaries. However, elevated blood glucose levels can damage this protective layer, leading to various health issues, including inflammation and increased risk of chronic diseases. Studies have shown that individuals with diabetes have a significantly thinner glycocalyx, indicating how damaging high glucose can be to vascular health. This damage to the glycocalyx serves as an important reminder of how our dietary choices directly affect our overall well-being.
Impacts of Fructose on Metabolism
Fructose, commonly found in sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, is metabolized differently than glucose, primarily in the liver, contributing to various health problems. Ingesting excess fructose can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and promote insulin resistance, further complicating metabolic health. Additionally, fructose consumption is linked to increased hunger, as it inhibits leptin, the hormone that signals satiety, while simultaneously stimulating ghrelin, the hunger hormone. This biochemical pathway highlights how fructose contributes to overeating and weight gain, exacerbating the obesity epidemic.
Seed Oils and Inflammation
Modern dietary practices often include high amounts of seed oils rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which can lead to systemic inflammation. These oils can oxidize and contribute to the body’s inflammatory response, negatively affecting overall health. The shift from traditional diets, which had lower omega-6 levels, to diets high in seed oils and processed foods illustrates a significant change in dietary habits over the past century. Recognizing the detrimental effects of these oils is essential for improving dietary choices and alleviating inflammation-related health issues.
Rethinking Dietary Guidelines and Modern Health
The prevailing dietary guidelines, which often emphasize high carbohydrate consumption, have been critiqued for contributing to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Historical context reveals that these guidelines were heavily influenced by the food industry, which often prioritizes profit over health. As a result, many health professionals are advocating for low-carb, high-fat diets as a more effective approach to promoting better health outcomes. Moving away from reliance on government dietary recommendations and towards evidence-based, individual choices is crucial for enhancing public health.
Dr. Gary Fettke is a Tasmanian Orthopedic Surgeon and vocal proponent of nutrition being a major component of prevention and management of modern disease.
He continues to defend the right to free speech and the right to question traditional beliefs for the benefit of the community.