The Energy Balance Podcast

BV #26: Carnivore Doctors Don’t Get Insulin, Stress Hormones, and the True Cause of Fat Gain

March 25, 2026·1h 7m
Episode Description from the Publisher

In this episode we discuss: 
-Shawn Baker claims gluconeogenesis is fine – is he right? -Dr Rob Cywes on carb addiction, insulin resistance, and bariatric surger   
Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide 
The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ 
Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/   
Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  0:47 – Shawn Baker compares gluconeogenesis to cholesterol synthesis – is the comparison valid?  2:47 – is increasing gluconeogenesis through low-carb diets optimal?  6:54 – problems with upregulating gluconeogenesis: stress hormones, ammonia, muscle breakdown, and insulin resistance  10:15 – Shawn Baker’s claim that breathing too much isn’t stressful – is that true?  12:28 – gluconeogenesis as the result of elevated stress hormones – is there a long-term cost?  14:24 – Shawn Baker’s social media post reveals flawed reasoning and a lack of critical thinking   17:47 – what “stress” really means and whether cortisol is always harmful  23:45 – the cost of upregulated gluconeogenesis, elevated glucagon, and low t3 on low-carb diets  25:15 – Dr Rob Cywes’ claim that carbs do no harm, it’s our relationship with them that’s the problem  29:09 – Dr Cywes’ claim that glucagon is more important than insulin  33:33 – you're not addicted to carbohydrates, your body just needs fuel  38:13 – Dr Cywes contradicts himself on carbs and obesity  40:37 – native cultures on high-carb diets don’t have obesity or insulin resistance  43:05 – whether high insulin levels drive fat gain and why low-carb diets don’t prevent insulin excursions  44:51 – is diet properly considered before bariatric surgery?  48:08 – many “high-carb foods” are actually high-fat foods  49:01 – bariatric surgeries ignore other possible root causes of metabolic dysfunction  49:53 – Dr Cywes misunderstands glucagon, insulin, and cellular energy production  56:48 – what Dr Cywes gets right: stress hormones increase in reaction to a cellular energy deficiency  58:57 – elevated glucagon drives insulin resistance and whether glucagon resistance exists  1:03:41 – reversing keto damage: weight loss, gut, and brain health on a bioenergetic approach

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