The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have arrived, and they’re sparking serious debate. Are we finally seeing a meaningful shift toward metabolic health? What do the guidelines get right, and where is there still room for improvement?

To unpack it all, Dr. Bret Scher is joined by two long-time voices in nutrition science: Dr. David Ludwig and Gary Taubes. Together, they dig into what the new guidelines get right, what they overlook, and what this all means for public health, clinical practice, and the food industry.

They explore:

1. The shifting stance on animal protein, and the controversy it’s stirred
2. A long-overdue move away from refined carbohydrates
3. Why the term “ultra-processed food” was intentionally left out
4. The important nod to low-carb diets for chronic disease
5. How school lunches and government food programs may (or may not) change
6. The tension between dietary health and environmental goals
7. Why robust clinical trials, not just policy documents, are urgently needed

This lively discussion blends agreement, disagreement, and deep insights into what these guidelines mean, not just on paper, but in real life. Whether you're a clinician, policymaker, parent, or just trying to eat healthier, this episode will help you rethink the “official” nutrition narrative.

👉 Subscribe to Metabolic Mind for more conversations covering metabolic health, nutrition, food as medicine, and more.

#MetabolicMind #FoodAsMedicine #DietaryGuidelines

👉Do you have a question about ketogenic therapy or metabolic psychiatry? Submit your question to our team here: metabolicmind.org/questions

Expert Featured:

Gary Taubes

1. taubes@gmail.com
2. https://x.com/garytaubes

Dr. David Ludwig

1. David.Ludwig@childrens.harvard.edu
2. https://x.com/davidludwigmd

Resources Mentioned:

1. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/

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Can a ketogenic diet affect cardiovascular risk? Do nuts belong in a low-carb diet? What about ice cream, supplements, and electrolytes?

In this episode of Metabolic Mailbag, Dr. Bret Scher tackles some of the most common and misunderstood questions about ketogenic therapy for metabolic and mental health. From concerns about LDL cholesterol to fears of liver and kidney damage, this conversation cuts through the noise with nuance, evidence, and practical guidance.

This episode covers:

1. LDL cholesterol spikes on a ketogenic diet: what’s normal, what’s not, and how to think beyond one lab number
2. Statins vs. individualized risk assessment (imaging, metabolic markers, trends over time)
3. How nuts fit into a ketogenic diet and when they become a problem
4. Ketogenic diets and liver/kidney health: what human data actually shows
5. “Good keto” vs. “bad keto” and the role of whole foods
6. Supplements, electrolytes, and when they’re truly needed
7. Snacking, sweeteners, keto desserts, and staying in ketosis

Whether you’re just starting a ketogenic diet or fine-tuning it for long-term metabolic or mental health, this episode offers clarity where confusion is common. By unpacking real-world questions with a clinical lens, Dr. Scher empowers you to think critically, personalize your approach, and make decisions rooted in human evidence—not fear or headlines.

Do you have more questions? Check out our other Mailbag Q&A episodes with Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Georgia Ede:

1. Episode 1: https://youtu.be/PDgM-SD3Fx4
2. Episode 2: https://youtu.be/3m6Fm0nXaMQ
3. Episode 3: https://youtu.be/UgaaYl6RPbs
4. Episode 4: https://youtu.be/roMq4YU58rc
5. Episode 5: https://youtu.be/_eSVU5_P7Ys
6. Episode 6: https://youtu.be/TcfGZ3m-lzE

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #MetabolicPsychiatry #QA

Expert Featured:

1. Dr. Bret Scher
2. https://x.com/bschermd

Is carb-loading really the key to endurance and performance? A groundbreaking 100-page publication led by Dr. Andrew Koutnik says it’s time to question the dogma.

For decades, athletes have been told that more carbs mean better performance. Strategies like carb-loading before and using sugary gels during exercise have become staples of endurance performance.

But recent research has unveiled a shocking truth. Many athletes, even those who look healthy on the outside, are showing glucose levels consistent with prediabetes on the inside.

In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher and Dr. Andrew Koutnik unpack the new landmark publication that challenges outdated sports nutrition guidelines and reveals another approach to fueling human performance.

📌 What you’ll learn:

1. How carb-loading is increasing the risk of prediabetes in fit, lean, athletes
2. How glycogen and carbohydrate intake have been mistaken as the primary predictors of performance
3. Why maintaining stable blood glucose is the real key to performance
4. A new model for fueling that prioritizes brain energy and metabolic health

This conversation is for athletes at every level, from elite competitors to everyday movers, and for anyone curious about how metabolism shapes performance, resilience, and long-term health.

👉 Subscribe to Metabolic Mind to stay up-to-date on the latest in metabolic health, ketogenic therapy, and mental wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/@metabolicmind.

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

📨 Sign up for the Metabolic Mind Newsletter for the latest research, science, and tools for metabolic therapy at https://www.metabolicmind.org/about-us/newsletter/

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #SportsNutrition

Expert Featured:

Dr. Andrew Koutnik

1. X.com/@AKoutnik
2. instagram.com/andrewkoutnikphd
3. youtube.com/andrewkoutnikphd
4. www.andrewkoutnik.com

Resources Mentioned:

Carbohydrate Ingestion on Exercise Metabolism and Physical Performance

1. https://doi.org/10.1210/endrev/bnaf038

Coalition For Metabolic Health