XIX
DNRD them social cues
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2023
- Posts
- 297
- Reputation
- 202
Preface:
Following this philosophy, and the diet I've derived from it won't really do that much for your looks, unless applied throughout childhood (shocker). What it will help with is mitigating the side effects of roiding along side ancillaries, sleep quality, stabilizing blood sugar, reducing stress hormones, increasing metabolism and so on.
This thread was made with pure hatred after I was called an IQlet by @lumified @occipital @zennn @Stalker
This isn't intended as medical advice, and many of these ideas remain debated within nutrition science.
Metabolism:
In the diet world, most people consider calories, weight management, and macronutrient breakdowns. But Dr. Ray Peat looked at nutrition a different way, focusing on your cells’ ability to make energy.
That’s pretty much what everything else hinges on, from healing to aging to making your hormones function optimally.
Your “metabolism,” in Peat’s view, was less about how many calories you burn and more about how effectively your body turns food into bioavailable energy – and in the process, it uses ATP, which is basically our body’s energy currency. The higher your ATP production, Peat posited, the less the rest of your body is put under strain. Hormones will be less erratic, you’ll recover from illness much faster, and generally things just run much more smoothly. When ATP production dips, your body relies on stress hormones, and those may not be so good for your health long-term.
I see many nutrition experts focus on “fast metabolism.”
But for Ray Peat, this was less about burning calories fast and more about turning food into energy in a healthy, efficient manner. The best way to do that was oxidative metabolism of glucose, also known as aerobic metabolism or aerobic respiration. He especially championed these types of processes because it was how we achieved robust ATP levels without using excessive amounts of stress hormones like cortisol or adrenaline in the process.
It actually produces carbon dioxide, which he noted wasn't "waste," but in his work contributed to improving circulation, delivery of oxygen and also helped to improve a healthy physiological environment. He noted the positive effects it has for the regulation of parathyroid hormone, a hormone we will be addressing later.
Thyroid function → Metabolism:
It was clear that the thyroid gland played a vital role in cell-generated energy production for Ray Peat. His theory suggests that the more energy cells can generate from nutrients, and the less the strain of having to rely heavily on cortisol or stress hormones to function, the better it is for the body, which contributes to more favorable hormones throughout the endocrine system, especially thyroid functioning for metabolic health.
He emphasized the importance of monitoring body temperature and other indicators of cellular respiration over purely relying on blood tests to understand thyroid functioning.
Stress hormones and Energy:
What most people understand about metabolism is that high energy levels can sometimes be brought about by high amounts of stress hormones, which are actually mobilizing energy stored in fat or protein breakdown or gluconeogenesis in an effort to get you moving quickly in an emergency. However, this process eventually depletes valuable nutrient reserves and is not healthy for overall sustained energetic health. Stress hormones (adrenalin/cortisol etc.) when not needed constantly disrupt the body functions of repair and even in the functioning of certain enzymes in your endocrine system and can contribute to the body being under constant stress which may be linked to many chronic conditions over time.
His theory focused on what could be called "sustained energy" through metabolic processes rather than transient energy brought on by stress hormones (as when you are hungry, tired, running from danger, etc.)
This is an alternative to "burning calories" in the sense that the goal isn't to break down your body's reserves through stress hormones.
In this alternative metabolism, the body maintains its own consistent energy balance through appropriate food inputs and efficient functioning of the cell’s bio-energetic systems.
Why Peat recommended Carbohydrates:
One thing that many of us would be interested in learning is how exactly Dr. Ray Peat looked at why and when carbohydrates should be eaten. He viewed all types of sugar differently than what many of us were previously told to think, saying that it wasn’t all sugars that were harmful; rather, it depends on which ones were consumed and on their own or with other foods. He believed these natural sugars could be more helpful because they contributed to a more balanced metabolic environment where your cells can utilize them appropriately to produce much needed ATP.
He said that when you do this, you allow for the efficient utilization of not only your cellular stores of energy but also stored glycogen, thus increasing your liver to prevent your body from having to stimulate the body to produce stress hormones.
