Bright Line Eating vs. The Ketogenic Diet

Recently, I’ve been getting a steady stream of requests for me to talk about the ketogenic diet. Watch this week’s vlog to hear my thoughts.

Comments

  1. Leslie

    Oh I agree!! I’VE been “keto” for years but I rarely eat bacon or butter. I am mostly veg, fish, chicken and a little bit of fat …olive oil.

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  2. Tim Davis

    Very good article on Keto Diet! I read a very interesting article that I would like to recommend to anyone interested in the topic: https://www.hupcfl.com/blog/

    Reply ·
  3. Susan Tappero

    I am sorry to see that this remains the most current vlog on the subject of the keto diet(s) since it was first made in October of 2016. I discovered the link to this topic in a set of videos introducing a new Reboot Rezoom thing for 2021! She certainly made some errors in her vlog that as a scientist, she should have corrected. OR, if it is because nobody is reading these comments and at least reporting back to Susan, that is also not a worthy behavior. I do like Susan’s energy, but this response is not in line with her claiming to be a scientist. Sad.

    Reply ·
    1. Bright Line Eating

      Hi, Susan! We are aware that this vlog didn’t sit quite right with some viewers. It may be time for Part 2. 🙂

      Reply ·
      1. Deb

        Please please make an update video … without the sarcasm. I’ve followed SPT for over a year and am an All Access member waiting for her maintenance courses. And this video is beneath her. I’ve shared many blogs but would not share this.

        Reply ·
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  5. Ari

    “Lol piss away”

    Reply ·
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  17. Judith

    Sad to see that Susan has NOT done her research before making this misinformed vlog that some folk will take as the gospel. Very disappointing. For example, older brains do not utilize glucose well and they CAN utilize ketones. Endurance athletes are switching to keto style eating so they can carry their energy supply on their bodies instead of loading up with carbs multiple times during an event. Yes, some people have lost weight with keto but that was never the way the lifestyle/diet came about. For centuries It has been used as a way to stop epileptic seizures. Hunter-gatherer tribes naturally go into ketosis when food is scarce. Most people today who follow a ketogenic lifestyle go in and out of ketosis at various times. Julie’s book list above is a good place for anyone interested to start reading about ketones and what they do for the body. For heaven’s sake, it seems that Susan Pierce Thompson would have at least looked up a few studies on Pub Med before publishing this inaccurate video.

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  18. Sara

    Thank you so much for this! I had been Bright Lines for a while but my boyfriend really wanted to try Keto. In order to reduce food prep times I agreed to try it with him for a month. I tried to do a healthier Keto with avocado and olive oil and a bit of coconut oil in my coffee. I carefully monitored all my micronutrient ratios to ensure I was getting the Keto ratio of fat to protein to carbs and stayed under 20 net carbs per day every single day for a month. I lost all of 2 pounds. That compares to 10 pounds I lost on BLE in my first month. My boyfriend lost 15 pounds but totally plateaued. I right this in support of your vlog to encourage others to stick with your healthy eating plan, and not try fads like Keto. Thank you for your book and all your work! You’ve changed mine and my Dad’s lives!

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  19. Julie

    You might want to update your ketogenic knowledge base by reading Dr. Dale Bredesen’s book The End of Alzheimer’s and Dr David Perlmutter ‘s book The Grain Brain and then add Dr Steven Gundry’s book The Plant Paradox. These are all profound reads for deeper research on ketogenic as I detected an almost sarcastic view point of it on your video. These books may help those who are still confused.

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  20. Malissa Kerr

    I was tested to show that my body does not process carbs well. So how does that come into play with with this.

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  21. Benjamin David Steele

    If you’re going to criticize a diet, first inform yourself about the diet. Don’t create a straw man to knock down.

    In the context of paleo diet and traditional foods, ketosis is just one factor and not sought as a permanent condition by most (unless they have a specific health issue such as treating seizures). For the average person, ketosis is simply a temporary method to lose weight or else part of occasional fasting.

    A major emphasis of the paleo/traditional view is to eat more healthy vegetables (organic, local, in season, etc) and healthy fats (including from vegetable sources such as avocados and coconuts), to such an extent that many eat more vegetables than the average vegetarian. There is nothing about the paleo, traditional, or ketogenic diets that require eating higher levels of protein and fat — rather, the point is to eat health protein and healthy fat, in place of unhealthy protein and unhealthy fat (along with avoiding unhealthy sugar, carbs, lectins, etc).

    All of this can even be done while being vegetarian and, in fact, many following these diets are vegetarian. I recently cooked an entire paleo-vegetarian meal (much of it ketogenic-friendly) for my brothers and their family who are all vegetarians.

