Metabolic and Mental Health

My Battle with Carbs: How I Learned to Let Go of Anger and Take Control with Intellect and Intuition.

The unexpected lessons learned and actions taken when I discovered carbs and fiber weren’t essential nutrients for humans.

Overcoming Challenges with Personal Responsibility: How I Transformed Adversity into Opportunity

I wrote this story to share a transformative experience that ultimately improved my health and well-being using my intellect, intuition, and adversity quotient.

I intend to provide a brief overview of my exciting journey towards a healthier lifestyle, including critical points and practical tips with examples, without delving into unnecessary detail.

Three decades ago, I was surprised to learn that carbs and plant fiber were not essential nutrients. This revelation came as a shock to me and initially left me feeling angry and betrayed.

I felt misled and frustrated by the incorrect information that had caused me to develop a metabolic disorder and come close to becoming diabetic.

However, upon further reflection, I understood that the misinformation was not solely the fault of careless scientists and selfish businesses.

It was also due to the well-intentioned actions of my loved ones — my parents, teachers, friends, mentors, and colleagues — who had been misinformed themselves.

These innocent and loving people did not intend to harm me or hurt my feelings but were victims of the same deception.

Fortunately, I knew the importance of acceptance and forgiveness to heal and transform.

As I know acceptance was the starting point for healing, I accepted my setbacks and situation even though it hurt me badly during that time.

I’m grateful to have recognized the significance of acceptance and forgiveness in this process. Acceptance with forgiveness was a crucial step in my healing journey, even though it was a painful strategy.

I accepted responsibility for my own situation and forgave those who had contributed to it, as well as myself. This act of forgiveness and kindness gave me the mental and emotional space to seek viable solutions.

It is often through experiencing adversity that we come to appreciate the value of pleasure and happiness. The thought that we cannot fully appreciate joy without first experiencing pain can be a comforting one during times of struggle.

No, I was not angry or disappointed with carbs; I was angry with the behavior of humans.

I must clarify that my frustration was not directed toward carbs or fiber as a food group. Carbs can be a nutritious and valuable energy source for humans, and fiber can support the health of some people. I harbor no ill will toward any food.

Instead, my issue was with the misinformation and deception that had led me to believe that carbs were essential and had nearly caused me harm.

Leading journalists and writers such as Gary Taubes and Nina Teicholz have encountered similar feelings of frustration and disappointment due to this deception but have channeled those experiences into creating impactful works that inform and inspire the public.

I was disappointed by those who had misused the scientific method and presented false or misleading information to the public for their own gain. I was also angry with those businesses that used this information to exploit and profit from the suffering of others.

Furthermore, I was unhappy with those who had promoted unhealthy, refined carbs like fruit juice, donuts, and cakes as healthy options, even going so far as to offer them in hospitals to those with metabolic issues. These actions only served to worsen the struggles of already vulnerable individuals.

Due to various constraints, it is vital to note that not all carbs are equally suitable for all people. Nature did not design the human body to rely primarily on carbs for energy; even healthy carbs like fruit can be manipulated and made toxic to the body through juicing.

It was surprising to me that millions of people throughout history have survived and thrived without consuming refined carbs and dietary fiber, a non-essential nutrient that can even be classified as an “antinutrient.”

Taking personal responsibility to find practical and sustainable solutions in five steps.

1 — Started with healthy fats

Incorporating healthy fats into my diet and understanding their crucial role in cellular function was a transformative experience for me. By overcoming my fear of fat and cholesterol, I addressed my metabolic issues and made significant progress toward better health.

The human body requires adequate healthy fats for optimal functioning and overall well-being. However, it is also essential to consume fats in moderation, as excessive intake can negatively impact our physical and mental health.

Finding the right balance of healthy fats and refraining from unhealthy fats in our diet is crucial to maintaining optimal health. In my case, replacing carbs with healthy fats was a beneficial solution to my metabolic concerns.

