For this week’s Metabolic Classroom lecture, Dr. Bikman focuses on natural ways to boost GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1), a powerful gut hormone involved in appetite control, blood sugar regulation, and metabolic health. Ben begins by explaining that GLP-1 is secreted in response to food intake, influencing glucagon suppression, slowing gastric emptying, and activating satiety centers in the brain. However, research shows that individuals with obesity tend to have a blunted GLP-1 response, parti...
Feb 28, 2025•26 min•Ep. 92
Dr. Bikman’s lecture this week explores the metabolic roles of bilirubin, a molecule typically associated with liver disease and jaundice but now emerging as a key player in metabolism, oxidative stress, and fat regulation. Bilirubin is produced from the breakdown of red blood cells and is transported to the liver, where it undergoes conjugation to become water-soluble and is then excreted into bile. While historically viewed as a waste product, recent research suggests that bilirubin plays a si...
Feb 24, 2025•24 min•Ep. 91
Dr. Bikman’s Metabolic Classroom lecture this week explores peptides and their effects on metabolism, fat loss, muscle growth, and overall health. Ben begins by defining peptides as short chains of amino acids that act as signaling molecules in the body. While some peptides occur naturally, others are synthetically developed for therapeutic purposes. He explains that peptides are gaining popularity in fitness, anti-aging, and metabolic health, influencing fat loss, muscle repair, insulin sensiti...
Feb 13, 2025•23 min•Ep. 90
Learn more about becoming an Insider: https://www.benbikman.com In this week’s lecture, Dr. Bikman explores the metabolic origins of acne, challenging the conventional view that acne is purely a skin issue. While acne is often attributed to excess oil production, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation, Ben highlights how metabolic factors—especially insulin—play a significant role. Insulin directly stimulates sebaceous glands, increasing oil production, and also triggers the release of androg...
Feb 04, 2025•25 min•Ep. 89
Learn more about becoming an Insider: https://www.benbikman.com In this week’s episode of the Metabolic Classroom lectures, Dr. Ben Bikman explores the metabolic impact of ADHD medications and whether ADHD itself has metabolic roots. Ben explains how stimulant medications (like Adderall and Ritalin) primarily work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine, enhancing focus but also suppressing appetite and stimulating fat breakdown. This can lead to weight loss but may also contribute to binge ea...
Jan 31, 2025•28 min•Ep. 88
Learn more about becoming an Insider: https://www.benbikman.com Dr. Bikman’s Metabolic Classroom lecture this week explores the physiological role and implications of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and the GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs used for type 2 diabetes management and weight loss. Ben begins by explaining GLP-1 as a hormone produced in the intestines in response to food. It plays a vital role in slowing gastric emptying, suppressing glucagon, and regulating appetite by signaling fullness ...
Jan 23, 2025•31 min•Ep. 86
Learn more about becoming an Insider: https://www.benbikman.com This week, Dr. Bikman’s lecture focuses on metabolic surgeries (also called bariatric surgeries), their mechanisms, and their impacts on weight loss and metabolic health. Ben begins by explaining the qualifications for these surgeries, which often serve as a last resort for individuals with severe obesity or comorbidities like type 2 diabetes. Common qualifications include a BMI of 40 or higher, or lower BMIs with conditions like hy...
Jan 23, 2025•32 min•Ep. 87
In this Metabolic Classroom lecture, Dr. Bikman delves into the fascinating metabolic process of autophagy, the body’s natural recycling system that maintains cellular health by breaking down and reusing damaged components. Ben explains how autophagy is essential for replacing malfunctioning organelles and proteins, thereby preventing diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular conditions, and even some cancers. Autophagy also plays a crucial role in energy production during nut...
Jan 07, 2025•29 min•Ep. 85
Learn more about becoming an Insider on our website: https://www.benbikman.com Dr. Benjamin Bikman delves into the profound relationship between sleep and metabolic health, emphasizing the critical role sleep plays in maintaining insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic function. Ben explains that deep sleep is a restorative phase during which the body repairs cells, regulates hormones, and improves insulin sensitivity. Poor sleep, however, disrupts these vital processes, leading to hormonal im...
