The Groundbreaking Cancer Expert: (New Research) "This Common Food Is Making Cancer Worse!"

Intro (0s)

• Cancer is considered a very preventable disorder, but it requires the medical establishment to acknowledge its true causes and prevention methods, which will be recognized as the greatest tragedy in the history of medicine if not addressed (9s).
• Thomas CA Freed is a professor of biology, genetics, and biochemistry who has spent 30 years gathering scientific evidence on the true origin and prevention of cancer (10s).
• Despite efforts, cancer is getting worse, and there's no major advance in reducing death rates, mainly because all major cancer research institutions think cancer is a genetic disease (26s).
• However, the data and evidence suggest that cancer is a metabolic disorder, and lifestyle choices are inducing it (36s).
• Studies have shown that cancer was extremely rare in African tribes living according to traditional ways, but its incidence increased when modern lifestyle entered their societies (46s).
• Similarly, wolves in the wild don't die from cancer, but it's the number one killer of domestic dogs, highlighting the impact of lifestyle issues (56s).
• Metabolic therapy can be used as both a prevention and treatment method, and it has been successful in helping terminal cancer patients outlive their predicted life expectancy (1m10s).
• By adopting metabolic therapy, individuals can reduce their risk of cancer and alleviate their fear of the disease (1m20s).
• The goal is to educate people about the importance of metabolic therapy and its components, which will be discussed in the episode (1m27s).

What Would Dr Seyfried Say He Does? (1m59s)

• Dr. Seyfried is a professor of biology at Boston College, where he spends a significant amount of time working with and training undergraduate and graduate students to be scientifically literate in various aspects of biology (2m8s).
• His role at the university involves overseeing a research program focused on understanding how to manage cancer better, including its origins and prevention methods (2m23s).
• Dr. Seyfried's work aims to address the question of how much cancer can be managed, prevented, or treated through a better understanding of its underlying biology (2m35s).

How Much Of A Problem Is Cancer Globally? (2m37s)

• Cancer is a significant global problem, with nearly two million new cases diagnosed per year in the United States alone (2m57s).
• In the United States, approximately 1,700 people die from cancer every day, which translates to about 70 people per hour (3m6s).
• China has a much higher number of cancer-related deaths, with around 8,000 people dying from cancer daily (3m22s).
• The number of cancer cases and deaths is expected to increase by 2050, with no significant reduction in death rates or suffering from the disease (3m34s).
• Cancer is considered a global epidemic, with more people dying from it and no major advances in reducing death rates (3m48s).
• The situation is described as a great tragedy, and when the causes of cancer and the misdirected approaches to prevention and treatment are understood, it will be recognized as the singular greatest tragedy in the history of medicine worldwide (4m10s).

What Types Of Cancer Are People Dying From? (4m30s)

• The most common types of cancer that people are dying from include lung, pancreatic, breast, and colon cancer, with lung cancer being the number one cancer for both men and women (4m30s).
• Lung cancer has consistently been the leading cause of cancer deaths, but pancreatic and colon cancer are on the rise in the country (4m34s).
• The rise in certain types of cancer may be attributed to diet and lifestyle issues, which can vary slightly from one country to another (4m52s).
• The prevalence of different types of cancer can vary between countries due to differences in diet and lifestyle (4m49s).

How Many People Will Develop Cancer? (5m2s)

• According to statistics, the number of people developing cancer appears to increase every year, making it a moving target that doesn't seem to decrease (5m2s).
• The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 612,000 people will die from cancer in 2024 (5m22s).
• Breaking down the estimated annual cancer deaths, this translates to around 1,700 people dying per day, and about 70 people per hour (5m33s).
• The American Cancer Society claims that major advances have been made in reducing cancer deaths, with a reported 30-32% reduction in cancer deaths (5m59s).
• This reduction is largely attributed to the anti-smoking campaigns initiated in the 1990s, which have resulted in a 33% lower death rate compared to the projected trajectory if smoking had continued (6m23s).
• The decrease in cancer deaths is primarily due to prevention efforts, such as reduced smoking, rather than advancements in treatment (6m38s).
• The reported reduction in cancer deaths is also influenced by the hypothetical scenario of what would have happened if smoking had continued, rather than actual decreases in the cancer death rate (6m45s).

Where Does Cancer Rank In The Probabilities Of Taking My Life? (6m56s)

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, followed by cancer as the second leading cause of death (7m7s).
• There are many different types of cancer, with hundreds of forms, which can be diagnosed using light microscopy by observing dysmorphic cells with genetic defects (7m16s).
• Despite the various types of cancer, they all have one thing in common: they depend on fermentation energy without oxygen, making them a singular type of disease (7m37s).
• All cancers, regardless of the tissue they occur in, have a common underlying problem and are essentially using the same mechanism to grow out of control (8m6s).
• This common pathophysiological problem is present in various types of cancer, including colon, brain, breast, bladder, skin, and lung cancer (7m58s).
• The underlying mechanism of cancer growth involves fermentation, which is energy production without oxygen (8m11s).