    Reply ·
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  24. Mary Davis

    There are different, healthier reccomendatiins from various practioners, Dr Eric Berg reccomends a predominantly green vegetable diet (8 cups daily) and only 3 ounces of protein per meal. Whole food fats are not evil, our brains are pretty fatty, and we need healthy fats. The trouble is, nobody binges on broccoli, but fatty meats and bacon are more difficult to resist. Last night my BLE dinner was completely keto.

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  25. Elizabeth

    I lost 90 pounds on a medically supervised diet that was based on putting the body into ketosis. The macronutrient breakdown was 50% protein, 25% fat and 25% carb, by calories. But all of the protein was lean, all of the fat with healthy and plant-based, and nearly all of the carbs were leafy and green. I can guarantee that my weight loss was not water weight and I never felt better or had an easier time on any other diet. I got to completely forget about food and had absolutely zero hunger pangs – not kidding. Loved it. I was really disappointed to find this vlog and hear “bacon and butter” repeated over and over. That was not my diet. Susan came across as ill-informed to me.

    Reply ·
    1. Mary Davis

      Maybe Susan ran across Butter Bob’s vlog?

      Reply ·
  26. Connie

    I really hate kale! It’s been hard to stay away from sugar and flour. But I like the BLE diet because I can sort of eat normally. Meaning no special foods to buy. I am not doing great yet but I am trying!

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  27. Nicole Boxer

    I am diabetic and have found the ketogenic diet too deviated from what is familiar to me. What I like about Susan’s BLE plan is that it helps give me a a path and support for my binge eating disorder. I am going to try it, and I’m certain I will lose weight on it. However, if after getting closer to my goal weight (100 pounds from now), I am still struggling with diabetes control, than I will likely try the ketogenic diet (as opposed to medicine). Right now my a1c is 7.5. I am going to test it again after 3 months on BLE and go from there. Interestingly, BLE doesn’t necessarily exclude a ketogenic diet, in my opinion.

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  28. Kellie

    Hello Susan and all,
    Please note the Ketogenic diet was discovered early in the 20th century as a way to help control epilepsy. Please do not continue to refer to it as a diet for weight loss. This is a very strict medical diet that has helped many children reduce or eliminate seizures including my son. It has some similarities to BLE in that there is a reduction in sugar and everything is strictly weighed in scales. However, it is most definitely not bacon and butter, that is a gross misunderstanding.
    You misspoke on a few points and truly it should not be referred to as a weight loss diet nor should it be cmpared to BLE. It is a ratio diet that changes the body’s metabolism. And for some reason that the specialists still cannot explain, the ketosis eliminates seizures . We should support this strategy for all who tolerate it in order to reduce the destructive and harmful medications these children must endure. I encourage you all to watch First Do No Harm.

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  29. Bob Cobb

    Folks, do your research before you take this rant too seriously. Valid points are being made but she clearly hasn’t put in the homework concerning the concepts of a ketogenic diet. It makes me wonder if the author here has ever experienced what she claims to know so much about? I’m assuming not.

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  30. cK

    Folks, do your research before you take this rant too seriously. Valid points are being made but she clearly hasn’t put in the homework concerning the concepts of a ketogenic diet. It makes me wonder if the author here has ever experienced what she claims to know so much about? I’m assuming not.

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  31. Tom Louis

    How dreadfully misinformed both the writer and the commenters are about the nature of dietary fat benefits from animal proteins. so sad. KETOGENIC lifestyle has saved my life and sp many others.

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  32. Iris Jacobson

    I don’t see a lot of differece between Bright Line Eating and Dr. Gotts, No Sugar No Flour diet, and many others who preceeded Susan. I am disappointed they are not given credit for promoting the same diet that Bright Line is.
    I believe that if Susan really meant what she says regarding being authentic it should have been made clear that she did not come up with the diet.
    Yes, I know Susan tweaked it by combining more info from the 12 step diets but still Susan does cite research on studies some scientific studies. Yet she does not mention Dr Gotts diet.
    Seems disingenuous.
    I would also like clarification on what is meant at the end of the Bright Line Eating book when the research on diet participants shows that 84 % who completed boot camp where either loosing or maintainig goal weight. Big Deal. What about All of your dieters after one year. Is that 84% also? The description of your long term results is very unclear. And that is after bragging about how much research you and others are doing on those same diet results.
    Please ..another drink the Koolade we don’t need. Honesty please.

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  33. T. Robinson

    “Bacon and Butter” is the name of a Keto cookbook. I bet Susan was referring to the cookbook.

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  34. Jenna C Reed Livingston

    Thanks for this vlog, Susan. Reading through the comments has been interesting–lots of differing opinions out there. Question–is it possible to be on a keto diet as a vegan?

