The Metabolic Classroom, Ep. 4: Does Low-Carb Spike Cortisol? 

Did strict keto for 2 years, now I’m on low carb. Around 10 to 15% carbs. I’ve been doing low carb for 2 years now. I was a fat skinny guy. My weight was in my waist, thighs and chest. This is what happened. I lost 35 lbs in the 4 years, 6 in off my waist. I’m at the weight and waist I was in my 20s. Turning 70 this year. Acid reflux that I had for two decades went away in the first two weeks. No more antacid pills. I haven’t even had heartburn in 4 years. My blood pressure went from 155/90 to 2021 doctor check up was 90/60 my norm at home is around 108/65. Was pre-diabetic I’m in the normal range now. Considering both side of my family got full blown diabetes in their 50s I feel I may have dodged the bullet. My grandma lost both her legs to it. All my labs got way better. A1c 5.4 tri 64 hdl 68 ldl 168 my cholesterol went from 240 to 204. My heart which was never bad, doctor said ekg results were better then 3 years ago. I eat sourdough bread that I bake and make pizza. Have some pasta occasionally. Stay away from sugar, rice and potatoes. I haven’t gained or lost a pound in 2 years. I hadn’t been to the eye doctor in 3 years. My prescription hadn’t changed. Thank you Dr. Bickman I have following your advise ( as well as others ) from the day I started…….

It would be good to see long term studies showing the effects of low carb on cortisol levels, especially on women & those with existing thyroid conditions.

A reminder at the beginning of each subject that everyone is individual and needs to address their particular set of metabolic circumstances with their health professional is good. Fairly large numbers of us don't fall into the metabolic norm anymore due to various conditions. That said, thank you so much for all this research and the effort to get it to the rest of us.

Thank you for this wonderful program, I'm loving all the episodes and can't tell which one is best 🤗👏👏👏👏

I saw Dr.Bickman and subbed:), knowledge as power,I cant get enough input,thank you .

Great talk, great format.

Love love love the series 😍 thanks so much!

They didnt share the link Ben. Tell them again.... Remember your the smart guy telling other what to do. Thats how it is....

Superb... GOLD

Thank you for these series!You are so good! Greetings from Bulgaria, Eastern Europe!

Is it possible to get a link to these studies?

For healthy, not overweight people it is often recommended instead of keto diet to simply eat less carbs (not more than 100g, but not less than 50g (keto)). Dr Hyman and Dr.Volek both agree with this. But I wonder how healthy this approach really is? If you are not in ketosis and your body is not producing ketones for energy, aren't you depriving it of adequate energy source by consuming so few carbs? It seems you have to be either full keto or regular diet (not 'low carb' non-ketogenic version). Please comment!

Hi, Thanks for your great work, does cortisol use onlly body`s protein to make glucose, or from fats as well?

Regarding the DEXA being used as the gold standard, it is known to be not accurate with body fat scans as it recognises water as lean mass, therefore results can be skewed based on the subject's hydration level and water retention.

I'm ketovore, but a sump-pump level coffee drinker. The cortisol from the caffeine was keeping my bp up around 145/80. Since switching to decaf, my bp has come down to 120/67 or sometimes lower, even 114/66. I've always been a hard-gainer too. Hoping that changes soon.

but doesn't fasting spike cortisol?

Where is the rest of this lecture? 😮 Very interesting but cut in the middle of sentence.

Please can someone answer this If one has sustained high cortisol due to extreme stress - is a low-carb diet advisable ? And how does stress affect insulin resistance? ?

What about blood glucose drop overnight and dawn effect cortisol spike? Exacerbated on keto, with less sleep required on this diet? Edit: see episode 6 re sleep, kinda addresses this.

Great Information Would it be possible to look at the major hormonal drivers in a metabolic context and discuss their impact A BIG topic if you chose - but these major hormones work in synchronization throughout the body - not just as singulars For example - insulin - glucagon - cortisol- estrogen- progesterone - oxytocin

Interesting, I'm one of these outliners.

Question: I take free form essential amino acids (all 9, not BCAA) to help with strength training recovery (I’m 59, so I’m assuming I have some ‘anabolic / protein assimilation resistance’ ). So - what do you think the insulin response to ingesting 15 grams of free form EAAs would be?

The first three months lose 15 pounds, reversed fatty liver disease and pre-diabetic with ketogenic diet!

Is that bacon in the background?

The microphone needs to be closer to the other Drs. I can't hear them.

I went low carb and had super high blood pressure after waking up. By evening time my blood pressure was very low. I surmised that it was cortisol and adrenaline in the morning. Things finally got better but my bp is still higher in the morning

Hi from Virginia

Can you comment on the studies Dr. Paul Saladino cites in a recent video on Keto diets not being optimal because of cortisol, epinephrine & glucagon? A friend sent me his video because they think I'm a lunatic for living a 94% carnivore lifestyle.

It can be a stress respons but it is not coming from the diet, thanks for the last sentence.

I eat no a lot proteins, i do low carb for long, I have 2-3 kg Body Muscle more for sure. I do only hiking april - november, other time only walking.

So many take aways .... from one single lecture !

Why are there avocados randomly on the table? 😆

Three months of low carb diet, reduced body fat 3% with stable weight!

lol is that bacon behind dr Ben.

❤❤❤

What if the women lose the ability lose weight after years? What explains that? Did they measure T4 to T3 to see if it's converting. Maybe for them just a TSH of 4.0 is enough to make them feel horible?

I love the program! But I have to say every time I see Ben with the test tube I can't help but think of trump in his basement lab making the vaccine (according to the left) 🤯 Thanks Bob the welder.

6 weeks is too short of a time frame. It's long-term low carb that increases cortisol. Everyone is different and in various metabolic states and hormonal conditions, but it's been my experience that long-term low carb (20 years) increased my cortisol. It's wise to cycle in healthy carbs, especially when exercising

Low carb doesn't equate hypoglycemia. It merely avoids glucose spike. If hypoglycemia does occur, glucagon is probably the only buffering hormone. Cortisol release is in respinse to stresses, raising blood glucose in preparation for fight or flight. Low carb doesn't trigger this response! Need more common sense in discussion.

Voluntary participants may have already been fat-adapted (already on a LCHF diet) and more insulin sensitive and therefore not impacted by the high protein. The average person eating 50-60% carbohydrate for their whole life may not be as insulin sensitive. The high percentage of the population with metabolic syndrome DEFINITELY is not that insulin sensitive, resulting in potential hyperglycemia from the excessive protein.

Shit I lost leaps an bounds of muscle on really vegans

If low carb increased cortisol then the evidence would be so conclusive everyone would say yes low carb does increase cortisol. Too much protein is bad. Carbohydrates from whole foods are not the enemy of good health..we need to stop obsessing over food. Are you highly active in your employment and work out or run etc then a higher Carbohydrates diet is probably better. Just because a certain diet works for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone else ... im 59 and slim athletic nuilt for endurance and have Always functioned so much better on a higher Carbohydrates diet around 60 to 70 % aa i am highly active...my genetics prefer higher Carbohydrates..😊