What Is The Fermentation Process? (8m12s)

• Fermentation is a process of generating energy without oxygen, which occurs when the body's cells are unable to use oxygen for energy production due to a lack of oxygen or a blockage in the energy-producing pathways (8m13s).
• When the body's cells are not receiving enough oxygen, they fall back on ancient pathways to generate energy, using glucose and the amino acid glutamine as fuels, resulting in the production of lactic acid and succinic acid as waste products (9m4s).
• The buildup of lactic acid and succinic acid in the bloodstream indicates that the body is fermenting and generating energy without oxygen (9m55s).
• Cancer cells can live in the presence of cyanide, which would normally be toxic to healthy cells, and they can also thrive in low-oxygen environments (10m26s).
• Even in the presence of oxygen, cancer cells often use ancient fermentation pathways to generate energy, producing lactic acid and succinic acid as waste products, indicating that their energy-producing pathways are inefficient (10m42s).
• The inefficiency of energy production in cancer cells is due to defects in the mitochondria, the organelles responsible for generating energy, which leads to the upregulation of ancient fermentation pathways (11m45s).
• The use of ancient fermentation pathways is a common feature of many types of cancer, including lung, colon, and brain cancer, despite their genetic and morphological differences (12m2s).
• The discovery that cancer cells use ancient fermentation pathways to generate energy was first made by Otto Warburg, and has since been confirmed by other researchers (10m32s).

How Have You Arrived At This Conclusion? (12m16s)

• The understanding that cancer lies in a shift in energy systems started with Otto Warburg in the 1920s, who discovered that cancer cells take in less oxygen and produce lactic acid waste compared to normal cells (12m40s).
• Warburg's research involved taking slices of human and rat tumors, noticing that they were oxygen-deprived, and took in more glucose than normal cells, but did not fully metabolize it to CO2 and water (14m11s).
• Warburg's findings suggested that the origin of cancer is related to the ability of the mitochondria to generate efficient energy from oxygen, and that cancer cells have a corruption in this system (15m9s).
• The mitochondria is the part of the cell that creates energy through oxidative phosphorylation, which is burning energy using oxygen, and is a highly efficient engine (15m22s).
• The mitochondria convert oxygen and glucose into energy by breaking down carbon-hydrogen bonds and creating a hydrogen gradient, which is dissipated through an impeller mechanism to generate energy (15m55s).
• The corruption in the energy system of cancer cells does not happen overnight, but rather is a result of chronic damage to the ability of the mitochondria to generate energy from oxygen (16m48s).
• Research by Linda Nebeling, a PhD nursing student at Case Western Reserve University, involved giving two children with brain cancer a ketogenic diet to lower blood sugar, which was able to rescue one of the children (13m1s).
• The strategy was based on Warburg's findings about glucose and cancer, and subsequent research has replicated the link between high blood sugar and faster tumor growth in all human cancers (13m49s).

Why Do Cancers Grow So Rapidly? (16m52s)

• Cancer cells grow rapidly due to their ability to generate energy efficiently through an ancient fermentation pathway, which is driven by fermentable fuels such as glucose and glutamine (16m53s).
• The rapid growth of cancer cells makes them hard to kill, and as long as they have access to these fuels, they will continue to grow (17m8s).
• A solution to managing cancer without toxicity is to simultaneously restrict glucose and glutamine, the two fuels needed for cancer cell growth, while transitioning the body to use fatty acids and ketone bodies as fuel (17m39s).
• This can be achieved by putting cancer patients on a calorie-restricted diet that lowers blood sugar, and using specific drugs to target glutamine (17m58s).
• Humans evolved to be in nutritional ketosis for most of their existence, with a diet low in carbohydrates, and can transition into this state through a low-carbohydrate diet or water-only fasting (18m20s).
• In nutritional ketosis, normal cells can burn ketone bodies for energy, but cancer cells with damaged mitochondria are unable to do so and are dependent on glucose and glutamine (18m56s).
• By replacing glucose and glutamine with ketone bodies in normal cells, cancer cells can be selectively marginalized and will slowly start to die over time (19m10s).

What Are Ketones? (19m17s)

• Ketones are water-soluble breakdown products of fatty acids, specifically beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone, which are small molecules that can be easily dissolved in water (19m28s).
• The liver is primarily responsible for producing ketones, with the kidneys playing a smaller role, and these ketones are released into the bloodstream as the body's energy source when glucose is not available (19m40s).
• When the body does not receive glucose from food, it begins to mobilize fat resources, breaking down triglycerides into fatty acids that are then converted into ketones in the liver (20m4s).
• Ketones can supply the brain and heart with energy, and they are considered a "super fuel" because they allow mitochondria to become more energy-efficient, requiring less oxygen to generate more energy (20m35s).
• The energy efficiency of mitochondria when burning ketones is greater than when burning pyruvate from glucose or fatty acids, making ketones a more efficient energy source (21m1s).
• Humans evolved to be in a state of ketosis, and transitioning to ketones as a primary energy source can have various benefits, including increased energy efficiency (21m17s).

What Can We Learn About Cancer From Our Ancestors? (21m23s)

• Our ancestors consumed very few carbohydrates and had a lot of energy, often being in a state of ketosis, which can provide insight into cancer prevalence (21m23s).
• It's hard to determine cancer prevalence from skeletal records, but looking at modern populations living traditionally can provide clues (21m39s).
• Albert Schweitzer observed that cancer was extremely rare in Africans living in traditional ways, and similar observations were made in Arctic Circle and Aboriginal populations (21m58s).
• When modern diet and lifestyle entered these societies, cancer rates increased significantly (22m46s).
• There has never been a documented case of breast cancer in a female chimpanzee, which is 98% similar to humans in gene and protein sequence (22m54s).
• Monkeys generally do not form cancer, likely due to their diet being different from humans (23m7s).
• Humans did not evolve to eat modern processed foods like pork pies, donuts, and pizzas, but rather ate animals and plants that walked, crawled, flew, or swam (23m12s).
• In contrast, animals in zoos are fed their natural diets, and introducing human foods like pizza and donuts would be considered animal cruelty (23m57s).
• Humans also have systems that are not geared for modern processed foods, which may contribute to the obesity epidemic and chronic diseases (24m16s).