Dec 31, 2024•30 min•Ep. 84
We sincerely apologize! During the livestream recording, we experienced some technical difficulties between 07:15 to 08:50. Thanks for your patience and understanding. Learn more about becoming an Insider on our website: https://www.benbikman.com During The Metabolic Classroom lecture this week, Dr. Bikman dives into the intricate relationship between salt- and water-regulating hormones and metabolic health. Starting with a discussion of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), he explai...
Dec 19, 2024•35 min•Ep. 83
Learn more about becoming an Insider on our website: https://www.benbikman.com This week in The Metabolic Classroom lecture, Ben focuses on the relationship between hypertension medications and metabolic health, providing a critical examination of their mechanisms and metabolic implications. He begins by highlighting the role of insulin resistance as a common root cause of both hypertension and metabolic disorders. Ben explains that while hypertension medications such as diuretics, beta blockers...
Dec 12, 2024•40 min•Ep. 82
This week in The Metabolic Classroom, Ben explores the effects of a ketogenic diet on thyroid function, addressing concerns that lower thyroid hormone levels observed during the diet may indicate dysfunction. Dr. Bikman begins by explaining the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, a regulatory system that controls thyroid hormone production. The thyroid gland produces two primary hormones, T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), with T3 being the active form that influences metabolic pro...
Dec 02, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 81
In this week’s episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Bikman delivers a comprehensive lecture on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), focusing on its role in addressing metabolic health challenges faced by women during menopause. The loss of estradiol causes fat to redistribute from healthier storage areas, like the hips and thighs, to the abdominal region, where larger fat cells become more insulin-resistant and pro-inflammatory. This shift contributes to systemic inflammation and elevates the r...
Dec 02, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 80
During Dr. Ben Bikman’s latest episode of The Metabolic Classroom lectures, Ben explores the metabolic effects of nicotine, emphasizing its influence beyond its addictive properties and its association with lung health and its connection to insulin resistance. Nicotine, a naturally occurring alkaloid found primarily in tobacco plants, is widely consumed through various products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, and nicotine replacement therapies like gums and patches. Wh...
Nov 20, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 79
For The Metabolic Classroom lecture this week, Dr. Bikman explores the often-overlooked effects of oxalates on human health, with a focus on their impact on metabolic, kidney, cardiovascular, gut, and joint health. Oxalates are natural compounds found in various plants, including leafy greens like spinach and kale, as well as certain nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes. They serve as a defense mechanism for plants against herbivores, as their high concentrations can cause irritation and reduce nutr...
Nov 14, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 78
During this week’s episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Bikman discusses the impact of microplastics on metabolic health, focusing on their effects on fat cells, insulin resistance, and blood vessel health. Microplastics—tiny plastic particles under five millimeters—are now ubiquitous in our environment, entering the body through food, water, air, and skin products. Their pervasiveness poses serious concerns due to their accumulation in human tissues and the release of harmful chemicals like ...
Nov 07, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 77
This week’s episode of The Metabolic Classroom focuses on the potential of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as a valuable tool not only for individuals with diabetes but also for anyone interested in gaining deeper insights into their metabolic health. CGMs, which measure glucose levels continuously by detecting interstitial glucose, provide real-time feedback on how diet, exercise, stress, and sleep impact blood sugar, making them useful beyond their traditional application for managing diabe...
Oct 31, 2024•23 min•Season 2Ep. 76
In the recording of today’s livestream episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Ben Bikman explores glucosamine’s impact on both joint and metabolic health. Glucosamine, commonly used as a supplement to alleviate joint pain, especially in osteoarthritis, is an amino sugar that plays a role in cartilage formation. However, its effectiveness in improving joint health is debated, with some studies suggesting modest benefits, while others find it no better than a placebo. Dr. Bikman shifts the focus ...
Oct 24, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 75
In this episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Ben Bikman explores the metabolic implications of hyperglycemia, the condition of elevated blood glucose levels. He focuses on both the chronic effects, like those seen in diabetes, and the acute effects of glucose spikes, even from short-term dietary indulgences. Hyperglycemia, while often linked to insulin resistance and diabetes, also has a range of other negative consequences that can manifest even with occasional spikes. One of the key points ...
Oct 19, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 74
This week, during the Metabolic Classroom lecture, Dr. Ben Bikman examines the metabolic consequences of medications used for mental health, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. Ben highlights the close connection between mental health disorders like depression and anxiety with metabolic issues, particularly insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. These medications, while effective for managing mental health symptoms, often lead to metabolic side effects such as weight gain and insuli...
