The hottest Metabolism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Science Topics

Compared to what?

Experimental Fat Loss • 155 implied HN points • 05 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. When comparing diets, remember that starting weight matters a lot. Losing weight is usually easier for those who weigh more at the start.
  2. Water weight can trick you; some diets may cause you to lose water instead of fat. It's important to understand what's really happening with your body.
  3. Everyone's body is different, so a diet that works for one person might not work for another. Don't feel discouraged if something doesn’t work for you just because it works for someone else.

The Signal And The Noise

The Heart Attack Diet • 119 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Measure your weight and waking temperature daily at the same time, and focus on the trend of the seven-day average for better insights.
  2. Avoid influencing measurements that do not impact your main goal, listen to your body's signals of hunger, and be cautious of using willpower for weight management.
  3. Be mindful of the effects of circadian rhythms, weekly variations, and water weight on your body measurements, and strive to minimize noise by staying consistent.

Why Are We Getting Fatter? | Part II: Decomposing Fats & Carbs

Mind & Matter • 157 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Calories are not interchangeable; different types of foods with the same caloric content can have distinct metabolic consequences.
  2. Total calories alone cannot account for the rise in obesity and diabetes rates; the macronutrient composition of diets has changed over time.
  3. Carbohydrate and fat intake have shifted over the years, with varying trends in protein, saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats consumption.

Burning questions: Why the ways we think about our metabolism are all wrong

Brain Pizza • 331 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Metabolism is more complex than simply burning calories. It’s affected by what we eat, how active we are, and even our age.
  2. The advice to 'eat less and exercise more' doesn’t work for many people and can lead to feelings of guilt. Our bodies just don’t function that way.
  3. Physical activity is still very important for health but doesn’t burn as many calories as commonly believed. Understanding how our metabolism operates can help us use exercise better.

Vitamins and Minerals 101 Premium

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 778 implied HN points • 27 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The course 'Vitamins and Minerals 101 Premium' is designed to take learners from beginner to intermediate level in understanding vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
  2. The course offers the first three lessons for free, with the remaining reserved for Masterpass members.
  3. Vitamins play diverse and crucial roles in the body, from supporting immunity and brain health to energy metabolism and skin health.
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Lab Tests

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 219 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Comprehensive lab tests can help identify nutritional deficiencies and energy metabolism issues.
  2. A simple DIY home test for molybdenum deficiency can be done with basic equipment and a supplement.
  3. Interpreting the Genova Methylation Panel requires going beyond the report's interpretive section to uncover patterns.

Why Are We Getting Fatter? | Part I: Diet Advice, Health Trends & Informational Obesity

Mind & Matter • 157 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The rise in obesity rates continues despite no increase in calorie consumption or decrease in physical activity.
  2. There is a lot of conflicting diet advice and information overload, leading to confusion and misinformation.
  3. Metabolic health can be affected by various factors like body fat, food intake, and specific macronutrient composition of the diet.

Current Beliefs, Suspicions and Confusions

The Heart Attack Diet • 99 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Man's natural state includes unconscious weight control and ample energy; modern lifestyles may derail this.
  2. Avoiding polyunsaturated fats and embracing natural foods like animal fats, salt, and moderate carbohydrates may be beneficial.
  3. Experimentation is key to understanding personal health; questions about metabolism, sulphite intolerance, and weight set-points remain.

One Year of the Heart Attack Diet II: Metabolism

The Heart Attack Diet • 119 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Metabolic issues like hypothyroidism can have symptoms that doctors may label as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, or Major Depression. It's essential to explore treatment options that work for you.
  2. Diet changes, like cutting out polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), may have a significant impact on metabolism and overall health. Consider avoiding PUFAs for potential improvements.
  3. It's crucial to be mindful of the impact of certain foods, like peanuts or palm oil, on metabolism. Forswearing polyunsaturated fats is advised for better health outcomes.