Saturated fat:
In his nutrition theories, Dr. Ray Peat was also well known for criticizing many of the polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) abundant in industrial seed oils that are still commonly found in many people’s kitchens today. Peat believed PUFAs were not easily utilized in our bodies and may lead to an overload of oxidative stress and an overproduction of other inflammatory byproducts in your body and may interfere with thyroid functioning in an elevated rate, which is bad in so many ways.
He supported the consumption of saturated fats which he found not so easily damaged by oxidative processes or excess heat, so many of his followers ate some saturated fat daily in the form of coconut oil and butter for instance.
Following this philosophy, and the diet I've derived from it won't really do that much for your looks, unless applied throughout childhood (shocker). What it will help with is mitigating the side effects of roiding along side ancillaries, sleep quality, stabilizing blood sugar, reducing stress hormones, increasing metabolism and so on.
This thread was made with pure hatred after I was called an IQlet by @lumified @occipital @zennn @Stalker
This isn't intended as medical advice, and many of these ideas remain debated within nutrition science.
Metabolism:
In the diet world, most people consider calories, weight management, and macronutrient breakdowns. But Dr. Ray Peat looked at nutrition a different way, focusing on your cells’ ability to make energy.
That’s pretty much what everything else hinges on, from healing to aging to making your hormones function optimally.
Your “metabolism,” in Peat’s view, was less about how many calories you burn and more about how effectively your body turns food into bioavailable energy – and in the process, it uses ATP, which is basically our body’s energy currency. The higher your ATP production, Peat posited, the less the rest of your body is put under strain. Hormones will be less erratic, you’ll recover from illness much faster, and generally things just run much more smoothly. When ATP production dips, your body relies on stress hormones, and those may not be so good for your health long-term.
I see many nutrition experts focus on “fast metabolism.”
But for Ray Peat, this was less about burning calories fast and more about turning food into energy in a healthy, efficient manner. The best way to do that was oxidative metabolism of glucose, also known as aerobic metabolism or aerobic respiration. He especially championed these types of processes because it was how we achieved robust ATP levels without using excessive amounts of stress hormones like cortisol or adrenaline in the process.
It actually produces carbon dioxide, which he noted wasn't "waste," but in his work contributed to improving circulation, delivery of oxygen and also helped to improve a healthy physiological environment. He noted the positive effects it has for the regulation of parathyroid hormone, a hormone we will be addressing later.
Thyroid function → Metabolism:
It was clear that the thyroid gland played a vital role in cell-generated energy production for Ray Peat. His theory suggests that the more energy cells can generate from nutrients, and the less the strain of having to rely heavily on cortisol or stress hormones to function, the better it is for the body, which contributes to more favorable hormones throughout the endocrine system, especially thyroid functioning for metabolic health.
He emphasized the importance of monitoring body temperature and other indicators of cellular respiration over purely relying on blood tests to understand thyroid functioning.
Stress hormones and Energy:
What most people understand about metabolism is that high energy levels can sometimes be brought about by high amounts of stress hormones, which are actually mobilizing energy stored in fat or protein breakdown or gluconeogenesis in an effort to get you moving quickly in an emergency. However, this process eventually depletes valuable nutrient reserves and is not healthy for overall sustained energetic health. Stress hormones (adrenalin/cortisol etc.) when not needed constantly disrupt the body functions of repair and even in the functioning of certain enzymes in your endocrine system and can contribute to the body being under constant stress which may be linked to many chronic conditions over time.
His theory focused on what could be called "sustained energy" through metabolic processes rather than transient energy brought on by stress hormones (as when you are hungry, tired, running from danger, etc.)
This is an alternative to "burning calories" in the sense that the goal isn't to break down your body's reserves through stress hormones.
In this alternative metabolism, the body maintains its own consistent energy balance through appropriate food inputs and efficient functioning of the cell’s bio-energetic systems.