Oct 03, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 73
In this lecture, Dr. Ben Bikman explores liposuction, highlighting its popularity and effects on body fat. While body fat serves important functions like energy storage and hormone regulation, liposuction only removes subcutaneous fat, leaving visceral fat untouched. Dr. Bikman emphasizes that fat cell size, not total fat, is key to metabolic health, and larger fat cells can lead to insulin resistance. Liposuction, though effective for quick fat removal, does not improve metabolic health or insu...
Sep 26, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 72
In this week’s episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Ben Bikman clarifies misconceptions about lactate metabolism, emphasizing that there is no lactic acid in the human body—only lactate. He explains that lactate is the end product of non-oxidative glycolysis, produced when cells, particularly muscles and red blood cells, require quick ATP energy. Dr. Bikman highlights that lactate production occurs during high-intensity activities where energy demand exceeds the capacity of mitochondria to ge...
Sep 20, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 71
In today’s episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Ben Bikman delivers a lecture focusing on the drug rapamycin and its impact on longevity. The primary discussion revolves around the role of the protein complex mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) in the body's aging process. While rapamycin is often touted as a drug that can inhibit mTOR and thereby promote longevity, Ben emphasizes that much of this belief is based on animal studies and lacks solid human evidence. The mTOR pathway is involved...
Sep 12, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 70
In this episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Ben Bikman explores the topic of leaky gut syndrome, explaining how substances enter the body through the intestines and how the gut acts as a controlled gateway. While nutrients like amino acids, glucose, and fats are transported through the intestinal lining via a process called transcellular transport, problems arise when the tight junctions between the cells weaken. This can lead to harmful substances, including large molecules and microbes, pa...
Sep 05, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 69
This episode of The Metabolic Classroom focuses on a deeper understanding of insulin’s role in obesity, particularly through the lens of the fuel partitioning theory. This theory suggests that the way the body allocates energy between burning and storing it significantly influences weight gain and overeating. With obesity affecting over 700 million people worldwide, Dr. Bikman emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader health implications, including increased risks for chronic diseas...
Sep 04, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 68
In this episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Ken Berry and Dr. Ben Bikman discussed the critical role of endogenous insulin, the limitations of focusing solely on glucose levels, and the implications of common markers like A1C and uric acid in understanding metabolic health. Dr. Berry began by highlighting how many primary care physicians misunderstand the function of beta cells in type 2 diabetes, often believing that these cells “burn out” and stop producing insulin. Dr. Bikman clarified th...
Aug 26, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 67
In this episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Ben Bikman explores the metabolic effects of estrogens, particularly their role in glucose metabolism. Estrogens, mainly produced in the gonads, play a crucial role in regulating blood glucose by enhancing insulin sensitivity. Dr. Bikman explained that estrogens improve insulin signaling through pathways such as PI3 kinase and AKT, which are essential for glucose uptake in muscle and fat tissues. Additionally, estrogens activate AMP-activated prote...
Aug 16, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Dr. Ben Bikman, a biomedical scientist and professor of cell biology, discusses the phenomenon of anabolic resistance. Anabolic resistance, primarily a problem associated with aging, refers to the reduced ability of muscles to synthesize protein in response to anabolic stimuli, such as protein intake and resistance exercise. This condition leads to a decline in muscle mass and function over time, contributing to a loss of physical capacity, increased risk of falls, and a greater dependency on ot...
Aug 12, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 65
Dr. Ben Bikman, professor of cell biology and metabolic scientist, delivers a lecture on the importance of fermentation and fermented foods from a metabolic perspective. He began by defining fermentation as the metabolic process where bacteria convert carbohydrates into organic molecules, emphasizing that bacteria primarily consume carbohydrates, not fats or proteins. Fermented foods such as dairy, vegetables, and beverages like kombucha and kefir are common examples. Fermentation not only chang...
Aug 08, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 64
In this episode of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Bikman introduces the concept of the Randle Cycle, also known as the glucose fatty acid cycle, in a lecture aimed at providing a better understanding of metabolism. The Randle Cycle, first identified by Dr. Philip Randle and his colleagues in the 1960s, explores how cells decide between using glucose or fatty acids for fuel. Dr. Bikman emphasized that this cycle has been misinterpreted on social media and aims to clarify its relevance in metabolic ...
Jul 23, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 63
