#231: Keto Diet, Heart Health & Diabetes--New Research Updates by Sarah Hallberg, MD

Sought-after TED speaker, low-carb physician and researcher Sarah Hallberg, MD, is conducting research (in humans, not rats) to help us better understand how low-carb high-fat (LCHF) or ketogenic diets affect our metabolism and heart.

Hallberg et al. recently reported that LCHF diets don’t clog arteries as we might have expected; instead, they actually decrease parameters linked to heart disease.

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In this new show, Dr. Hallberg discusses the details:

After following the “standard of care,” Dr. Hallberg witnessed her overweight and diabetic patients getting sicker and more dependent on medications.

Since she shifted her “prescription” to diet and exercise, her patients are healthier and drug-free.

Watch the interview: https://highintensityhealth.com/231

 

--------------------------- Key Timestamps-----------------------------

 

03:50 When Dr. Hallberg opened a low carbohydrate clinic, they quickly saw weight loss and reversal of diabetes.

05:51 Dr. Hallberg is part of the largest and longest trial of nutritional ketosis as a treatment to reverse type 2 diabetes.

07:40 Exercise, low carb and keto are now considered as treatment options for obesity.

08:42 Medications for diabetes treated symptoms, but not the progression of the disease.. Each step up in medication speeds the cycle.

13:29 Continuous glucose monitors allow you and your doctor to see what blood sugars are doing between finger sticks..

16:28 Remote Care/Telemedicine gives better care remotely by personalizing an individual’s care.  It brings care to the patient.

19:35 Virtahealth is available in all 50 states.

20:35 Most Americans have some sort of metabolic issue. Over 50% of adults in the US have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

24:12 With nutritional ketosis, you can reverse diabetes AND improve cardiovascular risk factors, such as significant decreases in blood pressure, significant increases in good cholesterol/HDL, and a significant decrease in triglycerides.

26:41 A better cardiovascular risk marker than LDL is LDL-P for type 2 diabetics or those with insulin resistance.

27:18 Inflammation markers, especially C-reactive protein (CRP), decreased by 40% over the study year.

33:38 It is best to consume 3 to 5 grams of sodium a day

34:25 Patients in the study with high blood pressure had reduced blood pressure while reducing blood pressure medications and at the same time, consuming more salt.

35:48 Biomarkers most commonly used at Virtahealth are blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and serum ketones.

36:10 Serum ketone goals are above 0.5 mml of beta hydroxybutyrate. There may be a role in ketosis even at lower levels.

36:34 Diabetes medications lower blood sugar acutely, but cardiovascular outcomes were not improved. With SGLT-2 inhibitors, there was improvement with cardiovascular mortality.

38:44 SGLT-2 inhibitors block the SGLT-2 path in the kidney, not allowing reabsorption of glucose, releasing glucose in the urine.

39:55 Metformin affects gut hormones and the microbiome, and has few side effects.

41:09 The American Diabetes Association guidelines are not evidence based.

42:00 DASH diet, recommended by the American Diabetes Association can make diabetes worse.

47:58 We need to change the dietary guidelines to ensure that they are evidence based upon a rigorous systematic scientific process.

50:51 For proper meta-analysis, you need to pay attention of the inclusion criteria. Sometimes studies that do not meet criteria are included and others that do meet criteria are omitted.

55:56 Dr. Hallberg’s optimal morning routine includes black coffee and an early email check. She feeds her kids fat and protein and packs their lunches. 

59:55 Dr. Hallberg’s favorite low carb/high fat food is pizza with cheese/almond flour crust.

60:45 Dr. Hallberg’s elevator pitch is that our dietary guidelines need to be reformed, as they impact all of us.

Watch the interview: https://highintensityhealth.com/231