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  35. Laura

    Interesting. Bacon and butter is not the foundation for a ketogenic diet. Sorry but when you start mocking a diet plan without scientific proof and/or research you lost me. I have done the Keto diet and I don’t eat bacon and use butter sparingly utilizing other healthy oils. I do get carbs from my veggies and I leave fruit alone. Protein of course in small amounts and best of all I am not hungry, starving or craving. My blood sugars have normalized. My weight is going down. My A1C has dropped from a scary 8.9 to 6.9 in 3 months. I am healthier than I been in years. I dislike fear mongers which is exactly what you are doing. I didn’t have to pay any money for healthy living plan either, If BLE works for you great. I can tell you right now it would poison me if I ate sweet potatoes legumes and fruit. Hope this works for others but I will pass.

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  36. Dawn

    My observations BLE diet may work for some. Keto diet may work for some. Since each person has a unique chemistry I have observed that there is no such thing as one size fits all. I tried BLE. My sugars went crazy. Carbs from some plant based foods make my sugars go crazy. Sweet potatoes, carrots, any plants growing under ground are off limits for me. Absolutely no beans or legumes for me. Tried Keto diet. Sugars slid down to normal. However I don’t eat bacon or lots of butter. I eat lots of salads and greens. I use avocado oil, avocados, for fat. I don’t eat any processed prepackaged food. My protein intake is 3 Oz per meal. I don’t snack between meals. The results for myself have been amazing. But like I said each person needs to find the right plan for their body, mind, and soul.

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  37. Rhonda

    I’ve struggled with weight my entire life. Once I found the ketogenic diet, I lost 90 pounds easily (of fat, not water) while eating delicious food. I realized that I am extremely carb-sensitive, so any diet I tried before left me starving. I realized that in order to reach and maintain a normal weight, I would have to be starving all the time. Not so with the ketogenic diet! I am satisfied all the time, can eat whenever I’m hungry, and feel better than I have ever felt at 64. When I have eaten too many carbs, I immediately go back to feeling hungry all the time, even if I have just eaten. This is because my body converts from fat-burning to carb-burning, and I have blood sugar spikes and drops. On fat-burning mode, my blood sugar is stable. To me, it has been a life-saver, literally.

    What makes you think the ketogenic diet is low in plants? At least 80% of the volume of what I eat is plants! I eat 50 – 60 grams of protein a day, which is what my body requires–any extra is turned to fat. And the rest is good fats: coconut oil, olive oil, avocadoes, and yes, some butter, meat, and bacon from grass-fed animals. It takes only a little fat to make the vegetables (and a little meat) taste delicious. I think there are some misconceptions about the ketogenic diet here. I’ve been on it for two years, and will never go off.

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  38. Melanie

    I agree with another writer here, that Susan needs to not be so blaze in her comments. There are years of scientific research on the ketone diet & amazing benefits for brain illnesses. It is not just about loosing water either what a stupid thing to say. A proper ketone diet, is about eating quality limited fats, not huge amounts & there are stills carbs involved. I am sorry but I have lost faith in what you have to say. I understand your focus is purely weight loss, but getting information wrong like this is not helpful either.

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  39. Michele Fetter

    I was so thrilled to read this because two weeks ago I decided to jump on the Keto no diet. I have had headaches, upset belly and felt sluggish. I’m sick of bacon and eggs and I’m cheating. I refuse to go the butter and coconut oil in my one daily cup of coffee. I can’t see where sweet potatoes, an occasional night of pizza or a meal of pasta is going to kill me. Perhaps a moderate lower carb, less sugar, white flour plan is much more of a healthy, life long plan before I short circuit. The guilt over a piece of chocolate isn’t worth feeling like hell.

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  40. Linda Ramirez

    Excellent explanation
    Thank you
    Linda

    Reply ·
  41. Katharine

    HI Susan, Thank you for your honest answer. I think you are half right. Yes, sugar and flour are something we should definitely try to stay away from.
    But where I think you are half wrong is the ketogenic diet. There is so much information and research out there about the benefits of a ketogenic diet, particularly for healing cancer. Obviously keto doesn’t suit everyone, but I think you should have a look at the research before you speak more on keto.

    Also, I had an eating disorder for 25 years – I finally started to nourish my body and soul earlier this year, uncovered my limiting beliefs and no longer have an eating disorder. One of the things that kept me stuck in the eating disorder is exactly the type of “bright line eating” you recommend. It is the all or nothing approach, which for someone with an eating disorder is highly triggering – it’s the restriction mentality that leads to binges. I agree with you totally that sugar and flour are not good, but for people with an eating disorder, perhaps why they are eating these food is to fill an emotional void in their life, rather than purely being addicated to the substances. I think you should be quite wary how you market the “bright line” eating approach for while it may be good for some, for others with an eating disorder, it is not the way to go about loving your body and uncovering why you eating foods that are not good for you. As I said before, this feeling of deprivation (all or nothing) often triggers binges and feeling s of low self worth.

