Mind & Matter
Whether food, drugs or ideas, what you consume influences who you become. Learn directly from the best scientists & thinkers alive today about how your mind-body reacts to what you feed it.
The weekly M&M podcast features conversations with the most interesting scientists, thinkers, and technology entrepreneurs alive today.
Not medical advice.
At M&M, we are interested in trying to figure out how things work, not affirming our existing beliefs. We prefer consulting primary rather than secondary sources and independent rather than institutional voices. If we encounter uncomfortable truths or the evidence suggests unfashionable ideas may be valid, so be it.
As the host, my aim is to help you better understand how the body & mind work by curating & synthesizing information in a way that yields science-based insights that you can choose to use or disregard in your own life. Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.
I am motivated to connect the dots and distill general principles from what I learn, preferring to ask questions and play devil’s advocate to debating or incessantly pushing my own viewpoint.
My beliefs:
- Taking ownership of your health starts with taking ownership of your information diet.
- All knowledge is provisional and we must work hard to prevent ourselves from becoming attached to our favorite ideas & preferred conclusions.
- Wisdom comes from an iterative, trial-and-error process of learning and unlearning. Letting go of pre-conceived notions can be painful, but pain is information.
Sometimes modern discoveries teach us we must unlearn received wisdom. Other times, modern information overload & historical chauvinism cause us to forget ancient wisdom which stills applies. The framework for learning that I embody is inspired by three Ancient Greek maxims inscribed in the Temple of Apollo at Delphi:
- “Γνῶθι σεαυτόν” (Know thyself)
- “Μηδὲν ἄγαν” (Nothing in excess)
- “Ἐγγύα πάρα δ Ἄτα” (Certainty brings insanity)
Mind & Matter
Ketosis & BHB: Metabolic Diet Therapies, Brain Cancer & Exercise | Dominic D'Agostino | 267
How ketosis and ketogenic diets work and how these tools can improve metabolic health, brain function, and even cancer management.
Topics Discussed:
- Organs have different fuel preferences: brain strongly prefers glucose, heart prefers fatty acids, skeletal muscle is flexible and likes fat/ketones.
- Humans evolved with high metabolic flexibility; regular ketosis was normal for ancestors, but today most people never experience it.
- “Keto flu” is largely glucose withdrawal plus electrolyte/sodium loss; proper salt and hydration prevent most symptoms.
- Classic medical ketogenic diet is ~90% fat (historically saturated); modern versions often use more monounsaturated fats, MCTs, and higher protein.
- Saturated fat is not inherently atherogenic in the context of weight stability or caloric deficit; excess calories from any source can dysregulate metabolism.
- Exogenous ketones (e.g. BHB) provide energy, reduce ROS, stabilize membranes, increase inhibitory tone (GABA), and have hormone-like signaling effects independent of diet.
- Cancer cells often show Warburg effect (damaged mitochondrial respiration → heavy reliance on glycolysis); lowering glucose and raising ketones can stress cancer cells.
- True keto-adaptation for athletic performance requires 6–12 weeks; after that, elite athletes can match or exceed prior high-carb performance at sub-maximal and endurance efforts.
Practical Takeaways:
- Therapeutic carbohydrate restriction (50–100 g/day for many people) plus occasional fasting or ketone supplements can restore metabolic flexibility with far fewer side effects than strict keto.
- Prioritize whole-food fats (eggs, fatty fish, beef, olive oil, butter/lard) and minimize processed keto products loaded with seed oils.
- Supplementing BHB (salts or esters) or MCT oil can ease the transition into ketosis, boost ketones without strict dieting, and may support brain and metabolic health.
- Regularly check basic blood markers (glucose, lipids, electrolytes) and consider an OmegaQuant test; optimizing metabolic health is one of the strongest preventable steps against cancer, neurodegeneration, and heart disease.
Supplemental Ketone (BHB):
- KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB with potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off.
*Not medical advice.
Affiliates:
- Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. MINDMATTER gets you 15% off.
- AquaTru: Water filtration devices that remove microplastics, metals, bacteria, and more from your drinking water. Through link, $100 off AquaTru Carafe, Classic & Under Sink Units; $300 off Freestanding models.
- Seed Oil Scout: Find restaurants with seed oil-free options, scan food products to see what they’re hiding, with this easy-to-use mobile app.
- KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + electrolytes formulated for kidney health. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime)
For all the ways you can support my efforts