What Role Does Exercise Play In Fighting These Diseases? (24m36s)

• Exercise plays a role in fighting cancer by lowering blood sugar and glutamine, the two fuels that drive cancer, although it cannot completely remove glutamine (24m43s).
• Exercise can lower glutamine availability, as shown in papers published by George Kahill, and also burns ketones and increases oxygenation, keeping mitochondria healthy and efficient (25m0s).
• When exercising, the body burns ketones instead of carbs, and the increased oxygenation from exercise keeps mitochondria at their highest level of energy efficiency (25m12s).
• Exercise also builds muscle and improves aerobic health, allowing the body to take in more oxygen and burn ketones, a "super fuel" (25m24s).
• The combination of exercise and a healthy diet can lead to a body similar to those of men from the Paleolithic period, who were physically fit, had tremendous energy, and did not die from diseases related to obesity (25m35s).

What Lifestyle Choices Are Causing The Cancer To Develop? (25m44s)

• Cancer can be a gradual process that builds up over time, impacted by lifestyle decisions and environmental factors, such as lack of exercise, massive amounts of processed carbs in diets, emotional stress, and lack of sleep (26m12s).
• A combination of these factors can put a person at risk for cancer, damaging and reducing the efficiency of mitochondria, and affecting overall biology (26m58s).
• Having a strong social support system, friendships, and enjoying life can help reduce stress and mitigate the risk of cancer (27m11s).
• A diet and lifestyle that puts a person at risk for damage to oxidative phosphorylation and the transition from one form of energy to a fermentation energy can contribute to the development of cancer (27m27s).
• The transition from one stage to another in the development of cancer can take time and requires constant stress on cells and organs (27m41s).
• Different types of cancer, such as colon, breast, and brain cancer, can occur due to a gradual disruption of oxidative phosphorylation and a transition to a fermentation-like energy process (28m1s).
• Certain cells, such as glial cells in the brain, are more prone to cancer due to their energy production processes (28m17s).
• Chronic interruption of oxidative energy followed by an upregulation of fermentation energy can contribute to the development of cancer (28m41s).
• Mitochondrial dysfunction can be caused by various factors, including carcinogens, such as asbestos and environmental chemicals (28m56s).

Is Cancer Genetic? (29m7s)

• Chemicals with carcinogenic potential can cause cancer, and some examples of these chemicals include microplastics and talcum powder, which can be found in everyday products (29m7s).
• Talcum powder has been linked to ovarian cancer, as it can be taken up into the urogenital tract and form a foci in the ovarian tissue, leading to inflammation and damage to mitochondria (29m30s).
• A foci is a collection of material that accumulates in a specific area of the body, in this case, the ovarian tissue, and can cause an inflammatory response (29m42s).
• The immune system tries to clean up the foreign material, but in doing so, it can create more damage and lead to the growth of a tumor (30m1s).
• This process is not unique to talcum powder and can also occur with other nanoparticles and microplastics, which are being researched for their potential to cause cancer (30m35s).
• Chemical carcinogens, such as tetrahydrochloride, arsenic, and urethane, can also damage mitochondria and lead to cancer (30m40s).
• Chronic damage to mitochondria can force cells to upregulate fermentation energy production without oxygen, which can contribute to the development of cancer (30m52s).

How Do We Keep Our Mitochondria Healthy? (31m9s)

• Keeping mitochondria healthy can help prevent or delay damage caused by exposure to chemical carcinogens, and this can be achieved through a healthy lifestyle, including vigorous exercise, fasting, and calorie restriction (31m9s).
• Mitochondria are tough organelles, but they can be chronically damaged by abuse, such as consuming highly processed carbohydrates, and exposure to microplastics, which are ubiquitous and can cause damage to different populations of cells (31m21s).
• Reducing the risk of cancer is possible by knowing what keeps mitochondria healthy, and research has shown that calorie restriction can significantly reduce the incidence of cancer in mice, particularly breast cancer (32m21s).
• Studies have demonstrated that mice on calorie-restricted diets were less likely to develop tumors, and this research was conducted by a couple of scientists who used mice that were prone to developing breast cancer (32m26s).
• Cancer is considered a preventable disorder, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing cancer (32m37s).

Is Cancer Genetic? (32m42s)

• Many institutions believe that cancer is a genetic problem, but evidence suggests otherwise, with the somatic mutation theory and the mitochondrial metabolic theory being two different explanations for cancer development (32m49s).
• The somatic mutation theory states that mutations in the nucleus lead to disregulated cell growth, while the mitochondrial metabolic theory suggests that a transition from oxidative phosphorylation to fermentation metabolism inside the cell is the cause of cancer (33m1s).
• The mutations seen in the nucleus of tumor cells may be downstream effects of mitochondrial dysfunction, with reactive oxygen species causing mutations and disregulated cell growth (33m45s).
• Some cancer cells grow out of control without any mutations, challenging the somatic mutation theory, and some mutations are referred to as "driver mutations" that lead to disregulated cell growth, while others are "passenger mutations" that do not contribute to cancer development (33m58s).
• Recent evidence has found that normal tissues from healthy individuals can contain driver mutations without developing tumors, further challenging the somatic mutation theory (34m43s).
• Experiments have shown that taking the nucleus from a tumor cell and putting it into a normal cell results in regulated growth, while putting a normal nucleus into a tumor cell with defective mitochondria results in disregulated cell growth, suggesting that the mitochondria play a crucial role in cancer development (35m20s).
• The evidence suggests that cancer is not a genetic disease, but rather a result of mitochondrial dysfunction, and that the assumption that cancer is genetic is a silent assumption in the field (36m23s).

