OSF022: Using Fat as Fuel: Kristen Mancinelli Talks About the Ketogenic Diet - a podcast by Rob & Devon Dionne

Most nutritionists would agree that if you want to lose weight, you should try cutting out carbs and sugar. But what you replace them with — lean meats, tofu, steak, beans, etc. — remains an area of controversy.

On today’s show, we talk to Columbia-trained nutritionist Kristen Mancinelli about an ultra, ultra low-carb diet that hacks your body into using fat, instead of carbs, as fuel.

“The word ‘fat’ has an image problem,” Mancinelli says. “Fat the nutrient and fat the condition are two separate things.”

The fat-as-fuel diet Mancinelli champions is something called the Ketogenic diet. Somewhat similar to a Paleo diet, a Ketogenic diet emphasizes foods rich in natural fats and adequate in protein, and restricts foods high in carbohydrates (sugar and starches).

“Carbs don’t seem to be essential,” Mancinelli says.”You can train your body to use fat instead.”

In a Ketogenic diet, your body uses the fats you’ve stored for energy, instead of all the empty carbs you eat before working out. The diet recommends 20% protein, 5% carbs and 75% fat.

“How much fat you use is based on a complex hormonal system that is influenced by the foods you eat,” she says. “Even your gene expression is influenced by the foods you eat.”

Rob Dionne told Kristen he’s still eating Ketogenic to maintain his physique after winning first place in a national physique competition last year. “It’s not that hard; it’s an easy lifestyle that’s totally manageable.”

In the podcast, Kristen also discusses how the Ketogenic diet has been used to treat epilepsy and to help Navy Seals avoid seizures, and she talks about how the indigenous Masaai tribe, who have only eaten meat with saturated fat, haven’t had a recorded case of heart disease in their history.

Definitely a lot of fatty food for thought!

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Website of Rob & Devon Dionne