Top Insulin Expert: Insulin Is More Dangerous Than Sugar! This Will Strip Fat Faster Than Anything!
In this episode of The Diary Of A CEO, Steven Bartlett and Benjamin Bikman explore the role of insulin in weight management and metabolic health. Bikman explains how insulin levels influence the body's fat storage and energy usage, suggesting that controlling carbohydrate intake may be more effective for weight loss than calorie restriction. The discussion covers the benefits of ketogenic diets, including their effects on brain health and anxiety management.
The episode also examines practical strategies for improving metabolic health, including the use of specific supplements like beta-hydroxybutyrate and creatine. Bartlett and Bikman address the importance of monitoring health markers such as fasting insulin levels and blood glucose, while discussing how factors like evening eating habits and alcohol consumption affect overall health. The conversation includes insights about NetSuite's cloud-based business solutions and their integration with AI technology.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jan 8, 2026 episode of the The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
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1-Page Summary
AI and Business Operations
NetSuite by Oracle emerges as the leading cloud-based solution for businesses aiming to integrate AI into their operations. As the top cloud financial system, it combines accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR functions in one platform. The system's AI connector allows businesses to interface their chosen AI with their data, enabling automated tasks and insightful analysis. Steven Bartlett highlights Whisper Flow, an AI tool that enhances spoken communications. With over 43,000 businesses choosing NetSuite, it has established itself as a trusted platform for future-proofing operations with AI capabilities.
Hormones and Weight Loss
Benjamin Bikman explains that [restricted term] plays a crucial role in weight loss by controlling how the body uses and stores energy. When [restricted term] levels are high, calories are directed toward storage in fat tissue rather than being burned for energy. Bikman advocates for controlling carbohydrate intake over calorie restriction as the primary strategy for weight loss, as lower [restricted term] levels allow for more effective fat burning.
The ketogenic diet, which significantly reduces [restricted term] levels, promotes weight loss and produces ketones that benefit brain health. Bikman notes that ketones can help control anxiety, improve depression, and enhance attention. Women's hormonal cycles affect their fat-burning efficiency on the keto diet, with the follicular phase showing better fat-burning capability than the luteal phase, when cravings and hunger increase.
Supplements and Dietary Strategies For Health
Bikman and Bartlett discuss several key supplements and strategies for metabolic health. Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) exogenous ketones provide energy for the brain and body while reducing anxiety. Bikman shares that collagen supplementation can increase GLP-1, aiding in satiety and improving skin health, while creatine enhances both physical performance and cognitive function, especially during sleep deprivation.
For optimal health, they recommend limiting evening carbohydrates and alcohol to improve sleep quality. They emphasize the importance of monitoring health markers, suggesting ideal fasting [restricted term] levels should be around 7 microunits per ml or less. They recommend using continuous glucose monitors to track dietary effects on blood sugar and checking [restricted term] levels, particularly for middle-aged men experiencing fatigue and weight gain.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While NetSuite by Oracle is a comprehensive cloud-based solution, some businesses may find it too complex or expensive for their needs, and there may be more cost-effective or specialized alternatives available.
- The effectiveness of AI integration in business operations can vary significantly depending on the quality of the AI tools and the data they are given, as well as the business's ability to effectively implement and utilize these tools.
- The claim that controlling carbohydrate intake is more effective for weight loss than calorie restriction is debated in nutritional science, and some experts argue that a balanced approach considering overall calorie balance is also important.
- The ketogenic diet may not be suitable for everyone due to its restrictive nature, and some individuals may experience negative side effects or find it difficult to adhere to in the long term.
- The benefits of ketones on mental health, such as controlling anxiety and improving depression, may not be as significant for everyone and more research is needed to fully understand their effects.
- The impact of women's hormonal cycles on fat-burning efficiency and diet response is complex, and individual experiences can vary widely; more research may be needed to fully understand these dynamics.
- The use of exogenous ketones like BHB is still a subject of research, and their long-term effects on health and performance are not fully understood.
- Collagen and creatine supplementation may offer benefits, but their effectiveness can vary among individuals, and they are not necessary for everyone.
- Recommendations to limit evening carbohydrates and alcohol for improved sleep quality may not apply universally, as individual responses to dietary changes can differ.
- The suggestion of ideal fasting [restricted term] levels and the use of continuous glucose monitors may not be applicable or necessary for all individuals, and such health strategies should be personalized based on individual health status and under medical supervision.
- The recommendation for middle-aged men to check [restricted term] levels is valid, but it's important to note that symptoms like fatigue and weight gain can have multiple causes and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Actionables
- You can integrate AI into your financial management by using IFTTT or Zapier to create custom workflows that connect your existing financial tools with AI capabilities for automation and analysis. For example, set up a Zapier workflow that connects your accounting software with an AI forecasting tool to predict cash flow trends and get alerts for unusual transactions.