Why Haven't Opinions Changed Based On Dr Seyfried's Evidence? (36m27s)

• The prevailing view in biology and biochemistry is that cancer is a genetic disease, which is stated in every textbook of biology and biochemistry (36m27s).
• Changing people's opinions on this matter is difficult due to the concept of Paradigm shifts, where one theory replaces another, and such shifts have historically been met with great resistance (36m40s).
• A notable example of a Paradigm shift is the Copernican Revolution, which occurred when astronomers changed their view from the Earth being immovable at the center of the solar system to the Sun being at the center (36m54s).
• This shift took 1,800 years to occur, with even early astronomers like Claudius Ptolemy and Aristotle supporting the geocentric model, and was initially met with resistance from the Roman Catholic Church, resulting in the execution of theologian Giordano Bruno for supporting the heliocentric model (37m9s).
• Similar resistance to Paradigm shifts has been seen in the history of science, such as when Louis Pasteur proposed that germs, rather than bad air, cause disease, and when Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace introduced the theory of evolution through natural selection (37m56s).
• The current understanding of cancer is undergoing a similar Paradigm shift, with research suggesting that cancer is a mitochondrial metabolic disease, rather than a genetic disease originating in the nucleus (38m17s).

If We Adopt This Mindset, What Will Happen To Cancer Statistics? (38m27s)

• If the focus is shifted to the mitochondria as the center of cellular dysfunction and disease, cancer statistics are expected to drop massively over the coming years, although it's unlikely that cancer will be completely eradicated (38m41s).
• By understanding that cancer cannot survive without two specific fuels, it's possible to adopt a diet and lifestyle that restricts the availability of those fuels and keeps the mitochondria healthy, effectively keeping cancer at bay (38m56s).
• If this approach is not taken, cancer statistics are likely to worsen, with the possibility of one out of two people developing cancer, making current alarming statistics a reality (39m10s).

Are The Current Cures Working? (39m17s)

• The current approach to cancer research and treatment is not effective, with the death rate not dropping despite significant funding, with $7 billion a year allocated for cancer research in the National Cancer Institute (39m53s).
• Many grants are awarded to study gene mutations, and expensive drugs are developed based on the somatic mutation theory of cancer, which is not leading to a decrease in the death rate (40m2s).
• The global incidence of early onset cancer, defined as cancer in patients under the age of 50, has increased by roughly 80% between 1990 and 2019, according to a study published in the BMJ Oncology (41m7s).
• Despite significant investment in cancer research over the last few decades, the increase in early onset cancer suggests that the research is not being effective (41m32s).
• There is a lack of accountability in the allocation of cancer research funding, with no clear answer to where the money is going and what kind of research is being conducted (40m27s).
• The scientific advisory committees of cancer societies are composed of individuals who have published papers on cancer as a genetic disease, making it difficult for the field to accept alternative theories (40m36s).
• The current trajectory of cancer research and treatment is considered immoral, and it is only a matter of time before the industry is forced to adjust to new information and approaches (40m58s).
• The hospital industry and pharmaceutical companies are making enormous amounts of money from cancer treatment, which can create resistance to change and new ideas (39m51s).

The Current Technologies Used To Prevent Cancer (41m50s)

• Research has led to the development of treatments that improve progression-free survival and overall survival in cancer patients, with progression-free survival referring to the slowing down of tumor growth and overall survival referring to the actual increase in lifespan (41m50s).
• Progression-free survival is often used as a measure to approve cancer drugs, but it does not necessarily translate to overall survival, with some patients only living a few months longer despite the tumor appearing to be managed (43m0s).
• New cancer drugs often do a good job at progression-free survival but fail to significantly improve overall survival, which is the ultimate goal of cancer treatment (43m34s).
• The example of Avastin, an anti-angiogenic drug, is given, which can cause tumors to appear to disappear but actually spreads tumor cells throughout the brain, ultimately leading to a poorer prognosis (43m43s).
• Avastin was blocked for use in breast cancer due to colon perforations in women but is still used in brain cancer, despite its questionable effectiveness and potential harm (43m49s).
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapies have been shown to keep people alive who would have otherwise died, but their effectiveness can vary greatly (45m11s).
• Research on brain tumors, specifically glioblastomas, has shown that irradiating the brain releases massive amounts of glucose and glutamine in the microenvironment, which can affect survival rates (45m19s).
• The standard treatment for glioblastomas, including chemotherapy, surgical debulking, and irradiation, has a low five-year survival rate and almost zero 10-year survival rate (45m39s).
• However, if a tumor is circumscribed and not spread, radiation or surgical procedures can potentially cure the patient (46m14s).
• Chemotherapy, such as the "Red Devil" docetaxel, can be toxic and have severe side effects, including hair loss and brutalization of the body (46m26s).
• Many cancer survivors suffer from adverse effects of treatment, including cardiovascular disease and secondary effects of being "poisoned" or irradiated (46m50s).
• Metabolic therapy can be used to shrink tumors, making them easier to remove surgically, and can also be used to prevent cancer recurrence (47m15s).
• Metabolic therapy can be used as both a prevention and treatment for cancer, although the treatment approach may involve additional drugs to target glutamine (48m0s).
• While survival rates for various cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, and leukemia, have improved since the 1970s, the current standard treatments have limitations and can have severe side effects (48m20s).
• Current cancer treatments are considered horrific and have not significantly improved survival rates, with only a 5% difference in overall survival for breast cancer between the 1990s and 2010 (48m55s).
• The 5% difference in overall survival for breast cancer translates to an increase of only two and a half to three months in overall survival (49m6s).

