After a blood test left him with more questions than answers, my guest, Ivor Cummins, began applying his problem-solving, tactical engineering point of view to explain why his blood tests were abnormal, an answer his physicians were unable to provide. From there, he turned his attention to explaining the root cause and pathophysiology of the most common diseases of our time- obesity, diabetes, heart disease just to name a few. He has spent countless late nights scouring decades-old research and has come up with a clear common thread- insulin resistance. To combat IR, he advocates a low-carb, high-fat lifestyle, and his book (due out the end of Feb 2018), written with Dr. Jeffry Gerber, Eat Rich, Live Long, makes the case, in a rational and reasonable manner, that a low-carb diet along with lifestyle changes is the key to improving health.
During our conversation, we discuss insulin resistance and insulin tests, the importance of adipose and which food products to eliminate from a diet.
Key Takeaways:
[4:41] How Iver came to be a proponent of a low carb diet.
[11:25] Why is insulin resistance not being tested properly?
[16:08] What is the mechanism linking cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammation?
[21:30] The Kraft test works, but do you need it?
[27:48] Adipose is an important endocrine organ.
[34:43] Linking LDL to cardiovascular disease.
[43:20] Eat Rich, Live Long focuses overall good health.
[48:02] PUFAs are bad, period.
Mentioned in This Episode:
This is very interesting. I understand processed simple carbs being a problem, but the longest lived people in the worlds so called blue zones get 80-90% of their energy from carbohydrates and have no insulin issues.♂️ Please help me, I’d love to go back to steak and eggs.
Hi Brian. Great point. It is clear that some populations who are insulin sensitive do just fine, in fact thrive, with higher carb diets. The keys are that the quality of carbs is high (no processed junk food and added sugar), and the rest of their lifestyle helps maintain their insulin sensitivity. That is a far cry from the average American or even European who is starting from an insulin resistant baseline. Thanks for your comment!