    Reply ·
    1. Ani Weaver

      Hello Katharine, what you are saying really resonates with me. Could you tell me more about your journey with limiting beliefs and being released from your eating disorder. My name is Ani and my email is ani@sonic.net.

      Reply ·
  42. Jarka

    Hi Susan!
    I’ll have to agree with some people here, that this is the first time since I started following you (oct last year), that I’m quite disappointed with your answer. Thanks to you, I’ve learned soooo much about nutrition, incl. ketogenic diet this year. I’ve never heard about it in terms of ‘losing weight’ and when you said ‘bacon&butter’ I thought, why are you concentrating on the worst fats? As far as I know, healthy (fats) keto diet is excellent for reversing Alzheimers and dementia and probably some other diseases. So for specific problems, it’s spot on.
    Still agree with you on the rest – eating loads of veggies; fruit and legumes.
    Love you!

    Reply ·
  43. Kathy Goodman

    Susan, thanks to this vlog I understand so much better. I want to thank you and keep them coming.

    Reply ·
  44. Teresa Benzwie

    I heard that the ketogenic diet can starve cancer. I do have Matastized breast cancer to the spine for 8 years. No symptoms and growing so slowly that the doctors say I won’t die from it but with it. I would like to rid it from my body altogether. So I have been on the ketogenic died for about 2 weeks. and have lost 5 pounds but losing weight is not my goal, getting rid of cancer is. Also my question would be if I do get rid of the cancer, would it come back if I stop the diet. I really don’t think it is the healthiest and agree with what you said in your talk. I would appreciate your response
    thank you

    Reply ·
    1. Rhonda

      The idea behind the ketogenic diet starving cancer is that cancer thrives on sugar. So if you cut sugar and refined carbohydrates out of your diet, the cancer will starve. I do happen to think that the ketogenic diet is very healthy for some people who do not tolerate carbs very well (like me). If you don’t want to lose weight, you can start adding in small amounts of more complex carbs like legumes and some grains. I lost 90 pounds on the ketogenic diet and when I didn’t want to lose any more weight, I added more of these carbs. I still kept losing, then discovered that a bowl of organic popcorn with grass-fed butter in the evening stopped my weight loss. No one ever needs to eat sugar and refined carbs, especially someone who has had cancer (also like me).

      Reply ·
  45. Constance Stamas

    THANK YOU for the sanity! That is what I so much appreciate about you and BLE!!!

    Reply ·
  46. Kim

    Thank you for opening this topic. I’m not sure you have the right idea about the ketogenic diet, though. It is not bacon and butter. Two years into living on a keto diet, I can tell you I eat more vegetables than ever. Think about replacing every flour product with a vegetable substitute. Instead of pasta, I have julienne zucchini or shredded cabbage. We don’t eat a lot of fruit, but I have vegetables at every meal. A legitimate ketogenic diet is rich and varied and much more than bacon and butter. In fact, bacon is a little cheat, because it’s processed with added nitrates or nitrites which we try to avoid. Please take another look before generalizing from popular myths.

    Reply ·
    1. Rhonda

      If you get organic grass-fed bacon, it will not be processed with nitrates. Healthier options are available. You’re right, it’s not something you want to have a lot of. I eat only 50 – 60 grams of protein a day, which is about 2 ounces of meat.

      Reply ·
  47. Crystal

    Thank you so much for clarifying the difference between ketogenic diets and BLE. I feet that ketogenic diets aren’t really good on your kidneys due to all the nitrous waste your kidney has to get rid of, at least that is what I remember from taking O-Chem.

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  48. Rosita

    Thanks Susan for keeping us informed , I never heard of this diet.
    Too much fat and grease is not good for the liver I believe.

    Reply ·
  49. Michele Gauthier

    Hi Susan
    In regards to your vlog about the keto diet, I’ve been on these kinds of diets and they don’t work for me because as food addict, I can’t control my eating and therefore take in way too many calories which results in 0 weight loss. When they say you can eat unlimited amounts they have no clue how much food a person who is a 10 on the food susceptibility scale can consume. I often see keto-friendly recipes that look delicious and I kid myself into thinking that I could make them because there’s no flour and real sugar in them. Well, I’ve tried some and they were great but….I couldn’t stop eating (especially the desserts) and ate myself into oblivion (definitely not healthy regardless of flour and sugar or not and once you surpass a certain amount of calories you don’t lose any weight at all. You can even gain weight.

