Jordan Peterson and Ben Bikman Say Carbs Are Bad... Here’s Why They’re Wrong
03/11/25 • 38 min
In this episode of the Always Adaptive Podcast, I break down Jordan Peterson’s interview with Dr. Ben Bikman, a well-known ketogenic diet advocate. Their conversation pushes the usual narrative—carbohydrates are bad, fats are good, and insulin is the enemy. But as always, the truth is more complicated than that.
I take a critical look at their claims, explaining why nutrition isn’t a black-and-white debate. The way we process carbohydrates and fats depends on context, activity level, and overall caloric intake, especially when it comes to strength training, athletic performance, and managing chronic conditions. The obsession with demonizing insulin often ignores the actual science behind metabolism and energy balance.
In this episode, I dive into the misconceptions, oversimplifications, and cherry-picked data that dominate low-carb discussions. Whether you’re focused on health, performance, or just making sense of nutrition, I break down what really matters so you can make informed decisions without falling for extreme dietary dogma.
Join me as I cut through the noise and bring a more balanced, evidence-based perspective to the ketogenic diet, nutrition, and performance.
00:00 Introduction
05:15 Examining Carbohydrate Intake and Health
08:37 Blood Glucose and Fat at the Same Time
15:31 Cultural Perspectives on Diet and Health
17:53 Understanding Insulin and Its Functions
20:11 The Addiction Debate: Carbs vs. Fats
26:03 Fuel Sources: Ketones vs. Glucose
30:05 The Role of Medications in Managing Chronic Conditions
32:11 Carbohydrates: Essential or Not?
Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com
In this episode of the Always Adaptive Podcast, I break down Jordan Peterson’s interview with Dr. Ben Bikman, a well-known ketogenic diet advocate. Their conversation pushes the usual narrative—carbohydrates are bad, fats are good, and insulin is the enemy. But as always, the truth is more complicated than that.
I take a critical look at their claims, explaining why nutrition isn’t a black-and-white debate. The way we process carbohydrates and fats depends on context, activity level, and overall caloric intake, especially when it comes to strength training, athletic performance, and managing chronic conditions. The obsession with demonizing insulin often ignores the actual science behind metabolism and energy balance.
In this episode, I dive into the misconceptions, oversimplifications, and cherry-picked data that dominate low-carb discussions. Whether you’re focused on health, performance, or just making sense of nutrition, I break down what really matters so you can make informed decisions without falling for extreme dietary dogma.
Join me as I cut through the noise and bring a more balanced, evidence-based perspective to the ketogenic diet, nutrition, and performance.
00:00 Introduction
05:15 Examining Carbohydrate Intake and Health
08:37 Blood Glucose and Fat at the Same Time
15:31 Cultural Perspectives on Diet and Health
17:53 Understanding Insulin and Its Functions
20:11 The Addiction Debate: Carbs vs. Fats
26:03 Fuel Sources: Ketones vs. Glucose
30:05 The Role of Medications in Managing Chronic Conditions
32:11 Carbohydrates: Essential or Not?
Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com
Previous Episode
Is Cardio Good or Bad? | The Evidence
For far too long has the body building community been debating whether or not cardio is a good or bad thing. It's an unfortunate reality when you ponder just how many people have lost their lives due to cardiovascular complications in this community. You could chalk most of that up to performance enhancing drugs and poor diet, but I cannot help but wonder what would happen if these people had stellar cardiovascular health.
This week I'm making a strong case for why YOU and everyone else should be taking their cardio more seriously. I make the case against cardio and then I make the case to defend cardio. I'm also offering another program to you all if you're interested in adding cardio to your life but aren't sure where to start.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:50 Nuanced Opinions
05:00 Polarity in Health and Fitness
11:45 Argument Against Cardio
16:35 Study #1 in Support of Cardio
21:13 Study #2 in Support of Cardio
24:00 How to Improve VO2 Max
Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com
Next Episode
Is Animal Protein Better Than Plant Protein? Science Says…
In episode 17 of the Always Adaptive Podcast, I dive into the animal protein vs. plant protein debate and break down what really matters for protein synthesis, muscle mass, and overall health. I analyze the latest meta-analysis by Brad Schoenfeld and explain why amino acids, bioavailability, and dietary protein quality make a difference—especially for strength training.
Are plant proteins enough for muscle growth, or does animal protein provide a superior edge? I also take a hard look at the flawed studies linking animal protein to negative health outcomes and why we need a more nuanced approach to nutrition.
If you’ve ever asked, "Animal or plant protein— which is better?" this episode has your answer.
00:00 Introduction
01:51 My Position
03:05 Amino Acid Profile
05:45 Total Protein and Macronutrients
09:43 Bioavailability of Protein Sources
14:25 Study Design Flaws and Safety
18:48 Brad Schoenfeld New Meta-Analysis
23:15 Closing Thoughts on the Matter
Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com
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