How Do We Prevent Cancer? (49m10s)

• Many people who develop cancer, such as breast cancer, appear to be remarkably healthy before diagnosis, which raises questions about how healthy individuals can get cancer (49m31s).
• Factors such as lack of exercise, stress, poor sleep, and bad food can impact various parts of the body and contribute to the development of cancer (50m10s).
• Personal choices, such as diet and lifestyle, play a significant role in cancer prevention, and individuals should be aware of the potential risks associated with their daily habits (50m20s).
• Maintaining healthy mitochondria is crucial, and this can be achieved through various means, including exercise, skipping meals, and drinking water (50m39s).
• Exercise is an essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle, and regular physical activity can help prevent obesity and reduce the risk of cancer (50m46s).
• Obesity is a growing global issue, with countries like China experiencing a significant increase in obesity rates, with over 200 million obese people (51m1s).
• The importance of a healthy diet is emphasized, but the specific mention of a keto diet is introduced as a potential consideration for cancer prevention (51m5s).

Should I Be On A Keto Diet? (51m6s)

• A glucose Ketone index (GKI) calculator was developed at Boston College to help cancer patients monitor their blood sugar and ketone levels, providing a more stable and singular number to track their progress (51m7s).
• The GKI is calculated by dividing the glucose in the blood by the ketone in the blood, giving a number that indicates whether the patient is in a zone where their tumor cells can grow (52m10s).
• A GKI of 2.0 or below is considered a safe zone, where tumor cells are less likely to grow, and this zone is being used for all types of cancer, as well as for people who want to stay healthy (52m19s).
• The GKI is also a quantitative determination of whether someone is in the Paleolithic zone, which is characterized by a balance of glucose and ketones in the blood, similar to that of our ancestors during the Paleolithic period (52m36s).
• A person with a low GKI, such as Dominic D'Agostino, is considered to be in a Paleolithic zone, where they have the right balance of glucose and ketones in their blood, and are less likely to develop cancer (52m40s).
• A low GKI is associated with a ketogenic diet, which is characterized by low carbohydrate intake, and eating foods with a low glycemic index, such as leafy vegetables, meat, and certain fruits like grapefruits (53m12s).
• The Mediterranean diet is also mentioned as a good example of a diet that can help keep the GKI low, as it is low in carbohydrates and high in foods with a low glycemic index (53m49s).
• Foods with a low glycemic index, such as those that release glucose slowly, are recommended, as they help keep the GKI low and prevent blood sugar spikes (53m55s).
• The GKI calculator was initially developed for brain cancer patients, but is now being used for all types of cancer, and is also being used by healthy individuals who want to prevent cancer and stay healthy (54m15s).
• The GKI is also being used in conjunction with glutamine targeting drugs to help put tumors in a dormant state (54m25s).
• Young people, including those in their 20s and 30s, are using the GKI calculator to track their progress and prevent cancer, as they are excited to see that they can get into the Paleolithic zone and prevent cancer (54m35s).
• Being in the Paleolithic zone, where the mitochondria are healthy, is considered to be a way to prevent cancer, as our ancestors rarely developed cancer when they were in this zone (54m48s).

Dr Seyfried's Dog Study (54m57s)

• A woman with no degree in biochemistry applied the principles of metabolic therapy to her 7-year-old pitbull with a large mast cell tumor on its lip after listening to a YouTube video on the topic (55m7s).
• The woman put the dog on a diet of raw chicken, pollock fish oil, and raw eggs, and used a dog food calculator to cut the dog's calorie intake, resulting in a 5% loss of body weight (55m50s).
• The dog's tumor disappeared, despite veterinarians' predictions that it would not survive without chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery (56m12s).
• The woman kept detailed records and pictures of the dog's progress, which were later used in a paper co-authored with veterinarian Lauren Nations (56m27s).
• The dog eventually died of heart disease at the age of 15, but the metabolic therapy appeared to have effectively managed the cancer (56m51s).
• Metabolic therapy is not considered a cure for cancer, but rather a non-toxic management approach, although in this case, it seemed to have cured the dog's cancer (57m1s).

Human Cases Of People That Have Followed Your Research (57m14s)

• Pablo Kelly, a man from Devon, England, had a glioblastoma, a severe form of brain cancer, and was told by doctors that his tumor was inoperable and that he might live for 9-12 months with radiation and chemotherapy. (57m41s)
• Pablo rejected standard care and instead opted for a metabolic approach, which included a low-carbohydrate diet with avocados and fish oil, and did not take any steroids, radiation, or chemotherapy. (58m22s)
• After three years, Pablo's tumor was still present but had become more operable, and a surgeon was able to remove it; Pablo recovered well, and the surgeon believed they had removed the entire tumor. (1h0m2s)
• Pablo used a Keo monitor to track his glucose ketone index (GKI) daily, providing five years of data, and initially believed he was cured, but after a period of less strict adherence to his diet, his GKI increased, and the tumor began to show signs of returning. (1h0m17s)
• Pablo then returned to a more restrictive diet, and over the next three years, the tumor grew slowly, but he was able to manage it through his metabolic approach. (1h0m44s)
• A patient named Pablo was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor, in August 2014, and was given a poor prognosis with standard care, but he managed to survive for 10 years without undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, instead opting for multiple debulking surgeries to remove the tumor (1h0m51s).
• Pablo's case is considered remarkable, as glioblastoma patients rarely survive more than two years, and he was able to live for a decade, with the tumor being removed three times through debulking surgeries (1h0m59s).
• Despite his terminal diagnosis, Pablo was able to live a relatively normal life, and his condition was stable until he underwent a fourth surgery to remove the remaining tumor, which unfortunately resulted in a surgical complication that led to his death in August 2024 (1h2m10s).
• Pablo's death was not directly caused by the cancer, but rather by a surgical problem that occurred during the fourth surgery, and his case highlights the potential benefits of alternative treatments, such as metabolic therapy, which may have contributed to his prolonged survival (1h2m25s).
• The patient's age at diagnosis was around 20-23 years old, and he was in his 30s when he passed away, making his 10-year survival with glioblastoma a notable exception to the typical prognosis for this type of cancer (1h2m57s).
• Pablo's case is seen as an anecdote that demonstrates the potential effectiveness of alternative treatments, and it is suggested that if a drug or therapy could achieve similar results, it would be widely sought after and recognized as a breakthrough in cancer treatment (1h3m31s).