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  50. sally

    I would LOVE to know more about BLE and Soy – I am NOT a dead animal eater but I also do NOT want GMO soy in my body either…what are the options with BLE? Thanks!!!

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  51. Lilly Medina

    Very informative! Thank you

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  52. Lilly Medina

    Very informative! …Thank you

    Reply ·
  53. Lauren

    I prefer and think BLE is a better approach, however I do think Susan has oversimplified the ketogenic diet. The reality is that both diets have protein, fat and plant carbs. The main difference is the proportions. In BLE the lion’s share is plant based and in a ketogenic it is protein and fat based.

    I realize these are big differences and an important delineation, but in all fairness, the ketogenic diet is not all about butter and bacon.

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  54. Stephanie S

    Regardless of the science, large amounts of ANY fat make me BINGE. The initial 10 b weight loss didn’t matter…I gained it all back & then some. BLE has literally quieted the binge/overeating monsters in my head!!!

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  55. Bridey

    I am really loving your vlogs and raw honesty you have in them. I respect your opinion as well as I realize there are other opinions out there. I love the idea of brightline eating but I couldn’t fully see investing that much money on another eating plan that doesn’t meet people were they are. I mean in diet. I am a wholefood vegan so I was at 1st glad to hear that a vegan lifestyle fits into your program. I know that fiber rich veggies are the best. I saw that your plan was fairly low fat though, and that is what sustains me most as a food addict. This was very discouraging since I feel there is no real help out there for me that fits. I’ve tried many ways of eating and the way similar to what you describe does not work for me. I have been following a wholefood vegan ketogenic diet for several months now and I feel better that I have felt in a long time. It staves off hunger and cravings, which is a huge help. I still need help though. Why can’t there be a program out there that fits your philosophy but meets people where they are in diet?

    Reply ·
  56. Chris

    Sorry, but you got the science wrong on this one. The amount of water loss associated with depletion of glycogen stores in the body (easily eliminated in 2-3 days or less) is only 2-3 pounds. After that, there is no more water loss driven by carb elimination as with ketosis. Based on your theory and taken to its logical extreme, we’d dry up and blow away if we did not eat carbs. Carbohydrates, as you suggest, are not a primary driver of cell hydration, and in fact it is the bipolarity of lipids (acid-methyl pairs as in triglycerides) that drive cell permeability, integrity and stability. To your statement, you CANNOT LOSE 10 POUNDS OF WATER SIMPLY BY ELIMINATING CARBS, unless you are simultaneously failing to consume fluids (which would cause dehydration with any macronutrient combination). Further, there is no such thing as an ESSENTIAL CARBOHYDRATE — and that is because your body can produce glycogen from protein (gluconeogenesis). While there may be nutritional reasons to eat foods with carbs, the carbs themselves aren’t one of those reasons — and certainly loss of water caused by refraining from carbs is not a valid reason either.

    Reply ·
  57. bouba

    I have been on a ketogenic diet for almost 3 years. I tried to persuade everyone of the theoretical wonders of the ketogenic diet. In fact, it left me completely drained, in adrenal burnout and latent hypothyroidism. And little joy of eating… even though I gained around 20 pounds! As no one trouser would fit anymore, I got on the Halie Pomroy Protocol skipping my mantra of keto, keto, keto…. and I lost 15 pounds in 3 month without any effort and got back much more energy. I do not believe that Insulin spike theory anymore. My fat gain made me as insulin resistent as too much carb intake. I’m shure that BLE is much healthier than keto.
    So maybe this contribution will help to awaken the keto freaks before they are in such a miserable condition like I was. I slowly recover. With much more pleasure in eating whole foods without all that fat! With jummy fruits and starchy veggies in all colours, not only green.

    Reply ·
  58. Zam

    There’s a lot of misinformation and half truths in this vlog. Most genuine experts in Keto eating will address the issues brought up here with their clients right at the start. The quality of information that you get is highly dependent on the source (real experts vs. the social media ‘home-made heroes’). The bacon and butter idea is simply used to (effectively) highlight the flawed science behind the high carb eating recommendations and to also persuade people that the diet doesn’t have to consist of unpronounceable and difficult to source ingredients. No GENUINE keto expert would ever recommend that this forms the basis of your diet. A high intake of vegetables is one of the keys to a healthy and balanced keto diet. The main issue is about facilitating change whilst managing the response to certain foods that some people have when their metabolism is damaged. Ideally vegetables would form the biggest amount of food eaten in terms of bulk. The keto diet tries to balance nutrient density and energy density of food along with the hormonal response to food. Fruit is limited because in most metabolically compromised people it triggers a massive insulin response. This certainly doesn’t mean that fruit is off the menu. It can be reintroduced depending on individual tolerance once metabolic issues are managed. Putting butter in your coffee has never been the basis of a keto diet. It’s simply a way to manipulate the macros in your diet to increase energy intake without increasing insulin response. Is it heathy or unhealthy? In isolation, it’s neither. You’d have to look at the whole picture to judge.