- To manage your carbohydrate intake and monitor its effects on weight loss, use a meal-planning app that tracks macronutrients and [restricted term] responses. Start by planning meals with a focus on low-carb options, and use the app to observe how different foods influence your [restricted term] levels and weight loss progress over time.
- Enhance your cognitive function and physical performance by creating a personalized supplement regimen based on your specific needs and lifestyle. For instance, if you often work late or have trouble sleeping, consider taking collagen and creatine supplements in the evening to support satiety and cognitive function, while also experimenting with limiting carbohydrates and alcohol at night to observe improvements in sleep quality.
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AI and Business Operations
NetSuite by Oracle provides a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) across various organizational functions, from small enterprises earning millions to large corporations with hundreds of millions in revenue.
NetSuite Helps Businesses Embed AI Throughout Their Organization
NetSuite stands out as the top solution for businesses wanting to leverage AI in their operations.
NetSuite: Top Cloud System For Finance, Inventory, & HR
Acknowledged as the number one cloud financial system with an AI edge, NetSuite offers a platform that consolidates accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR in a single place. With its extensive reach, NetSuite caters to businesses of all sizes and is especially appealing to those looking to streamline their organizational processes and integrate advanced technologies.
NetSuite AI Connector Automates Tasks and Provides Insights
The AI connector feature from NetSuite is particularly notable. It facilitates the seamless connection of a business's chosen AI with their data, empowering companies to pose questions and receive valuable insights. Steven Bartlett highlights an impressive tool called Whisper Flow, which utilizes AI to enhance spoken thoughts, ensuring they are grammatically polished and coherent before transcribing them across various communication devices. This tool simplifies responding to emails and messages through speech.
Not only does the AI connector enhance communications, but ...
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AI and Business Operations
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While NetSuite offers a comprehensive AI integration solution, it may not be the best fit for every business, especially those with highly specialized needs that require more customized software solutions.
- Describing NetSuite as the top cloud financial system with AI capabilities could be subjective, as there are other competitors in the market like SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, and Salesforce that also offer robust AI features and may be preferred by some businesses.
- The claim that NetSuite appeals to businesses seeking to streamline organizational processes assumes that all businesses prioritize streamlining and AI integration, which may not be the case for organizations with different strategic focuses or those that prefer more traditional methods.
- The effectiveness of the NetSuite AI connector in providing valuable insights and automating tasks can vary depending on the quality of the data inputted and the specific AI technologies used, which may not always meet the expectations set by the promotional material.
- The utility of Whisper Flow and its ability to enhance spoken thoughts effectively depends on the context and the complexity of the communication; it may not replace the need for human review in more nuanced or critical communications.
- The number of businesses adopting NetSuite (43,000) is a quantitative measure and does not necessarily reflect the qualitative success or ...
Actionables
- You can evaluate your current business tools by comparing them with NetSuite's offerings to identify potential areas for improvement. For instance, if you're using separate systems for accounting and inventory management, consider how integrating these functions could save time and reduce errors. Look for software that offers similar AI integration capabilities to streamline your operations.
- Explore AI-driven communication tools to enhance your customer service. If you're a small business owner, research platforms that offer AI-powered grammar and coherence checks for spoken communication, similar to Whisper Flow. This could help you respond to customer inquiries more efficiently and professionally, even if you're multitasking or on the go.
- Conduct a self-audit of your business processes t ...
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Hormones and Weight Loss
Understanding the role of hormones, specifically [restricted term], is essential in the realm of weight loss. Benjamin Bikman emphasizes that [restricted term] dictates energy use and storage at a cellular level.
[restricted term] Controls the Body's Energy Use and Storage
High [restricted term] Directs Calories To Fat Storage Over Burning
[restricted term] is the metabolic hormone that rules all energy directives within the body. Bikman notes that it primarily directs calories to be stored in tissues like fat and the liver, rather than being burned for energy, which can lead to weight gain. Bad dietary decisions can amplify the consequences of [restricted term] resistance. If [restricted term] is present, the body is inclined to store energy, even slowing down the metabolic engine to store more.
Lowering [restricted term] Trumps Calorie Restriction For Weight Loss
Bikman advises against starting a journey to shrink fat cells with a low-calorie approach. He highlights that lowering [restricted term] by controlling carbohydrate intake is paramount for weight loss, since high [restricted term] leads to caloric storage in fat. This approach also mitigates hunger, allows individuals to lose weight without feeling persistent hunger, and can even increase the metabolic rate, making it a more effective strategy than calorie restriction.