What Is Metabolic Therapy? (1h3m39s)

• Metabolic therapy is a combination of a calorie-restrictive and ketogenic approach, which involves avoiding things that can be detrimental to one's health, such as radiation, and instead focusing on non-toxic strategies to manage cancer (1h3m39s).
• A key aspect of metabolic therapy is bringing the glucose ketone index down to a low level, specifically the 2.0 zone, and keeping it low through diet and supplements (1h4m3s).
• Certain parasite medications have been found to be effective in targeting glutamine, which is a part of the metabolic therapy approach (1h4m16s).
• Metabolic therapy is a non-toxic approach to managing cancer, which is in contrast to traditional treatments like radiation and chemotherapy (1h4m22s).
• Many oncologists are not aware of metabolic therapy and its potential benefits, which can put patients at risk of not receiving the most effective treatment (1h4m32s).

What Should Someone That Has Cancer And Is Listening To This Do? (1h4m36s)

• For individuals with cancer, it is not recommended to stop chemotherapy or other treatments, but rather to consider combining them with nutritional ketosis, which can make chemotherapy more therapeutically powerful at lower dosages (1h5m6s).
• When in nutritional ketosis with a glucose-keto index of 2.0 or below, chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments can be more effective in shrinking tumors and making them more vulnerable to treatment (1h5m12s).
• The goal is not to eliminate conventional treatments but to make them more effective by shrinking tumors and making them weaker, allowing for more targeted and successful treatments such as surgery, radiation, or immunotherapy (1h5m23s).
• In cases of brain cancer, metabolic therapy can help shrink the tumor before surgery, making it easier for surgeons to remove and potentially leading to longer survival rates (1h6m57s).
• Debulking, or the removal of the tumor, has been shown in many scientific publications to increase patient survival rates, and combining this with metabolic therapy can help keep the pressure on remaining tumor cells (1h7m21s).
• By transitioning patients back into a metabolic state after treatment, it is possible for them to remain healthy and manage their cancer, as seen in cases like Pablo's (1h7m45s).

Keto Plus Hyperbaric Oxygen Study (1h7m52s)

• A study found that when a ketogenic diet was combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in mice, the average survival time increased by roughly 80% (1h7m52s).
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy works best when the patient is in nutritional ketosis, as it allows oxygen to dissolve directly into the bloodstream, increasing the effectiveness of the treatment (1h8m7s).
• Cancer cells have a powerful antioxidant system that protects them from reactive oxygen species (ROS), but when a patient is in nutritional ketosis and undergoes hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the tumor cells are selectively killed by the ROS without causing collateral damage to surrounding tissues (1h8m31s).
• Radiation therapy causes ROS in the microenvironment, which can kill both normal and tumor cells, but by putting the patient in nutritional ketosis and using hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the ROS can selectively kill tumor cells without harming the rest of the body (1h9m11s).
• The combination of a ketogenic diet and hyperbaric oxygen therapy can make the rest of the body's cells healthier, as they are burning ketones in pure oxygen (1h9m59s).
• To measure the effectiveness of metabolic therapy, it is essential to understand the biochemistry and physiology of the body, as well as evolutionary biology (1h10m4s).
• Success in metabolic therapy relies heavily on the individual's responsibility to make lifestyle changes, such as following a ketogenic diet and undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (1h10m36s).

Can You Have A Pre-Disposition To Cancer? (1h11m57s)

• Cancer can be caused by germ line mutations, but these can be managed, and having a family history of cancer does not necessarily mean an individual will develop the disease, as environmental factors also play a role (1h11m59s).
• A person's risk of developing cancer due to genetic predisposition can be difficult to determine, as it would require separating siblings and raising them in different environments, countries, and lifestyles to see if they all develop cancer under different conditions (1h12m11s).
• Certain diseases, such as Huntington's disease and Tay-Sachs disease, are known to be caused by genetic mutations and will manifest regardless of environmental factors (1h12m21s).

Should I Restrict What I Eat, To Stave Off Cancer? (1h12m28s)

• A 32-year-old man is considering calorie restriction to keep his mitochondria and metabolism healthy in order to remain cancer-free. (1h12m29s)
• The idea is based on the diet of Paleolithic ancestors, who did not have access to highly processed carbohydrate foods like doughnuts and pizzas. (1h12m46s)
• The options being considered include fasting and a keto diet, but the decision ultimately depends on individual preferences and circumstances. (1h12m56s)
• It is emphasized that individuals should read and understand the available information and make their own decisions about their lifestyle, rather than being told what to do. (1h13m8s)

What's Your View On Fasting? (1h13m16s)

• Fasting is a powerful way to get the body into nutritional ketosis, but it can be challenging to implement. (1h13m16s)
• The initial days of fasting, particularly the second and third days, are the most difficult, as the body starts to adjust to the new state. (1h13m39s)
• A zero-carb diet for 10 to 14 days can be an alternative approach, allowing individuals to eat meat, fish, and chicken while avoiding carbohydrates such as bread and pasta. (1h13m46s)

How Do I Get Into The Keto State? (1h13m58s)

