Benjamin Bikman > Quotes

“Parkinson’s disease develops in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, a structure in the mid-brain that controls motor movement and reward functions. The cells here produce dopamine, and when they begin to die, the loss of dopa-mine causes movement issues.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“People who were treated with antipsychotic medications, which block dopamine receptors, develop insulin resistance and gain weight. In fact, up to 40% of people treated with antipsychotics may develop type 2 diabetes within five years. 29 Once people stop taking the medication, the insulin resistance disappears within weeks. 30”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“After all this, it’s no surprise that insulin is a much better predictor of type 2 diabetes than glucose, predicting the problem up to 20 years earlier.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“By now I hope that it's clear; though we often blame other factors, there is no single variable more relevant to heart disease than insulin resistance.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“Most people with insulin resistance will ultimately die from heart disease or other cardiovascular complications; others will develop Alzheimer’s disease, breast or prostate cancers, or any number of other lethal diseases.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“Like Alzheimer’s disease, part of the problem with migraines could be a “running on empty” scenario where the brain isn’t getting enough fuel38; when insulin isn’t working, glucose can’t get to the brain.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“Interestingly, however, we can use two of those numbers as a highly accurate indicator of LDL size—a “poor man’s” method, if you will. By dividing the level of triglycerides (in mg/dL) by HDL (in mg/dL; TG/HDL), we get a ratio that is surprisingly accurate in predicting LDL size. The lower the ratio (e.g., ~<2.0), the more prevalent the larger, buoyant LDL particles; that is to say, LDL A predominates. But as the ratio climbs (~>2.0), the small, dense LDL B particles are more common.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“Unsurprisingly, having the APOE4 phenotype was the most highly significant variable in people with Alzheimer disease”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“a study in humans found that the most insulin-resistant people had the lowest rates of dopamine production in their brains.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“Those with cardiovascular disease not identified with diabetes [i.e. insulin resistance] are simply undiagnosed.” 1 Where you find one, you find the other. 2”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“People with APOE4 are roughly 10 to 30 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease by their mid-70s.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“By now, I hope it is clear: though we often blame other factors, there is no single variable more relevant to heart disease than insulin resistance.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“By dividing the level of triglycerides (in mg/dL) by HDL (in mg/dL; TG/HDL), we get a ratio that is surprisingly accurate in predicting LDL size. The lower the ratio (e.g., ~<2.0), the more prevalent the larger, buoyant LDL particles; that is to say, LDL A predominates. But as the ratio climbs (~>2.0), the small, dense LDL B particles are more common.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“Each year, roughly 10 million people die from cancer and almost 20 million people die from heart disease around the world. Another 50 million people globally have Alzheimer’s disease, and almost a half a billion of us have diabetes.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“Common among all of its effects is insulin’s ability to have the cell make bigger things out of smaller things, a process known as anabolism. Insulin is an anabolic hormone.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“If your [fasting] insulin levels are on the low end (lower than around 6 microunits/milliliter or 41 picomoles/liter), it's a safe assumption that you're doing quite well and your insulin sensitivity is strong. You are either already adhering to smart lifestyle choices or you are young enough to get away with bad choices for now. If your insulin levels are moderately elevated (7-17 microunits/milliliter or 48 to 118 picomoles/liter), you should start making changes, particularly with the food you eat and how frequently you're eating. In the event your insulin is high (greater than 18 microunits/milliliter or 125 per picomoles/liter), you need to make changes today.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“A very helpful guide is the book Get Strong by two fit (and colorful) brothers, Al and Danny Kavadlo, or the You-Tube channel of Jerry Teixeira. To help you get started immediately, I’ve included a simple exercise plan in Appendix A.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“insulin resistance and cardiovascular disorders are almost inseparable.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“And yet, far beyond regulating our blood glucose, insulin has an effect on every cell in every tissue of the body—a pretty big audience! This is almost unheard of among hormones; usually they affect only one or perhaps a few organs, but not insulin—its heavy hand touches every cell.”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It

“Excess glucose is the only thing diabetes types 1 and 2 have in common; other than glucose, they are wildly different diseases with very different symptoms and progressions.)”
― Benjamin Bikman, Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease―and How to Fight It