Keto Diet Lowers [restricted term], Boosts Metabolism For Weight Loss
A ketogenic diet significantly lowers [restricted term] levels due to reduced carbohydrate intake, which aids in weight loss. Bikman explains that in a low [restricted term] state, the body starts producing ketones after about 16 hours, which are valuable for brain health and maintaining a high metabolic rate. The thermic effect of food implies that meals higher in fat can increase metabolic rate compared to high-carbohydrate meals.
Ketosis Burns Fat and Boosts Brain Health
In ketosis, the brain uses ketones as fuel, which can control anxiety, improve depression, and enhance attention. Bikman asserts that the metabolic rate in fat tissue can increase up to three times in a state of ketosis. This is because ketones, which have caloric value, are produced from fat when [restricted term] is low and are excreted, causing the body to "waste" calories that could have been stored as fat or burned through exercise.
Bikman also explains that ketogenic diets can control conditions like epilepsy and migraines because the brain thrives on ketones and notes improvements in various chronic brain disord ...
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Hormones and Weight Loss
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Clarifications
- [restricted term] is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels. It signals cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream for energy or storage. [restricted term] also promotes the storage of excess glucose as fat in adipose tissue. Without [restricted term], blood sugar remains high, leading to energy imbalances and metabolic issues.
- [restricted term] resistance occurs when cells in the body become less responsive to [restricted term], requiring more [restricted term] to manage blood sugar. It often develops due to factors like excess body fat, poor diet, inactivity, and genetics. Over time, this can lead to higher [restricted term] levels as the body tries to compensate. [restricted term] resistance is a key factor in type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
- Metabolic rate is the speed at which your body burns calories to produce energy. It includes the energy used for basic functions like breathing and digestion, as well as physical activity. A higher metabolic rate means your body uses more energy, which can help reduce fat storage. Hormones like [restricted term] influence metabolic rate by signaling the body to either burn or store energy.
- The thermic effect of food (TEF) is the energy the body uses to digest, absorb, and process nutrients. Fat has a higher TEF than carbohydrates because breaking down fat molecules requires more complex enzymatic activity and energy expenditure. This means eating fat can slightly increase metabolism more than eating carbs. However, protein generally has the highest TEF among macronutrients.
- Ketones are molecules produced by the liver from fatty acids when carbohydrate intake is very low. This process, called ketogenesis, occurs to provide an alternative energy source for the body and brain. Ketones include beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone. They help maintain energy supply during fasting or low-carb diets.
- Ketosis is a metabolic state where the body uses fat, instead of carbohydrates, as its primary energy source. This occurs when carbohydrate intake is very low, causing the liver to convert fat into molecules called ketones. Ketones serve as an alternative fuel, especially for the brain, which normally relies on glucose. Entering ketosis can improve fat burning and provide steady energy without blood sugar spikes.
- Ketones are molecules produced by the liver from fat when glucose is low, serving as an alternative energy source for the brain. Unlike glucose, ketones provide a more stable and efficient fuel, reducing brain inflammation and oxidative stress. This improved energy supply can enhance neurotransmitter balance, which helps alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and cognitive disorders. Ketones also support brain cell health and function, contributing to better mental clarity and mood regulation.
- Free fatty acids (FFAs) are fat molecules released from fat cells into the bloodstream when the body breaks down stored fat for energy. They serve as a fuel source for muscles and other tissues during periods of low [restricted term] or fasting. Higher levels of FFAs indicate increased fat breakdown, also called lipolysis. FFAs are essential for energy production, especially when carbohydrate intake is low.
- The ovarian cycle consists of the follicular phase, starting on the first day of menstruation and ending with ovulation, and the luteal phase, which follows ovulation until the next period. During the follicular phase, estrogen levels rise, promoting the development of follicles and increasing fat burning efficiency. In the luteal phase, progesterone dominates, causing increased appetite and cravings, which can make dieting harder. These hormonal shifts affect metabolism, energy use, and hunger differently across the cycle.
- Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle affect energy use, appetite, and fat storage. Estrogen, higher in the follicular phase, promotes fat burning and reduces hunger. Progesterone, dominant in the luteal phase, increases appetite and cravings, making diet adherence harder. These shifts require women to adjus ...
Counterarguments
- The role of [restricted term] in weight gain is complex, and while it does promote fat storage, other factors such as total calorie intake, genetics, and lifestyle also significantly influence weight gain and loss.
- Calorie restriction has been a traditional and well-researched method for weight loss, and while [restricted term] management is important, a balanced approach that includes calorie control may be necessary for some individuals.