• To measure the glucose ketone index, a keto meter such as the Keto Mojo meter can be used, which can be purchased from Amazon and comes with a free Libra meter for blood glucose measurement (1h14m0s).
• The Keto Mojo meter requires a prick of the finger, similar to a diabetic glucose test, and uses both glucose and ketone strips to provide a reading of the glucose ketone index (GKI) (1h14m16s).
• This method is considered more accurate than indirect measures such as blowing into a device or using urine strips (1h15m0s).
• Staying in a state of metabolic ketosis can be challenging due to the strong temptations of modern society, unlike Paleolithic man who had no choice but to live in this state (1h15m9s).
• Humans are biologically designed to store energy efficiently, which is evident in obesity, as it is a result of evolution in action (1h15m36s).
• Throughout most of human existence, the species was energy-starved, and any consumed energy was converted to fat and stored, making humans energy-efficient (1h15m47s).
• The abundance of food in modern society is a result of evolution in action, allowing humans to store energy efficiently, but also leading to overconsumption and health issues (1h16m4s).
• The human body's ability to store energy efficiently is a result of environmental pressures such as famines and food scarcity, which forced the body to adapt and store energy efficiently (1h16m17s).
• The modern food environment, with its abundance of high-calorie foods and lack of energy expenditure, makes it challenging for people to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle (1h16m30s).

Do We Need More Discipline? (1h17m10s)

• Discipline is important, and every major religion has had a point of fasting, whether it's Islamic, Judaism, Catholicism, Hinduism, or others, to purify the body, become closer to God, and feel in control (1h17m10s).
• Fasting has been practiced for centuries, and the Ancients knew its benefits, but this practice is not commonly done anymore (1h17m46s).
• In the past, people would fast for extended periods, such as Jesus' 40-day fast in the desert, and it is possible for humans to go without food for a significant amount of time (1h17m51s).
• George Cahill, a friend and researcher who ran the D.J. Diabetes Center, evaluated people who only drank water until death and was able to determine how long a person could survive without food (1h18m6s).
• One notable example of extended fasting is Angus Barbieri, who went 377 days without food (1h18m29s).

What Happens When You Fast? (1h18m36s)

• When fasting, the body burns fat, and the liver stores minerals that can be obtained from bones, while vitamins, including vitamin D, are stored in fat (1h18m45s).
• Fasting can lead to cognitive changes, as the brain shifts to burning ketones, increasing the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation and leading to increased focus (1h19m7s).
• This increased focus is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation, as ancestors who were dependent on hunting for survival needed to be focused to avoid starvation (1h19m25s).
• When in a ketotic state, every organ and sense organ in the body is heightened, allowing for increased awareness and focus (1h19m42s).
• This natural state is often deprived in modern times, with the constant availability of food and distractions, unlike the lives of Paleolithic ancestors who had to hunt for survival (1h19m56s).
• Even Paleolithic humans would be tempted by modern foods, such as donuts, and would likely overconsume them if given the opportunity, highlighting the natural human desire for high-calorie foods (1h20m13s).
• This desire is also seen in other animals, such as chimpanzees, who will eagerly consume high-calorie human foods, like jelly sandwiches, when given the chance (1h20m41s).

What Advice Would Dr Seyfried Give To His Kids? (1h20m52s)

• Advice to children on preventing cancer involves understanding the science behind why certain things work, and while not dictating what to do, encouraging them to exercise and do their best in their environment (1h20m53s).
• The importance of balance is emphasized, as enjoying foods like jelly donuts and drinks like beer and whiskey is acceptable in moderation, but not excessively (1h21m33s).
• Personal habits that contribute to overall health include drinking water, practicing intermittent fasting for 18-20 hours at a time, and engaging in regular exercise at the university gym (1h21m48s).
• If diagnosed with cancer, the approach would involve "biting the bullet" and doing what is known to work, even if not pleasurable, as an alternative to radiation and poisoning (1h22m0s).
• The children, two sons, are aware of the approach to cancer treatment and have expressed that they would opt for metabolic therapy if they were to get cancer (1h21m21s).

Why Isn't Dr Seyfried Trying To Be Metabolically Perfect? (1h22m14s)

• The conviction is strong that metabolic dysfunction is a significant issue, but the individual is not optimizing their life to be metabolically perfect because they live in the same society as everyone else and enjoy the pleasures it offers (1h22m14s).
• The individual acknowledges that technology has improved significantly, but they are not a monk and do not plan to live a life of complete isolation or deprivation (1h22m30s).
• They enjoy participating in societal activities, such as sharing a meal with wine and engaging in conversation, but also recognize that being locked into a certain diet and lifestyle all the time can put one at risk (1h22m49s).
• The individual aims to strike a balance between enjoying life's pleasures and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, rather than striving for metabolic perfection (1h22m56s).

What Food Laws Would Dr Seyfried Introduce? (1h23m4s)

• If given the power to introduce food regulations as the President of the United States, the approach would focus on providing choices and educating people about the potential harm caused by certain foods, rather than imposing strict government control (1h23m5s).
• The goal would be to raise awareness about the link between certain foods and chronic diseases, similar to how regulations were introduced in the UK to restrict smoking in public places (1h23m51s).
• The key difference between regulating smoking and food is that secondhand smoke can directly harm others, whereas an individual's food choices primarily affect their own health (1h24m7s).
• The idea of banning certain foods, such as Dunkin' Donuts, is unlikely to be successful, as it would be seen as an infringement on personal freedom and could lead to a negative reaction (1h24m29s).
• A more effective approach would be to promote education and awareness about the potential health risks associated with certain foods, allowing individuals to make informed choices about their diet (1h23m32s).
• Ultimately, the decision to consume certain foods should be a personal choice, with moderation being the key to maintaining a healthy balance (1h25m4s).