Confounded! PUFAs/Protein is Not The Answer

The Heart Attack Diet • 139 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The author is reevaluating their beliefs about the impact of PUFAs and protein on weight gain based on personal experiences and observations.
  2. The author is considering the concept of a weight-homeostat and the potential factors influencing metabolism and weight regulation.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and being open to adjusting beliefs based on new information and outcomes from experiments.

DNL ramp-up time

Experimental Fat Loss • 120 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. It takes about 3 to 6 days for your body to stop producing fat through DNL when switching from a low-fat diet to a high-fat diet. This means your body can adjust fairly quickly.
  2. When you switch back to a high-fat diet, the DNL process can ramp up again in just a couple of days. This cycle could help in managing linoleic acid levels more effectively.
  3. Understanding how long DNL takes to turn off or on can help you plan your diet changes better. It suggests that shorter cycling between high-fat and low-fat diets might still be useful.

On The Need for a New Theory

The Heart Attack Diet • 159 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. PUFAs are believed to be the root of obesity and metabolic health issues, but the direct evidence does not fully support this theory.
  2. A new theory is needed to explain weight loss and metabolic changes that go beyond solely cutting out PUFAs.
  3. Protein restriction may play a crucial role in weight loss and metabolic health, and could have a significant impact on dietary success.

Friday Q&A: Diet Coke; Stomach Woes; Strength Training for Beginners; & Finding the Right Doctor for Menopause

Are You Okay? • 219 implied HN points • 03 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Consuming Diet Coke daily doesn't completely negate healthy eating habits, but it's worth considering the potential downsides such as caffeine content and artificial sweeteners.
  2. Individual responses to gas, bloating, and irregular bowel movements can vary, and there isn't one-size-fits-all advice for using probiotics to address these issues.
  3. Health is about balancing risks and rewards, and making choices that work best for your body and well-being, whether it's enjoying certain habits or deciding to make changes for better health.

Xmas Mom Test: Conclusions and Mysteries

The Heart Attack Diet • 99 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The author believes that giving up PUFAs has had a positive impact on their metabolism and weight control.
  2. There is a pattern of weight changes and thyroid issues, with different dietary interventions affecting these aspects.
  3. Several mysteries remain, such as the initial cause of the curse, the role of different dietary components, and the effects of various interventions on metabolism and weight.

Protein Restriction Paradox

The Heart Attack Diet • 139 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Giving up PUFAs doesn't directly lead to immediate weight loss, contrary to popular belief.
  2. Brad Marshall bravely remains honest about his weight despite selling supplements for metabolic issues.
  3. Protein restriction may lead to weight loss in mice by increasing calorie output, revealing a paradox in the diet approach.

Some Successful Predictions of the Old Theory

The Heart Attack Diet • 139 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Eating too much polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) can clog your metabolism and lead to weight gain, tiredness, and other health issues.
  2. Avoiding PUFAs and sulfites can lead to improvements in energy levels and well-being.
  3. Old theories about diet and metabolism may help explain personal experiences, but new information and adjustments to these theories may be necessary over time.

Questions on Vitamin D, Fatty Liver, HbA1c vs CGM, Turmeric and Testosterone, Fasting, and B6 Markers

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 519 implied HN points • 24 Jul 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Vitamin D activity may be better understood by measuring both 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D due to their different strengths in activating the VDR.
  2. Fatty liver reversal progress can be seen in weeks with effective approaches, but the timeline varies based on individual factors.
  3. Prefer CGM results over HbA1c to assess diabetic status due to confounding factors affecting HbA1c accuracy.

Accidental Lipostat Test: Interim Results

The Heart Attack Diet • 79 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Your body's weight is controlled by a homeostatic system that adjusts your hunger based on your actions, leading to a gradual return to your set point weight.
  2. Monitoring and adjusting thyroid medication dosage can have a significant impact on energy levels and overall well-being.
  3. Eliminating certain dietary components, like polyunsaturated fats, may positively influence health and weight management over time.

