833: What a Metabolic Scientist Does With Dr. Benjamin Bikman, Brigham Young University [Main T4C Episode]

Dr. Benjamin Bikman is a metabolic scientist who primarily researches insulin resistance. Benjamin is also a published author and associate professor at Brigham Young University (BYU). He conducts research on metabolic disorders like obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and dementia. Currently, Benjamin is researching the differing roles of insulin and ketones as they relate to driving metabolic functions in the body. Benjamin’s book, Why We Get Sick The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease – and How to Fight It (2020), explains the connection between insulin resistance and numerous diseases that affect a large part of the U.S. population. He earned a B.S. in Exercise Science and an M.S. in Exercise Physiology from BYU and a Ph.D. in Bioenergetics from East Carolina University. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE: What are the pros and cons of consuming caffeine (2:39) How the body produces insulin and how insulin resistance affects it (5:44) Why insulin resistance can cause so many health issues, regardless of age (9:43) What are the three main causes of insulin resistance (12:31) What Ben’s rank as an associate professor means as well as his title of a metabolic scientist (23:06)  What were Ben’s two biggest recent discoveries in insulin research (28:08) What are some of the benefits that ketones provide (30:45) What Ben’s book, Why We Get Sick The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease – and How to Fight It (2020), is all about (35:18) How to both prevent and reverse insulin resistance (37:17) How Ben figured out what to do with his life after graduating (42:58)  How Ben’s personal values enabled him to succeed, even after failure and rejection (50:13)