Is Dr Seyfried Hopeful? (1h25m18s)

• There is hope for a breakthrough in cancer treatment as the scientific evidence is available and cannot be suppressed, building on the work of Otto Warburg, a giant in the field of biochemistry (1h25m18s).
• The motivation behind the work is not financial gain, but rather to see the scientific principles substantiated and to keep people alive with a higher quality of life based on the knowledge of the science (1h25m52s).
• A comprehensive treatment protocol is being developed, which has shown promising results in patients with advanced cancers, such as glioblastoma, allowing them to live several years longer (1h26m22s).
• The research is supported by philanthropy and private foundations, enabling experiments to be conducted on pre-clinical models and translated back into the clinic (1h26m50s).
• The work has already shown positive results, with patients who should have died years ago still alive and doing well, which is a strong motivator to continue the research (1h27m18s).
• While the treatment may not work for everyone, it has the potential to significantly reduce cancer and take away the fear associated with it, representing a massive paradigm change (1h27m45s).
• The results of the research have been published in scientific literature, allowing the scientific field to make their decision on the results, and the goal is to continue pushing for better results (1h28m5s).

And What If You Are Successful? (1h28m14s)

• The goal is to help a lot of people by bringing the focus back to the metabolic problem with metabolic solutions, following the work of Otto Warburg and correcting the misconceptions and misunderstandings that stalled the field (1h28m17s).
• The approach is expected to change the way people think about cancer, and there is already interest from various parts of the world, including Asia, Africa, and South America, in opening clinics based on this approach (1h28m43s).
• The current system is not working and is causing significant financial and personal toxicity, with people going bankrupt, experiencing marital problems, and dying, leaving behind large bills for their loved ones, which is considered immoral (1h28m52s).

Are There Any Studies That Have Broken Dr Seyfried's Heart? (1h29m10s)

• A case study that had a significant emotional impact was that of Trudy Dupont, who helped develop a glucose ketone index calculator, and her husband Pablo, who was a long-term survivor of glioblastoma using metabolic therapy but ultimately died from a cerebral hemorrhage (1h29m10s).
• Pablo's case was notable as he was able to live with glioblastoma for an extended period using metabolic therapy, but his death was not directly caused by the cancer (1h29m32s).
• There have been other cases where patients did not live as long as hoped, often due to family members not supporting the patient's decision to pursue alternative therapies (1h29m41s).
• In some cases, family members may discourage patients from pursuing non-traditional treatments, highlighting the challenges of implementing metabolic therapy as a standard approach (1h29m52s).
• However, when family members work together to support the patient's treatment, the results can be positive, with patients often reporting improved overall health (1h30m7s).
• The case of Gu Tanom, who had advanced prostate cancer, hypertension, and obesity, is cited as an example of successful management of disease through alternative means, including 18-day water-only fasts (1h30m12s).
• Gu Tanom's health issues, including diabetes and hypertension, were resolved, and his cancer is no longer detectable, although it is unclear if he is technically "cured" (1h30m31s).
• The goal of metabolic therapy is to improve the quality of life and increase the lifespan of patients, which is ultimately what medicine aims to achieve (1h30m40s).

What Would Dr Seyfried Say To Someone Listening? (1h30m50s)

• Many people battling cancer are looking for alternative treatments, such as metabolic therapy, but are often rejected by their local hospitals due to a lack of evidence, despite the fact that the current medical establishment approach is not always effective for cancer patients (1h31m8s).
• The change in cancer treatment approach needs to come from the people, rather than the top medical schools, as the status quo is profitable and effective for those in power, but not necessarily for the patients (1h31m33s).
• The goal is not to throw out existing treatments like immunotherapies, radiation, and chemotherapy, but to learn how to use them more effectively in conjunction with new approaches (1h31m52s).
• Doctors are often hesitant to try new approaches due to fear of losing their licenses, and the standard of care is often inflexible and resistant to change, even in the face of new evidence (1h32m9s).
• The current medical establishment is often driven by confirmation bias, with many doctors and researchers unwilling to consider alternative perspectives, even when faced with contradictory evidence (1h32m31s).
• However, change is possible, and as more people become aware of the need for a new approach to cancer treatment, a major shift in the medical establishment is likely to occur (1h32m41s).

Guest's Last Question You can purchase Dr Thomas’ book, ‘Keto for Cancer: Ketogenic Metabolic Therapy as a Targeted Nutritional Strategy’, here: Follow Dr Thomas (1h32m55s)

• A previous guest left a question for the next guest, which is to imagine what they hope their closest friends and family would say about them at their funeral, with the hope that they changed the course of cancer treatment for the world (1h33m2s).
• Dr. Thomas's work is focused on finding the root causes of cancer and providing more information to help people understand the disease and find better solutions (1h33m55s).
• Dr. Thomas's research is primarily funded through philanthropic donations to Boston College, a Jesuit university in Massachusetts, and private foundations (1h34m7s).
• People can make donations to support Dr. Thomas's research by visiting the Boston College website and clicking the donation button, or by donating to the Travis Christofferson Foundation for Metabolic Cancer Therapies, a 503(c) organization (1h34m33s).
• Dr. Thomas cannot accept personal donations and instead directs people to donate through the university or the Travis Christofferson Foundation (1h35m17s).
• Dr. Thomas's work aims to provide alternatives to traditional cancer treatments and to change the outcomes for people affected by the disease (1h36m1s).
• The conversation with Dr. Thomas has inspired the host to implement practical changes in their life, including buying a machine to track their glucose-ketone index (1h35m43s).