- The ketogenic diet may not be suitable for everyone due to its restrictive nature, and some people may experience negative side effects or find it difficult to adhere to in the long term.
- The long-term health effects of a ketogenic diet are not fully understood, and there may be potential risks associated with high-fat intake, particularly saturated fat.
- The thermic effect of food varies among individuals, and the increase in metabolic rate from high-fat meals may not be significant enough to contribute to weight loss in some cases.
- While ketosis may have benefits for brain health and certain medical conditions, it is not the only dietary approach to manage these issues, and other diets may be equally or more effective without the need for inducing ketosis.
- The claim that ketosis can increase the metabolic rate in fat tissue up to three times may not be universally applicable and requires more research to substantiate its validity across different populations.
- The impact of ...
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Supplements and Dietary Strategies For Health
Benjamin Bikman and Steven Bartlett discuss a range of topics related to supplements and dietary strategies that support weight loss, metabolic health, and overall wellness.
Exogenous Ketones, Collagen, and Creatine Support Weight Loss and Metabolic Health
Bhb Exogenous Ketones Boost Brain & Body Energy
Bikman and Bartlett delve into the benefits of exogenous ketones, especially beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), which include providing energy for the brain and body, reducing anxiety, and helping retain muscle mass during weight loss. Bikman mentions that ketones, particularly BHB, function as both a signal and fuel molecule, supplying every cell containing mitochondria with energy without the need for [restricted term]. He refers to his own experience with BHB, noting that he takes GoBHB and has seen a reduction in blood pressure, which might be due to the blood vessels expanding. Bartlett confirms that ketone products such as Ketone IQ, which contains a ketone precursor, increase BHB levels in the blood. Additionally, Bikman explains that BHB can act as an anxiolytic, reducing stress hormone signaling to the brain.
Collagen Boosts Skin Health and Fullness Via Glp-1
Bikman transitions to discussing the health benefits of collagen, explaining that, similar to exogenous ketones, it can increase GLP-1, a hormone that regulates satiety, which is beneficial for weight control. He also refers to a recent study that found a combination of collagen peptides and various amino acids to be very effective at improving skin integrity.
Creatine Boosts Performance When Sleep-Deprived or Stressed
The conversation also covers creatine's role in metabolic health and cognitive function. Bikman mentions its potential for increasing muscle strength, power output, and in reducing muscle damage after exercise. Furthermore, Bikman states that creatine can also aid cognitive performance, especially in those experiencing cognitive decline, while also helping with cognition when sleep-deprived.
Key Health Strategies: Limit Carbs, Alcohol, Manage Stress, Test [restricted term] & [restricted term]
Reducing Evening Carbs and Alcohol Improves Sleep, Reduces Metabolic Stress
Bartlett and Bikman detail the impact of dietary habits on health, including the suggestion of limiting carbohydrate intake, specifically in the evening, to avoid disrupting sleep due to hyperglycemia. T ...
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Supplements and Dietary Strategies For Health
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While BHB can provide energy without [restricted term], it's important to note that it is not a replacement for a balanced diet and the body's natural metabolic processes.
- The anxiolytic effects of BHB and its impact on blood pressure may vary among individuals and more research may be needed to confirm these effects broadly.
- The benefits of collagen supplementation on skin health and satiety are supported by some studies, but results can be inconsistent and more research may be needed to fully understand its effects.
- Creatine is well-researched in terms of muscle strength and performance, but its cognitive benefits, especially in sleep-deprived individuals, may not be as significant for everyone.
- Limiting evening carbs to improve sleep may help some individuals, but this strategy may not be necessary or beneficial for everyone, depending on their overall diet and metabolism.
- While cutting out alcohol can improve sleep quality for many, moderate alcohol consumption may not have significant negative effects on sleep for all individuals.
- The use of a CGM can be informative, but it may not be necessary for everyone and could lead to unnecessary stress or obsession over blood glucose levels for some individuals.
- The recommendation for fasting [restricted term] levels and the ...
Actionables
- You can create a personalized evening routine that excludes carbohydrates and alcohol to potentially enhance your sleep quality. Start by planning a dinner menu that focuses on protein and healthy fats, and establish a cut-off time for eating, ideally 3-4 hours before bedtime. Replace evening alcoholic beverages with herbal teas or water infused with calming ingredients like lavender or chamomile to promote relaxation without the metabolic stress alcohol can cause.
- Incorporate a simple home-based exercise routine that includes resistance training to potentially boost your [restricted term] levels. Utilize bodyweight exercises such as push-ups, squats, and lunges, which can be done without any special equipment. Aim for short, consistent workouts, about 20-30 minutes, three times a week, to stimulate muscle growth and, consequently, possibly increase [restricted term] productio ...
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