New Theory: PUFAs vs Protein

The Heart Attack Diet • 119 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Polyunsaturated fats are essential but only in low quantities. Excess PUFAs can't be efficiently burned for fuel.
  2. Protein and PUFAs compete for metabolic resources. Excess protein gets priority for fuel over PUFAs.
  3. Reducing protein intake to maintenance levels while giving up PUFAs can help burn off stored PUFAs, leading to weight loss.

Xmas Mom Test

The Heart Attack Diet • 99 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The author is facing a challenging 'Xmas Mom Test' where they expect to overeat while at home with their family, putting their weight loss theories to the ultimate test.
  2. Despite having various theories about weight loss and thyroid function, the author is unsure of what will happen during the test, highlighting the complexity of the human body's response to different diets.
  3. The author will observe trends in weight gain, appetite changes, and thyroid dose during the test, aiming to understand the impact of different dietary factors on their body's homeostasis.

Masterclass With Masterjohn: Energy Metabolism

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 519 implied HN points • 02 Jun 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The Masterclass With Masterjohn on Energy Metabolism is a course with 39 lessons focusing on how our bodies burn carbohydrate and fat for fuel.
  2. The course covers essential concepts like thermodynamics, the role of enzymes in controlling reactions inside our bodies, and the use of citric acid cycle and electron transport chain to produce ATP.
  3. Lessons also delve into interesting topics like the regulation of energy metabolism, the production and utilization of ketones, and the historical origins of the ketogenic diet for treating epilepsy.

ex_rice review: Didn't lose any weight, Non-24 gone

Experimental Fat Loss • 198 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. A rice-only diet was tested, but it didn’t lead to weight loss. Instead, there was an increase in body fat and lean mass, which was disappointing.
  2. The individual’s sleep cycle disorder, called Non-24, seemed to improve during the rice diet, suggesting a potential link between carb intake and circadian rhythms.
  3. The experiment highlighted that feeling full doesn't always mean being satisfied; the body knows when it has the energy it needs, regardless of how much food is consumed.

Adding An Epicycle

The Heart Attack Diet • 99 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Ancient theories added epicycles to make them work better, until Newton revealed the System of the World that was good enough.
  2. Epicycles in theories should not be added carelessly but should aim to explain data in a simpler way than the theory itself.
  3. Excess protein consumption beyond what the body needs for repair may interfere with the ability to process polyunsaturated fats for fuel.

Accidentally Testing the Lipostat Idea

The Heart Attack Diet • 59 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Weight stability around 95kg for 8 months indicates a possible fixed fat level homeostat, suggesting weight may not rise above 95kg if left undisturbed.
  2. Following a diet based on whole foods suitable for English-Irish ancestry may align with natural metabolism processes and ancestral diets.
  3. Unexpected weight fluctuations due to excessive alcohol and overeating might be temporary noise and may return to normal levels in a few days, shedding light on conflicting theories about weight management.

Is Keto just a Band-Aid?

Experimental Fat Loss • 176 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Keto can help some people lose weight initially, but it often doesn't lead to long-term success. Many people may gain the weight back after stopping the diet.
  2. People can do keto in many different ways, but not all methods work for everyone. It's important to find what suits your body and lifestyle best.
  3. Keto isn't the only option for weight loss; other diets, like those focused on potatoes or rice, can also be effective. Choose a diet that you enjoy to make it easier to stick to.

ex150ish-4: Second Week

The Heart Attack Diet • 79 implied HN points • 11 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Experiencing a rapid and noticeable weight loss during illness can be linked to the body's innate mechanisms prioritizing burning stored energy reserves over intake.
  2. The interplay between Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) may impact metabolism and fat burning, potentially influencing appetite and weight.
  3. Consistent adjustments in diet composition, such as controlling BCAA levels and PUFA consumption, can play a role in weight management and overall well-being.

Masterclass With Masterjohn: The Antioxidant System

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 279 implied HN points • 27 May 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Antioxidants play a vital role in supporting our health by regulating energy metabolism, boosting the immune system, and aiding in exercise recovery, but can also contribute to health issues in excess.
  2. A balanced diet rich in nutrients like protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals is essential for nourishing the antioxidant system.
  3. Understanding how the antioxidant system works is crucial for harnessing its benefits to support overall health and well-being.