2 — Adjusted protein quality and quantity

After focusing on fats, I turned to proteins as a critical aspect of my healing journey. Previously, I had neglected my protein intake in favor of non-essential carbs and fibers.

I was grateful to discover that proteins can provide the essential blood glucose that my body requires to support my brain and other organs. The process of gluconeogenesis, which allows the body to produce glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, was beneficial in this regard.

Understanding the importance of bioavailable proteins was crucial, and finding sources of bioavailable protein and dispelling misconceptions about animal protein helped me make informed, logical decisions about my protein intake.

By carefully and methodically customizing my protein needs, I was able to improve my energy levels, make my body more insulin sensitive, and address my metabolic issues.

It was also crucial for me to avoid consuming excessive amounts of protein, as excessive intake can be harmful, just like excessive intake of carbs or fats.

Personalized protein and fat ratios proved to be a successful solution for me, allowing me to lose belly fat and maintain lean muscle mass.

3 — Timed my meals and ate in a specific window.

Once I had established a healthy balance of macronutrients and micronutrients, the next crucial step was correctly timing my meals through a practice known as intermittent fasting. This involves eating within a specific time window and remaining fasted for a set period.

I found it easy to skip a meal when I was fueling my body with healthy fats for energy and protein for muscle maintenance and other bodily functions. By abstaining from breakfast for several months and relying on healthy fats, my body became fat-adapted.

Intermittent fasting not only helped me to regulate my eating patterns, but it also facilitated the production of ketones, which are known to have numerous health benefits such as metabolic flexibility.

Intermittent fasting can positively impact physiological and psychological processes. For example, it can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and even extend lifespan based on animal studies.

4 — Used the transformative power of ketosis and fat adaptation.

Fat adaptation is when the body becomes proficient at utilizing stored or dietary fat as an energy source rather than relying solely on glucose from carbohydrates.

This unique state has numerous benefits, including the ability of the brain to obtain energy from ketone bodies, such as β-hydroxybutyrate produced from stored or dietary body fat, known as ketosis.

Achieving fat adaptation can eliminate the need for extreme weight loss diets, expensive supplements, and intense workouts. Instead, you can maintain a healthy weight and lose excess fat through moderate physical activity and a nourishing diet without feeling overly stressed or restricted.

Furthermore, attaining ketosis and fat adaptation can have a wide range of positive effects on overall health and well-being. This includes improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, and even an increased lifespan, as indicated in animal studies.

This state is actually encoded in our DNA. It allowed our ancestors to survive times of famine by relying on stored body fat as an energy source through a process known as gluconeogenesis.

5 — Kept motivation with remarkable results.

After my body became fat-adapted, I experienced an abundance of energy even after several days without eating and remained active. My struggles with weight gain and muscle loss disappeared, and my mental clarity and positive mood improved.

My hormones and neurotransmitters were balanced. I experienced increased physical and cognitive reserves, reducing the risks for various metabolic, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological, and mental health disorders.

In addition, fat adaptation and ketosis triggered processes such as autophagy and mitophagy, which clear waste from cells and mitochondria, resulting in fresher cells and newer mitochondria.

These processes also helped to reduce my oxidative stress and alleviate chronic inflammation, including the symptoms of arthritis that had caused me pain and suffering for years.

My cardiovascular health improved, and my heart rate variability became excellent. Digestive issues such as bloating and stomach distention vanished. Fixing my leaky gut was a remarkable achievement.

I could fully enjoy my one nutritious meal daily with gratitude and joy. Perhaps most significantly, my anemia caused by nutritional deficiencies such as lack of vitamin B12 disappeared.

Fat adaptation and ketosis were so powerful that they even gave me the six-pack abs that I had been unable to achieve in my 20s.

They also helped to tighten and firm any loose skin that had resulted from my significant loss of visceral fat after replacing carbohydrates with healthy fats and plant fiber with animal fiber such as collagen with homemade bone broth.

I share my personal journey with the hope that it will inspire others to learn from my mistakes and create their own customized solutions with the support of professionals and loved ones.

