Life is Optimized Death: Understanding the Connection Between Insulin Resistance, Cancer, and Cellular Health
Published 4 months ago • 9 min read
The Dance of Life: Understanding Your Body's Wisdom
Reader, I'm back in your inbox with another special edition of the Balanced and Nourished Living Newsletter because I listened to a fascinating conversation between Dr. Jordan Peterson and Dr. Ben Bikman that completely transformed my understanding of how our bodies work, and I just couldn't wait to share it with you. As a health educator who's spent years studying metabolic health, I was struck by how beautifully they captured one of life's most profound truths: "Life is optimized death." This might sound alarming to you at first, but let me take you on a journey to understand what this means for your health and why it matters so much.
Think of your body as an incredibly sophisticated dance between growth and renewal. In my practice, I often use this metaphor to help people understand why they might be struggling with their health despite "doing everything right." Just as a garden needs both periods of growth and pruning, our bodies need both nourishment and cleanup cycles.
I remember working with a client struggling with what she called "mysterious weight gain." As we explored Dr. Bikman's insights about insulin resistance, everything started making sense. Her body wasn't broken – it was actually trying to protect itself! Let me explain why.
The Two Paths to Insulin Resistance: A Story of Protection Gone Wrong
Our bodies are incredibly wise, but sometimes their protective mechanisms can work against us. Dr. Bikman beautifully explains two ways this happens:
The Slow Path: Imagine your fat cells as tiny balloons. When they get too full (usually from our modern high-carb diet), they start sending out distress signals. It's like they're saying, "No more storage, please!" This is what we call slow insulin resistance.
The Fast Path: This is like when your phone stops notifying you about every email because you're getting too many. Your cells become overwhelmed by constant insulin signals and start tuning them out.
The Cancer Connection: A Revolutionary Understanding
One of the most powerful moments in their discussion was about cancer. As I am personally supporting my mother through her lung cancer journey, this hit close to home. The research they discussed from Boston University is groundbreaking:
Imagine two experiments:
Take the genes from a cancer cell and put them in a healthy cell → The cell stays healthy
Take the powerhouse (mitochondria) from a cancer cell and put it in a healthy cell → The cell becomes cancerous
This is revolutionary! It suggests that cancer isn't just about "bad genes" – it's about how our cells process energy. Not only can a ketogenic diet help prevent cancer, it can be such a powerful tool as part of one's overall cancer support. My mother has had much less severe side effects following her first round of chemotherapy and immunotherapy as a result of maintaining a low-carb diet which helps preserve her healthy cells while the medications attack the cancer cells. Most people feel their worst during the second week following these two types of therapy, but she is actually doing much better than expected.
“
Food is the culprit or the cure. - Jordan Peterson
Your Food, Your Medicine Cabinet
What I love most about this conversation is how it brings us back to basics. In my years of practice, I've seen countless people transform their health by understanding this simple truth: food is either your greatest ally or your biggest challenge.
Here's what makes this so empowering:
You don't need any special pills or potions
There are no essential carbohydrates (yes, you read that right!)
Your body already knows how to heal itself when given the right environment
The discussion emphasizes a crucial point: our modern health crisis stems from what we eat, and the solution lies in the same domain. Key insights include:
Carbohydrate Excess:
Modern diets provide constant access to carbohydrates, especially processed forms
This creates a perpetual state of high insulin, as if we're "eating for winter all the time"
The body never gets a chance to enter beneficial states like autophagy
Essential Nutrients:
There are essential fatty acids we must consume
There are essential amino acids we must consume
There are NO essential carbohydrates - because the body is able to convert proteins and fats into glucose/fuel through ketogenesis and gluconeogenesis (but that doesn't mean you can't get vital nutrients from plants
The Ketogenic Solution:
Ketogenic diets can help stop cancer growth in its tracks
They can make chemotherapy more effective while reducing side effects
They improve cognitive function and may help prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease
They support reproductive health and hormone function
Practical Implications for Cancer Treatment
For those dealing with cancer, like I am helping my mother through lung cancer treatment, the research suggests several important strategies:
Dietary Approach:
Focus on dramatically reducing carbohydrate intake
Ensure adequate protein intake for immune function
Include healthy fats for energy and cellular health
Consider timing meals around treatments to optimize therapeutic effects
Metabolic Support:
The ketogenic state may help make cancer cells more vulnerable to treatment
Ketones can provide clean energy for healthy cells while starving cancer cells
Reduced inflammation may improve treatment outcomes
Monitoring Considerations:
Track blood glucose and ketone levels
Pay attention to body composition rather than just weight
Monitor energy levels and cognitive function
A Personal Note on Cancer Support
For those of you supporting loved ones through cancer treatment, as I did with my mother, this research offers hope and practical direction. A ketogenic approach, when properly implemented, can:
Help make treatments more effective
Reduce side effects
Support overall energy and wellbeing
Remember, you're not just "fighting cancer" – you're supporting your body's natural healing abilities.
Practical Steps for Your Health Journey
If you're dealing with health challenges, whether it's supporting a loved one through cancer treatment or addressing your own metabolic health, here are some gentle but powerful steps you can take:
Start With Carb Control:
Begin by simply noticing your carb intake
Gradually reduce processed carbs
Focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods
Nourish Your Mitochondria:
Include healthy fats in your diet
Consider periods of ketosis (under proper guidance)
Give your body times of rest from constant eating
Support Your Body's Natural Rhythms:
Allow time between meals
Prioritize protein and healthy fats
Listen to your body's hunger signals
Your Journey to Metabolic Health
As I reflect on the wisdom shared in this conversation, I'm reminded of why I'm so passionate about metabolic health. It's not just about weight or blood sugar – it's about creating an environment where your body can thrive.
Think of it this way: every choice you make is either supporting your body's natural healing processes or challenging them. The beautiful thing is, you don't have to be perfect. Small, consistent changes in how you nourish your body can lead to profound transformations.
Remember, your body is incredibly wise. When we provide the right environment – through proper nutrition, rest, and care – it knows exactly what to do. Let's honor that wisdom and work with it, not against it.
What step will you take today to support your metabolic health? Sometimes the smallest changes can start the most powerful transformations.
🎧 You can listen to this phenomenal interview. If you are a believer, you will find that Dr. Ben Bikman shares lots of biblical insight through sharing his thoughts on how we should be eating according to scripture. Be sure to listen all the way to the end.
Last week I shared Your Guide to Mastering Your Insulin, and this week, I'm sharing the Companion Guide to Mastering Your Insulin. Get your copy of my most comprehensive FREE guide by visiting my newsletter page. I normally reserve these in-depth resources for my paid clients, but the information held within the 17 pages of this resource are just too good to keep to myself. Now, you can download the companion guide below and get the best tools for mastering your insulin.
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With warmth and wellness,
💕 Coach AJ
💌 P.S. Ready to start your wellness journey? Reply to this email with your biggest questions - I'd love to help you get started!
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