    The other consideration is that weight loss success is dependent on expectation and habit. You can’t change all the variables in people’s diet all at once. It’s too overwhelming. To be realistic in helping people lose weight successfully, you need to assess where someone starts. You have to look at the types of food they’re used to eating. No point in forcing people to eat something they can’t/won’t eat because it leads to failure. Look at priorities first and then deal with the specifics later on. Weight loss itself will make improvements in many health markers so we’d start with that rather than forcing people to eat in a completely foreign way. More vegetables, definitely. Fruit, at the start, is debatable and dependent on an individual’s response to carbohydrate levels. Once metabolic issues are managed along with weight and cravings, then we would introduce more vegetables and later on, fruit. If someone’s original diet is low in vegetables to start with, ANY increased intake is beneficial. If someone is significantly overweight and is used to eating bacon and butter, it’s more productive to cut out the more detrimental foods (excess processed carbs etc) than to force them to eat their vegetables.

    The idea that rapid weight loss on a ketogenic diet is a sham is disingenuous. Water loss is a well known initial reaction to cutting down carbs and no one in the keto community ever makes any claims otherwise.The idea that your cells would be ‘deprived’ of water is alarmist and wrong. The body is excellent at maintaining balance and only excess water is released. You’ll be fine without it. What the vlog doesn’t mention is that this only occurs right at the start of embarking on a keto diet. Accelerated fat loss occurs and this is supported by plenty of data. Research also shows that rapid weight loss leads to motivation so the water weight loss has the side benefit of increasing motivation to continue – not really a bad thing.

    The argument that the keto diet is a cure-all for diseases comes from the fact that people anecdotally report relief from some symptoms, particularly ones that arise from inflammatory conditions. It’s not the panacea that some claim it to be and responsible experts would never even go down that path so this aspect of the blog, I agree with but we need to separate the myth from the science and not tar everyone with the same brush.

    The claim in the vlog that carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for the body is also technically incorrect. Fat, carbs and protein are all able to be utilised by the body so they are ALL fuel sources. A more correct claim would be that carbs are the preferred fuel source although this doesn’t mean that carbs are the correct fuel source in all situations and for all conditions.

    We are a very long way from being able to make any claims about what promotes or inhibits neurogenesis in the hippocampus. If we were going to make claims based on scant research, we could also point to studies that show that thinking about sex promotes neurogenesis in the hippocampus regardless of whether you eat bacon or broccoli. It’s far too early to say that eating vegetables promotes this and eating saturated fat inhibits this. There simply not enough compelling evidence to do so.

    In diet and nutrition, it’s dangerous to talk in absolutes. One person’s medicine is another person’s poison. The claims about the detrimental effects of high saturated fat intake looks overblown. The studies that show detrimental effects have not been carried out within a ketogenic setting so there are other factors that may contribute to the results.

    We don’t know enough to definitively say what is right. The trend in health and nutrition is now is now to move towards a more individualised approach to eating. What we can say though is that the move to limit sugar intake and to increase consumption of a more plant based diet is a positive one but we are a long way away from a nutritional ‘unified’ theory. I think Susan has fallen into the trap of believing the hype without fully understanding the theory behind it.

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  59. Pam Prisbe

    Susan,

    What do you think of using Erythritol and Stevia and almond, coconut or garbanzo bean flours for making a dessert treat once in a while? Truvia is also now available at the supermarkets.
    So enjoy your blogs.
    Pam

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  60. Madeleine

    Can’t resist – have to respond as well!
    You say the ketogenic diet is a fad and you only loose water weight…. yet the number one premise in the ketogenic diet is cut out sugar and carbs…. you say that that won’t help in loosing weight? Or make you feel better?
    If anyone thinks that bacon and butter is all you eat on a keto plan, then they are seriously misled! And you just helped in spreading that!

    However, I am glad that you mentioned “in my opinion”, because “in my opinion” I love the keto diet. I would’ve probably loved and had successes on your plan too….because like it or not it is SOOOOO similar to a keto plan.

    Of course! If all your research of Keto said that all you eat is butter and bacon – then maybe you won’t think that. And that is ok – its your vlog!