Why Peat recommended Carbohydrates:
One thing that many of us would be interested in learning is how exactly Dr. Ray Peat looked at why and when carbohydrates should be eaten. He viewed all types of sugar differently than what many of us were previously told to think, saying that it wasn’t all sugars that were harmful; rather, it depends on which ones were consumed and on their own or with other foods. He believed these natural sugars could be more helpful because they contributed to a more balanced metabolic environment where your cells can utilize them appropriately to produce much needed ATP.
He said that when you do this, you allow for the efficient utilization of not only your cellular stores of energy but also stored glycogen, thus increasing your liver to prevent your body from having to stimulate the body to produce stress hormones.
Saturated fat:
In his nutrition theories, Dr. Ray Peat was also well known for criticizing many of the polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) abundant in industrial seed oils that are still commonly found in many people’s kitchens today. Peat believed PUFAs were not easily utilized in our bodies and may lead to an overload of oxidative stress and an overproduction of other inflammatory byproducts in your body and may interfere with thyroid functioning in an elevated rate, which is bad in so many ways.
He supported the consumption of saturated fats which he found not so easily damaged by oxidative processes or excess heat, so many of his followers ate some saturated fat daily in the form of coconut oil and butter for instance.
Protein and Gelatin
Ray Peat considered high-quality protein one of the foundations of good metabolic health.
He also recommended regular gelatin or collagen alongside muscle meat to improve amino acid balance. Gelatin is rich in glycine, which helps balance the amino acid profile of higher-methionine proteins.
He also recommended regular gelatin or collagen alongside muscle meat to improve amino acid balance. Gelatin is rich in glycine, which helps balance the amino acid profile of higher-methionine proteins.
Milk: One of Ray Peat’s Favorite Foods
One of Peat’s more well-known recommendations was milk.
He considered it one of the most nutritious foods because it provides protein, calcium, potassium, vitamins, and saturated fat in an easily absorbed form.
He believed dairy products could support metabolism by providing readily available calories and minerals while helping reduce excessive lipolysis between meals. For those who could not tolerate dairy, he acknowledged other options were available.
He also believed the balance of nutrients in milk made its calcium and potassium particularly beneficial for metabolic and endocrine health.
Cheese was another dairy food he frequently recommended.
He considered it one of the most nutritious foods because it provides protein, calcium, potassium, vitamins, and saturated fat in an easily absorbed form.
He believed dairy products could support metabolism by providing readily available calories and minerals while helping reduce excessive lipolysis between meals. For those who could not tolerate dairy, he acknowledged other options were available.
He also believed the balance of nutrients in milk made its calcium and potassium particularly beneficial for metabolic and endocrine health.
Cheese was another dairy food he frequently recommended.
Liver: A Nutrient-Dense Food
Ray Peat recommended eating liver because it is rich in essential micronutrients.
However, he suggested eating small amounts once every week or two rather than daily to avoid excessive vitamin A and copper intake.
However, he suggested eating small amounts once every week or two rather than daily to avoid excessive vitamin A and copper intake.
Coffee (with Sugar and Milk)
Ray Peat enjoyed coffee and believed caffeine could increase metabolic rate.
He recommended drinking coffee with milk and sugar because the added carbohydrates may help reduce the adrenaline response that caffeine can trigger when consumed alone.
He recommended drinking coffee with milk and sugar because the added carbohydrates may help reduce the adrenaline response that caffeine can trigger when consumed alone.
Measuring Metabolic Health
Rather than focusing on calories or macronutrients, Peat believed the goal was to support efficient cellular energy production.
Many people who follow Peat-inspired principles monitor resting pulse and body temperature as rough indicators of metabolic function and thyroid activity.
However, these measurements are only general indicators and should not be considered diagnostic tests.
Many people who follow Peat-inspired principles monitor resting pulse and body temperature as rough indicators of metabolic function and thyroid activity.
However, these measurements are only general indicators and should not be considered diagnostic tests.
All in all, this is a pretty gross oversimplification of peating, as stated previously but I'd say its a pretty good introduction.
If you wanna know more, look through his youtube archive, go on the peating forums and use this.
Last edited:
