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This Metabolic Classroom lecture explores the often misunderstood world of nitrates and nitrites—compounds historically feared due to their association with processed meats.

Dr. Bikman presents a balanced examination of their biological role, historical use, and potential risks and benefits. While concerns remain over their conversion into carcinogenic nitrosamines (mainly in animal studies), the real-world human data is inconsistent and largely correlational. In fact, vegetables are the largest dietary source of nitrates—not processed meats.

Far from being mere preservatives, nitrates and nitrites play a key role in converting to nitric oxide in the body, which supports vascular health, mitochondrial function, and even insulin sensitivity. Human and animal studies suggest nitrates can improve mitochondrial efficiency, promote blood flow, and enhance insulin signaling via cyclic GMP and PKG pathways. They may also encourage the browning of fat tissue, supporting metabolic flexibility.

Despite the correlation-based cancer fears often cited in media and observational studies, Dr. Bikman emphasizes the importance of context, dose, and confounding variables. He argues that nitrates and nitrites are bioactive compounds with legitimate metabolic benefits—far from the health villains they’re often made out to be.

Show Notes/References:

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This Metabolic Classroom lecture with Dr. Bikman explores how the loss of estradiol during menopause affects five key metabolic systems: the brain, muscles, mitochondria, fat tissue, and inflammation.

Each of these systems relies on estradiol for optimal function, and its decline contributes to increased risk for cognitive impairment, muscle loss, reduced mitochondrial function, increased visceral fat, and systemic inflammation.

Ketones—particularly beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)—can provide a partial compensatory effect in each system. In the brain, BHB supports glucose metabolism, reduces neuroinflammation, and enhances neuroplasticity. In muscles, ketones reduce protein degradation and improve mitochondrial function. At the mitochondrial level, BHB promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and helps reduce oxidative stress through NRF2 activation.

The lecture also outlines how ketones affect fat tissue by promoting mitochondrial uncoupling and upregulating thermogenic genes like UCP1. Additionally, BHB helps reduce inflammation by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome. A final section reviews exogenous ketone strategies—salts, esters, acids, and MCTs—as potential tools to support women through menopause-related metabolic changes.

Show Notes/References:

For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber. You’ll enjoy real-time, livestream Metabolic Classroom access which includes live Q&A with Ben after the lecture, ad-free podcast episodes, show notes and references, online Office Hours access, Ben’s Research Review Podcast, and a searchable archive that includes all Metabolic Classroom episodes and Research Reviews. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com

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📢 Dr. Bikman’s Community & Coaching Site, Insulin IQ: https://insuliniq.com

and/or

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In this Metabolic Classroom lecture, Dr. Bikman explores the MTHFR gene and how common mutations can affect overall metabolic health. Ben explains the biochemical role of the MTHFR enzyme in the methylation cycle, its influence on homocysteine levels, and its downstream impact on DNA repair, neurotransmitter synthesis, and detoxification.

Ben also discusses how impaired MTHFR function contributes to oxidative stress and insulin resistance, particularly through its effect on the insulin receptor’s expression and membrane insertion. He draws attention to the connection between poor methylation and chronic conditions like fatigue, hormone imbalance, and even cardiovascular risk.

The lecture also provides practical strategies to support healthy methylation, including the use of methylated B vitamins (such as methylfolate and methylcobalamin), food sources like liver, and appropriate cooking methods for plant-based folate. His emphasis throughout is on using targeted nutrition and lifestyle choices to compensate for genetic vulnerabilities.

Show Notes/References:

For complete show notes and references, we invite you to become an Insider subscriber. You’ll enjoy real-time, livestream Metabolic Classroom access which includes live Q&A with Ben after the lecture, ad-free podcast episodes, show notes and references, online Office Hours access, Ben’s Research Review Podcast, and a searchable archive that includes all Metabolic Classroom episodes and Research Reviews. Learn more: https://www.benbikman.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.