    Reply ·
    1. Madeleine

      Actually you just helped me realize why so many people frown upon my choice of eating plan! Next time someone asks how I lost all this weight I’m not simply going to say Keto….. I’ll say – I cut out refined carbs and sugars and started eating good veggies!! I don’t need to promote any specific plan and I certainly don’t need anyone else’s incorrect assumption of said plan to try and derail me or change my mind.
      Thanks for that!!!

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  61. Bridget

    You don’t have a clue.
    Just to start with Atkins is definitely not unlimited protein.
    Secondly protein does not turn to glucose.
    Lastly on a ketogenic diet people do not eat copious amounts of fat. You seem to be confusing volume with energy count. It’s the number of calories derived from fat and because fat contains more than double the number of calories than protein or carb – you don’t need much ! Furthermore on a weightloss program , half the amount of the ” high fat ” comes from burned body fat.
    What you fail to point out too is that there is a big difference between a therapeutic ketogenic diet used for disease such as epilepsy and a diet that induces nutritional ketosis.
    There is a lot of research on this and some reading would be highly recommended before you put more misinformation into the public domaine.
    There are millions of people that could benefit from a ketogenic diet and distorting facts or not having the real facts on hand is really not helpful to anybody.
    As a health care professional who sees huge benefit to patients using nutritional ketosis to reverse lifestyle disease , this kind of nonsense really irritates me. It’s simply neither factual nor responsible to put out bad information just to push your own agenda.

    Reply ·
    1. Anita

      Gloconeogenesis!

      Reply ·
    2. Deanne

      I myself have been extremely impacted by the ketogenic lifestye. After 6 weeks my edema as well as my hypertension were GONE! Even if my weight loss continues more slowly, I can’t say this way of eating has been unhealthy.

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  62. Diana Heymann

    The ketogenic diet that I follow does not include bacon and butter. It encourages healthy fat consumption.:avocado, coconut, fatty fish that are small like sardines and anchovies, wild Alaskan salmon(because these fish have fewer contaminants i.e. heavy metals), nuts, seeds, and then on top of all those fats, lots of vegetables, particularly those that are green, and of course, a balance of legumes as well.

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  63. Dr. Georgie, ND

    Well, I must agree FAT TASTE BETTER THAN ANYTHING, SINCE IT CODED IN OUR GENE FOR SURVIVAL FOR FAMINE. !!!! You can have a chocolate bar BUT IF YOU ADD MUNCHED SOME NUTS THAT FULL OF FAT WITH IT, your brain just LIGHT UP LIKE COCAINE BRAIN !!!!
    We are CARBOHYDRATE METABOLIZER, when our mitochondria oxidized GLUCOSE FOR ENERGY WE GET 36 MOLECULES OF ATP (CELLULAR ELECTRICITY ) and the the WASTE BECOMES CO2 and WATER…………..IT CLEAN !!!!!!!! it CLEAN ENERGY. !!!!!!

    When we FORCES OUR BODY TO BURN FAT……………and in intermediates are called KETONE BODIES…………IT REALLY FILTHY !!!!!!……………iF YOU Don’t know what KETONES ARE……………..ACETONE IS ONE OF THEM..,…………THE SMALLEST KETONE !!!!………….THIS comes out of the BREATH OF DIABETICS WHEN THEY CANNOT UTILIZED GLUCOSE………………..instead of CO2 AND WATER. …………….. I THINK MANY OF US KNOW WHAT ACETONE IS………….IT NAIL POLISH REMOVER !!!!! …………………it like burning DIRTY COAL !!!! FOR THE BODY.

    Now, the only time KETONE BODIES ARE GOOD IS WHEN IT IS METABOLIZED BY THE GOOD GUT BACTERIA, FOR OUR COLON CELLS. THE COLON CELLS UTILIZED KETONE BODIE…………BUTYRATE INSTEAD OF GLUCOSE.

    THE brain CAN’T BURN FAT !!!!!……………IT NEED GLUCOSE….AND IT SUCKS UP 22% OF THE BLOOD GLUCOSE for it small size compare to the rest of the body. That why a diabetic can go into a COMA and die when glucose falls too low. But the brain CAN BURN FAT AFTER A MONTH OF STARVATION ……….IT NEEDS TO MAKE A SPECIAL ENZYME TO METABOLIZE IT………….don’t remember the enzyme name.

    Finally, the LIVER that will primary start burn ing the fat in keto diet is PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO REGULATE BLOOD GLUCOSE !!!!!! fIRST, THEN IT ALSO STORE GLYCOGEN……………….(GLUCOSE )……………..iT DOESN’T STORE FAT. ..iN FAT TOO FAT IN THE LIVER IS CALL FATTY LIVER………….AND IT THAT ONE CAUSE OF INSULIN RESISTANCE……………….

