EPISODE · May 19, 2026 · 9 MIN
Shorts | Did Ancient Daoists Discover Keto First?
from Living the Tao-A Spiritual Podcast · host Mikel Steenrod
Is there really a “Daoist diet”? In this episode of Living the Tao Shorts (2-22), Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores one of the most misunderstood subjects in Taoist practice: food restrictions, dietary cultivation, and the purpose behind them. Rather than rigid rules or moral prohibitions, traditional Daoist approaches to diet were often based on observation, experimentation, longevity, and energetic outcome. The discussion explores: The real meaning of the ancient Bigu diet Why some Daoist traditions reduced grain consumption The relationship between food, herbs, and Qi How Daoism historically approached experimentation and fringe practices The influence of Buddhism on later dietary restrictions Why Daoism tends to reject ideology in favor of direct results This is a practical and historically grounded conversation about food, health, and cultivation within the broader Daoist tradition. To explore Bigu more deeply, try this article here: https://www.watermountainvirtual.com/what-is-bigu/ To view the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/gRMV36dDoug 🌐 Explore more Taoist teachings: https://www.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com 🎧 Listen to more Living the Tao Shorts & full episodes: https://podcast.the-taoism-for-modern-world.com Intro music: “Finding Movement” by Kevin MacLeod — licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Source: incompetech.com
What this episode covers
Taoist Master Mikel Steenrod explores the history of Daoist dietary practices, the truth behind Bigu, the relationship between food and Qi, and why Daoism values results over rigid ideology. A grounded discussion on longevity, experimentation, and cultivation.
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Shorts | Did Ancient Daoists Discover Keto First?
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