Advice for the Unconverted

(Ian) #1

I recently re-connected very briefly with an old friend I have not seen in 6 years. He used to be an avid mountain biker and rode to and from work (15 km) every day. He was super fit. He retired a couple of years ago, does less riding and has put on quite a bit of weight. He also had to have surgery for three stents, is on a statin and other medication and has been told to lose weight. I mentioned that I had lost weight on a keto diet and reversed my pre-diabetes and he is interested in learning more.

I would like to convince him of the benefits of a low carb or keto lifestyle, but I do not want to overwhelm him and push him away. In the past I have regaled people about all the potential benefits from reversing diabetes, lowering the risk of CVD, stroke, elevated blood pressure, kidney disease, Alzheimers and other dementias, some cancers, etc.etc. However, I feel that this is often too much to hear, too quickly, and people cant believe all these benefits are possible, just by lowering processed carbs. Therefore, they dismiss my enthusiasm and recommendations as quackery and or zealotry.

Because I have been in the this space for 3 years I am aware of the huge amount of information on this subject matter. I am worried that I will get carried away and provide too much information such that he gets overwhelmed and does not follow through with a change in lifestyle.

So what I am looking for is any advice on providing a small number of articles or videos that I can share with him on the subject of changing diet/lifestyle to improve his health, reduce or eliminate his medications and to reduce his future risk of a heart attack or stroke etc. I’m thinking 3 or 4 references to articles/videos that will provide the biggest bank for the buck as it were. I suspect I may also have to provide a counter argument for the LDL/heart disease hypothesis and need for statins, based on the presence of pattern A and B LDL.

These are some of the information sources I was thinking of:

Paul Mason – A doctors perspective on Low carb and how saturated fat is not dangerous:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBsnk2PtPeo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUY_SDhxf4k

Prof. Tim Noakes - 'Medical aspects of the low carbohydrate lifestyle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL5-9ZxamXc

Ivor Cummins and the connection between heart disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofq-8ToY2fc

Ivor Cummins on How to fix or reduce the risk of heart disease:

https://www…youtube.com/watch?v=C8Xd9e4B3e8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQIKDbpw_EE

The benefit of a CAC (Coronary Artery Calcification) scan:

https://www…youtube.com/watch?v=gnq-2wRrdfw

He is originally from South Africa, which is why I included the video from Tim Noakes.

Any recommendations or suggestions for substitutions would be gratefully received.

PS as you can see I have already gone overboard in the number of videos I am thinking of recommending?

(Bob M) #2

I’ve heard this one is good too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da1vvigy5tQ

Reversing Type 2 diabetes starts with ignoring the guidelines | Sarah Hallberg. A TED talk.

I can’t help more than that, as I don’t watch many videos (haven’t seen the one above). I watched a lot of Dr. Fung videos, but only because I went to Sweden on vacation and didn’t have much to do.

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #3

At work so can’t say much. My suggestion would be back off a bit on the advocacy. Casually note the benefits you’ve experienced as the topic and interest arise rather than just throw stuff out there. No matter what you offer, he’s only going to follow through when he has convinced himself that he needs to do something and decides to do it. When he’s ready he’ll ask and a straight forward response based on your experience will be most effective. When he’s ready for more detail and/or technical stuff he’ll ask. Maybe you’re already at this point and if so just ignore. Best wishes for your friend.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #4

Dr. Peter Attia’s TED talk introduced me to the possibility that obesity and diabetes were caused by the same thing, and not the patient’s fault.

Dr. Stephen Phinney’s lectures at various Low Carb Down Under events gave me the idea that obesity and the other forms of metabolic dysfunction could be helped by not eating carbohydrate and introduced me to the concept of nutritional ketosis.

Dr. Robert Lustig’s video lecture, “Sugar: The Bitter Truth,” showed me how fructose (which is half of a table-sugar molecule) damages the liver and promotes metabolic dysfunction.

It was Dr. Lustig’s lecture that got me to take my first step. It gave me the impetus to cut all sweet things out of my diet. At first, I decided not to worry about grains and starches, but I felt so good without sucrose/fructose that in a few weeks I decided to greatly reduce my entire carbohydrate intake, particularly grains and starches. And shortly after that, I discovered these forums and was introduced to the notion of limiting carb intake to no more than 20 g/day.

Your friend will find his health greatly improved simply by eliminating sweets. Have him start by watching Dr. Lustig’s lecture. You don’t need to understand the finer points of fructose (and ethanol) metabolism in order to grasp the notion that our high sucrose/fructose intake is the cause of much ill heath. Your friend can take things from there.

(KCKO, KCFO 🥥) #5

I really like that video and most of her others as well. A good place to start.

#6

I like the Peak Human podcast. There’s also 2 Keto Dudes. If he is a passive uptake listen learner.

#7

Our guys…all the 2 Keto Dudes videos/podcasts… :slight_smile:
just tell him to google and youtbue all their stuff…a great place to start, with great info.

#8

Gary Taubes’ “Good Calories Bad Calories” was the single most influential “aha” moment inducer for me: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Calories-Bad-Controversial-Science/dp/1400033462. If someone asked me for just one item, I’d give them this.

(GINA ) #9

I like to recommend Fat Head to people. It is simple, amusing, and makes low carb look manageable.

(Jane) #10

No advice on videos as I am a former Atkins fan from the 70’s so didn’t need convincing to go low carb. Just had to get over my fear of saturated fat from years of programming from the processed food industry.

Wishing you luck helping your friend.

('Jackie P') #11

I have watched this about 4 times now and still feel like cheering at the end!
30 minutes of all encompassing, easy to process, inspiring information. Always the one I share if anyone is interested to learn more.
Good luck to your friend and well done you.

(Ian) #12

Thanks everyone.

I will go slowly and limit my initial discussions to why and how I used it to reverse diabetes and the pleasant side affect of dropping 20 lbs and improved mental clarity. Then if he shows further interest and wants more information I will share two videos suggested here and if he likes what he sees i can follow up with more. softly softly catchee monkey…