The Metabolic Classroom

Currently Playing: 122: Why Stress, Fasting, and Low-Carb All Boost Ketones with Dr. Ben Bikman

📢 Ask Dr. Bikman’s Digital Mind: https://benbikman.com/ben-bikmans-digital-ai-mind 📢 Dr. Bikman’s Community & Coaching Site, Insulin IQ: https://insuliniq.com 📢 Become an Insider, Ben’s website: https://www.benbikman.com During lecture 122 of The Metabolic Classroom, Dr. Bikman explores the deep biochemical relationship between stress and ketone production, uncovering how the body interprets stress signals as cues to mobilize fat and create ketones. He explains how stress hormones—like epinephrine, cortisol, glucagon, and growth hormone—aren’t just emergency signals but actually metabolic adaptation hormones that help the body shift into fat-burning mode. Through the sympathetic nervous system and hormone cascades, the body responds to stress by increasing lipolysis and triggering ketogenesis, even during fasting, exercise, or low-carb eating. Ben walks through how ketogenesis begins at the level of fat cells and liver mitochondria, and how key molecules like acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate determine whether the body makes glucose or ketones. Importantly, he clarifies that while stress can trigger positive metabolic shifts, chronic stress without relief can lead to harmful insulin resistance. The takeaway: understanding the difference between acute and chronic stress is key to using this response to your metabolic advantage. Show Notes/References: For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber. You’ll enjoy real-time, livestream Metabolic Classroom access which includes live Q&A with Ben after the lecture, unlimited access to Dr. Bikman’s “Digital Mind”, ad-free podcast episodes, show notes and references, and online, live Office Hours access with Ben. It also includes Ben’s Weekly Research Review Podcast, and a searchable archive of all Metabolic Classroom episodes. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com Translation Notes: You can click the gear icon at the bottom of this video to auto-translate captions. For example, to translate into Polish, select Subtitles, choose Auto-Translate, then first choose English, then choose Auto-Translate again, then choose Polish.) In addition, our channel has first access to YouTube’s new, innovative “auto-dubbing” feature. The process currently supports translations from English into many languages, with more to come. Click on the gear icon, then choose “Audio track” to access. (Sometimes this availability is delayed several weeks or more, so check back often.) Timestamps (approximate): 01:08 – The Physiology of Stress 03:13 – Sympathetic Nervous System and Catecholamines 04:24 – HPA Axis and Cortisol 05:43 – Glucagon, Growth Hormone, and Other Signals 06:54 – Stress as a Metabolic Adaptation 07:51 – Rethinking "Stress Hormones" 09:03 – Ketogenesis Basics and the Role of Acetyl-CoA 11:08 – Why Ketones Form in Low-Insulin States 12:15 – Stress and Ketone Production: How It Works 13:26 – Epinephrine and Lipolysis 14:28 – Cortisol and Selective Fat Burning 15:25 – Growth Hormone and Insulin Resistance 16:42 – Glucagon and Ketone Enzyme Activity 17:45 – Sympathetic Nerve Effects Beyond Hormones 18:57 – Summary: Stress, Ketones, and Metabolic Resilience IMPORTANT NOTE: The information presented is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Bikman is not a clinician—and, he is not your doctor. Always seek the advice of your own qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. #MetabolicHealth #Ketones #StressResponse #FatBurning #DrBenBikman #InsulinResistance #Cortisol #Epinephrine #LowCarbLife #FastingScience #Ketogenesis #HPAaxis #SympatheticNervousSystem #Glucagon #GrowthHormone #MitochondriaHealth #FatAdapted #ChronicStress #HormonesAndHealth #MetabolicClassroom Ben’s favorite yerba mate: https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/1BA884 Ben’s favorite meal-replacement shake: https://gethlth.com (discount: BEN10) Ben’s favorite allulose source: https://rxsugar.com (discount: BEN20) Ben’s favorite health check-up for men: https://blokes.co/drben15 (discount: DRBEN15)