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volek - ketogenic diets and endurance athletes

8/14/2015

5 Comments

 
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At the end of "Run on Fat" we sign off with a heads up on Jeff Volek's FASTER Study. While the paper is yet to be published, the research findings are creeping into the public domain courtesy of some excellent presentations by the author.


The FASTER study is kinda like the sequel to Steve Phinney's work from the 1980s. Carb interested scientists (those whose income generally depends on the lore and the lucre of carb loading) have of course bashed Phinneys' earlier work and habitually refer to a lack of supporting science. That these same pillars of science habitually refuse to engage in any meaningful scientific research into the issue is of itself revealing.

The paradigms of objective research "excellence" these persons of science endorse, such as those established by Nestle and Gatorade, exist for one reason only. They are not there to make you run faster or longer or do great science. They exist to bolster positive perceptions of their products on the road to share price nirvana - and investor return.

If that is how the world works, it is not how science should work.

In this context, Volek's work is to be feared. It threatens to disrupt a tidy world where carbs and cash are king. If the narrative has been tightly controlled for decades, Volek has been standing on Phinney's shoulders and tap, tap, tapping at the window. 
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The best scientists I have met say "We don't know" - a lot. Volek says that a lot too. It's a very good sign. 

So, when one of Gatorade's scientists tells the world that "training low" might have a negative impact on your immune system and recovery rates, I want to ask him how he knows that?

Volek's work (see above) clearly shows the beneficial impact of a restricted carb diet on standard metabolic markers - including markers of inflammation. 

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As meticulously fat adapted athletes continue to report improved recovery rates, lowered inflammation and better body composition, I wonder why their narrative is written off? It's not as if no carbs are being consumed, right?


In practice, race or game day strategy for many athletes still involves some carb consumption. It's just nowhere near as much as the Gatorade and Nestle scientists are telling us.

That does not mean they are no longer fat adapted, nor does it counter Volek's work. It just means they are metabolically flexible.   


By demonstrating that well adapted athletes can metabolize fat for fuel way beyond what was originally thought to be humanly possible, the FASTER study will drive a bus through carb sponsored research in more ways than one.


Nestle and Gatorade know perception is everything. They also know that the BELIEF that voluminous carbs are essential for endurance performance is central to their business model.

It is now under attack.

And once that goes, everything is possible.
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5 Comments
Science Reflections link
8/30/2015 02:12:35 pm

Great article, that provides some exciting insight towards the way we view carbs. A colleague and I have been experimenting with a carb limited diet and we have seen great results. From my own personal experience, I noticed less inflammation and feelings of tiredness. I look forward to reading more!

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Theresa link
9/3/2015 05:32:56 pm

Personally, being fat adapted means that I don't have to think about fueling during my runs. Because I don't need any sugar, I just tote some water with electrolytes and maybe some energy bits. A cup of Bulletproof coffee before I get started certainly doesn't hurt.

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Lauren link
9/3/2015 07:39:36 pm

The best half marathon I ever ran was fat-adapted. Steady energy throughout and amazing recovery w no soreness, even though I didn't train as usual. I would have been moving very slowly the next day if I had been working w my old fueling plans. Thank you for the article. We need to spread the truth!

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Jim Doyle
11/1/2016 05:38:02 pm

I did Race around Ireland as a solo competitor which is 1350 miles fat adapted . You mention the word Belief which hides the word Lie which is what they have been telling us for years

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Kim link
2/22/2018 11:35:01 pm

I did a trial run for a Spartan Race, where I completed 12 of the more challenging obstacles. (And fell off one; I am not that bad ass.) I expected to wake up feeling like I had been hit by a truck, but I didn’t. My keto journey helped me a lot with my body and mind system.

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    Author

     -Donal O'Neill is the Producer of Cereal Killers (2013); Run on Fat - Cereal Killers 2 (2015); Co - Producer of The Big Fat Fix (2016); Co-author of The UK bestseller The Pioppi Diet (2017).

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