Bitesize Biohack Ben Azadi How to Achieve Metabolic Flexibility
AAngela FosterFeb 21, 2023 at 12:04 pm10min
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00:05Ben Azadi
So I actually said those words out loud, I am responsible. And the second that I said that I felt empowered, I felt inspired, I felt gratitude. And I started to make better changes for my life.
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00:19Angela Foster
This month on the podcast, we have been talking a lot about metabolism and metabolic flexibility. And I thought it was a good time actually, to share a clip from my interview with Ben Azadi, the author of keto flex, because it kind of links to how you can use keto in the short term to develop metabolic flexibility, some interesting research around that and also how you become what you think about. So this kind of really is helpful if you're looking to make a body composition change in terms of really helping you clarify your mindset on it. And also how you can develop what's known as metabolic flexibility, which gives you the freedom to have more flexibility around what you're eating, because metabolic flexibility is really where you can burn carbs and fats on demand. So have a listen to this clip. And if you're interested in listening to the full episode, it is episode 137. Can you describe first of all, what is keto flex?
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01:23Ben Azadi
Yes. So keto flexing is the premise behind how humans have existed for as long as humans have existed. For example, ketosis we know and we both agree that keto is one tool in the shed. It's not the only tool and it's not new ketosis has been around since humans have existed. Every single one of our ancestors did keto because their environment forced them into periods of time, where there was no food. So they had to fast. And if they did not have the ability to produce ketones, they would be blubbering idiots nude and be able to hunt and kill and, and do their thing. So keto flexing is the principle that yes, keto is great all around festers, did it but when our ancestors had the opportunity to eat carbohydrates, they would flex out of ketosis. So it is about metabolic flexibility and using keto to achieve that metabolic freedom and flexibility, which is very similar to what you teach as well.
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02:18Angela Foster
Yeah, very, very similar. I couldn't agree more. I just think a lot of people get hung up on a particular diet, right? Whereas actually, metabolic flexibility is king who wouldn't want to be metabolically flexible and metabolically flex Exactly.
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02:31Ben Azadi
Were born into ketosis to mean breast milk and saturated fat and cholesterol. It's a new problem that we have where somebody's now sticking with the same diet long term. And of course, we see it in Quito, but it's also veganism and other diets out there, carnivore, it's a new problem. None of the our ancestors didn't, there's not one culture in the history of this world that stuck with the same diet long term. It wasn't until it hasn't been until the last 50 years that we have this new problem.
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03:00Angela Foster
And a new problem of so much processed food, right. That's the other thing. It's just so difficult to Yeah, people struggle to get these Whole Foods in. So in terms of when someone wants to start, right, and they're thinking about creating metabolic volume, flexibility, I think one of the things that both you and I talk a lot about, is we need to teach people to deplete muscle glycogen again, right? They haven't been doing that so many people are just sort of topped up all the time with carbohydrates, and they're not burning enough fuel to actually facilitate the need for it. When when you've got somebody in there, maybe they're feeling like they're stressed, though, which obviously leads to more blood sugar dysregulation. They're overweight, they feel lethargic. They feel like they've got that brain fog. What's the best place would you say in your formula, and I know you have your four pillars, which I want to go through with you in a moment. For someone to start when they're just starting out. They're thinking I really want to develop metabolic flexibility.
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