By understanding the transformative power of ketosis and fat adaptation, you can optimize your health and well-being requirements and experience a truly fulfilling and joyful life. You don’t need to copy my protocol but gain awareness of my mistakes and approach.

This experience, while challenging, ultimately led to a transformative awakening. I am grateful for accepting my mistakes and taking timely action to solve my health problems.

Here are a dozen practical takeaways that may offer new perspectives if you want to consider customizing your own solution and transitioning from a sugar-burning to a fat-burning metabolism.

Key Takeaways from My Story

If you are carb-intolerant like me, you are not alone. You can get adequate and better calories from healthy fats and proteins in moderation.

It is important to recognize that carbs are not essential but can be useful energy sources for those who can tolerate them.

There is nothing inherently wrong with carbs, and it is okay to consume them in moderation from whole foods like vegetables and unprocessed fruits.

However, refined carbs from foods with empty calories are often the root cause of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type II diabetes.

To get adequate calories for your energy requirements, it is important to choose healthy fats in moderation.

Consume adequate and bioavailable proteins from whole foods.

Consider skipping a meal to prime the body for fat utilization.

Intermittent fasting or occasional long-term fasting with support from qualified healthcare professionals can help you enter ketosis and make your body fat adapted.

Stay hydrated and ensure to get adequate electrolytes in the absence of carbs.

During the transition period, you may experience keto-flu, so consume enough sodium, magnesium, and other essential minerals and vitamins.

Sleep issues during the transition can be addressed by creating a solid sleep regimen to lower stress and optimize cortisol levels.

Incorporate mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, visualizations, and working in a flow state to lower stress and anxiety.

This narrative is not intended to be prescriptive, as the approach and solutions I have found may not apply to everyone. Each person has their own unique needs and requirements.

However, we can all learn from one another’s mistakes and successes if we approach the subject open-mindedly and respectfully.

If you are a new reader and find this article valuable, you might check my holistic health and well-being stories reflecting on my reviews, observations, and decades of sensible experiments.

Sample Health Improvement Articles for New Readers

I write about various hormones and neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, GABA, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, adrenaline, glutamate, and histamine.

One of my goals as a writer is to raise awareness about the causes and risk factors of prevalent diseases that can lead to suffering and death for a large portion of the population.

To raise awareness about health issues, I have written several articles that present my holistic health findings from research, personal observations, and unique experiences. Below are links to these articles for easy access.

Metabolic Syndrome, Type II Diabetes, Fatty Liver Disease, Heart Disease, Strokes, Obesity, Liver Cancer, Autoimmune Disorders, Homocysteine, Lungs Health, Pancreas Health, Kidneys Health, NCDs, Infectious Diseases, Brain Health, Dementia, Depression, Brain Atrophy, Neonatal Disorders, Skin Health, Dental Health, Bone Health, Leaky Gut, Leaky Brain, Brain Fog, Chronic Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, Elevated Cortisol, Leptin Resistance, Anabolic Resistance, Cholesterol, High Triglycerides, Metabolic Disorders, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Thyroid Disorders, Anemia, cardiac output, and major disorders.

I also wrote about valuable nutrients. Here are the links for easy access:

Lutein/Zeaxanthin, Phosphatidylserine, Boron, Urolithin, taurine, citrulline malate, biotin, lithium orotate, alpha-lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, acetyl-l-carnitine, CoQ10, PQQ, NADH, TMG, creatine, choline, digestive enzymes, magnesium, zinc, hydrolyzed collagen, nootropics, pure nicotine, activated charcoal, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, Cod Liver Oil, and other nutrients to improve metabolism and mental health.

Disclaimer: Please note that my posts do not include professional or health advice. I document my reviews, observations, experiences, and perspectives only to provide information and create awareness.

I publish my lifestyle, health, and well-being stories on EUPHORIA. My focus is on metabolic, cellular, mitochondrial, and mental health. Here is my collection of Insightful Life Lessons from Personal Stories.

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