Dr. Ben Bikman on Why We Get Sick (Rebroadcast)

The Lab Report

Many of us know insulin as the hormone that regulates our blood sugar. We often think of its role in diabetes. However, insulin affects far more than glucose. Dr. Ben Bikman is a PhD researcher who has been studying insulin for many years. His latest book, Why We Get Sick, outlines how insulin resistance is at the root of chronic disease and ways to treat and prevent it.

In this episode, we speak to Dr. Bikman about the mechanisms of insulin resistance, its far-reaching effects in chronic disease, and strategies to improve it.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 2:20 Meet Dr. Bikman and learn why he focuses his research on insulin
• 8:35 Insulin and insulin resistance
• 13:55 Where in the body does insulin resistance start?
• 18:25 Hypertrophic vs. hyperplastic fat cells and the effects of free fatty acids
• 26:35 Signals that create hypertrophic vs. hyperplastic fat cells
• 28:45 Muscle-centric model of insulin resistance
• 32:15 Chronic diseases as they relate to insulin resistance
• 35:50 Aromatase activity in adipose tissue
• 37:25 The brain and Alzheimer’s disease as ‘type 3 diabetes’?
• 41:50 Fasting, ketosis, and lifestyle strategies to combat insulin resistance
• 47:35 COVID-19, immunity, and metabolic defenses
• 50:40 The Fireball

Additional Resources:

Why We Get Sick

Ceremides as modulators of cellular and whole-body metabolism

Adipose Tissue as an Endocrine Organ

Ketones Elicit Distinct Alterations in Adipose Mitochondrial Bioenergetics

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