Mom Test : Confusion

The Heart Attack Diet • 59 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Weight changes can be confusing, especially when appetite and metabolism seem to be inconsistent.
  2. Cravings, like for baked potatoes, may not align with typical hunger or calorie needs, suggesting complex relationships between food and body signals.
  3. Health symptoms and weight fluctuations can puzzle, leaving individuals uncertain about their body's needs and responses.

Back to the Heart Attack Diet

The Heart Attack Diet • 59 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The author experimented with different diets and observed a notable difference in how their body reacted to various types of food, indicating a potential issue with carbohydrate metabolism.
  2. Avoiding certain substances like PUFAs and sulphites, while consuming normal foods ad lib, seemed to aid in weight loss and maintenance effortlessly.
  3. The author's experience suggests that certain dietary restrictions and nutritional adjustments can have a significant impact on overall well-being, showcasing the importance of investigating individual metabolic responses to food.

Calories In, Calories Out

The Heart Attack Diet • 59 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Calories In, Calories Out concept is often misunderstood. It's about the balance of calories consumed and calories burned.
  2. Obesity can be a complex issue influenced by various factors like appetite and metabolism. Some individuals struggle with constant hunger which leads to overeating.
  3. Understanding the reasons behind abnormal eating patterns and appetite can help in addressing obesity and finding solutions.

Fuel-Partitioning causes Obesity

Experimental Fat Loss • 169 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Mainstream CICO/EBM and Fuel Partitioning/low-carb are two paradigms about what causes obesity.
  2. CICO views calories as the cause of fat gain, while Fuel Partitioning sees excess calories as a result of other issues.
  3. CICO doesn't work for everyone, and there are diets like low-carb or keto that work better for some due to Fuel Partitioning.

Mom Test: Mixed Results

The Heart Attack Diet • 39 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Recent weight gain of over 2kg in three weeks was the fastest rate ever, mostly due to overfeeding at home.
  2. The author's metabolism is slowly repairing itself, with normal thyroid health and potential impact from avoiding processed food.
  3. The author highlights the complex relationship between appetite, body fat percentage, and weight fluctuations based on different dietary approaches.

Results Graph

The Heart Attack Diet • 39 implied HN points • 05 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. The author created a graph displaying their weight fluctuations over time, highlighting a period of weight gain and subsequent weight loss.
  2. The data suggests that changes in diet rules, like eliminating sulphites and participating in specific exercises, influenced the author's weight trends.
  3. The graph analysis led the author to question the impact of different diet components, metabolic changes, and adjustments in medication on their weight and overall health.

Mom Test: Week One

The Heart Attack Diet • 39 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Experiencing chronic fatigue can make everyday tasks feel like a challenge, and it can be influenced by factors like diet and metabolism.
  2. Monitoring thyroid levels and adjusting medication can help manage symptoms like feeling excessively hot or cold.
  3. Changes in diet, especially a shift towards more carbohydrates, can impact energy levels and overall well-being.

ex150ish Stable State: Ketosis Wow!

The Heart Attack Diet • 39 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Feeling of being in ketosis can bring limitless energy and mental clarity.
  2. Experiencing mental exhaustion without physical exhaustion is a unique feeling.
  3. The possibility that the emergency back-up fat-burning system is still working even when the usual glucose-burning metabolism is broken raises interesting questions.

Torricelli's Law for Fat Loss

Experimental Fat Loss • 127 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Metabolism
  1. Torricelli's Law for Fat Loss explains how weight loss can slow down as you approach your normal weight, similar to a bucket draining liquid with decreasing speed.
  2. Weight loss projections can be influenced by dietary changes and external factors, like daylight savings time affecting circadian rhythms and potentially affecting weight loss plateaus.
  3. Testing multiple weight loss projections, such as following a fitted curve and intuition-based predictions, can help in anticipating weight loss outcomes and adjusting dietary strategies.