    Also your kidneys takes care of your protein…………..so too much protein DAMAGES THE KIDYNEY !!!! EVEN IF IT PLANT PROTEIN.
    sO YOU CAN GO with whatever you like………….but that does not mean it RIGHT………..at least FOR THE WAY WE WERE NATURALLY DESIGNED BY OUR CREATOR TO NOURISH OUR BODY………………..

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  64. Sd

    While I think she has done a ton of research it bothers me that she wants to “save the world
    ” thought their diet one person at a time…at the cost of $1,000 per person.

    Reply ·
  65. Willa Klyne

    Hi Susan,
    I love your work and am eagerly awaiting the publication of your book. I have a fat disorder called lipedema. It affects about 11% of women world wide but is relatively inheard of. If you haven’t already heard of it, you will soon as more and more people are becoming aware. Lipedemic fat is not normal and does not respond to diet or exercise. It cannot be dieted away. More and moe women with lipedema are finding that they can lose weight in ketogenesis. I lost 35 lbs on a ketogenic diet recommended to me by the vascular surgeon who diagnosed my lipedema. The book he reccommended is called Keto Clarity by Jimmy Moore. The weight came off very slowly, about 2 lbs per month. I haven’t been this slim in 30 years. And you are right. There is no scientific evidence to support this, the research has not been done yet. I am hoping Dr. Karen Herbst willlook into it at her rare fat disorder research facility in Arizona.

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  66. Melissa Kerby

    I think “bacon and butter” is more Paleo than Keto. My reading on keto – mostly from mercola.com – limits starchy veggies only (corn, white potatoes, winter squash, etc.), not all vegetables. Dr. Mercola recommends up to two pounds of non-starchy veggies daily, generous healthy fats, moderate clean protein, and limited fruit, based on individual size and needs.

    Reply ·
  67. Tammy

    Hello there!
    My comment , is also a question. If you are eating as a nutratarian isn’t that very similar to your philosophy? What are your ratios for eating?

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  68. Judy

    Hi Susan. I am a fan of yours and have huge respect for your hard work & the accessible genuine way you share your knowledge. This is the first time I have been very disappointed with how you presented this VlOG.

    You don’t have to feel threatened and put your blinkers on re Keto . Looking beyond & with out “already” on the alert to judge, rather than finding evidence to reinforce that BLE is superior. ie With LCHF & KETO.( unfortunately) ” bacon & butter” are banded about too much, so it is easy to criticize on that criteria. All recommend copious quantities of greens at least that is what I have absorbed from my lay reading of these suggested nutrition guidelines

    Your core principals and a medium level of Keto are working for me. I am 54 Happy Thin & Free . This is for the first time in my life .This is exciting, as I feel that finally I have made a permanent lifestyle change which I will continue to tweek as I learn more about nutrition & my own response to these lifestyle choices.
    Thank you to BLE for starting & KETO /BLE for keeping me on track. XXX

    I would love you to cover this topic again coming from a different approach. There may still be room to find flaws, but I did not find you credible in this VLOG

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  69. Beth

    I don’t agree that a healthy Ketogenic diet does not have lots of vegies. Yes you have have an abundance of vegetable that are lower carb, moderate protein and moderate fats. A person does not have to eat bacon and butter. Much harder to be vegetarian though.

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  70. Nancy Wilson

    There is so much info out their about weight loss diets that it is hard to filter through. Thank you so much for your opinion and your explanation. It just makes sense to eat nutrient based foods.

    Reply ·
  71. Hilda

    Thanks for this weeks vlog. I also am finding removing flour and sugar are healthier and more beneficial for weight loss.

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  72. Michael

    Hi, i really wish you had have done a bit more research before talking about a ketogenic diet as you have just mislead a bunch of people.

    Just like the vegan/vegetarian diet has a bad name unless well understood and executed the ketogenic diet is the same, but you actually muddled the science on this one.

    Is carbohydrate our natural fuel as you stated? Are babies carb dependant or fat adapted? Is breast milk ketogenic? I think its worth lookin into that.

    I understood the mission was to eliminate ultra processed foods and sugar so the planet becomes healthier, so let’s not go to war with each other by trashing one healthy option over another or it becomes pure commercialism.

    I know you are better than that and I wish you luck in your mission.

    Michael

    Reply ·
    1. Rhonda

      Breast milk is 39% carbs, 55% fat, and 6% protein. Babies need a lot of fat because their brains (mostly fat) and bodies are growing. When the low-fat diet craze hit a few decades ago, baby formulas were made low-fat. It was a big mistake that damaged some babies and led to a switch in the dogma to recommending that babies drink whole milk till they are two years old, then switching to skim. As we know now, even this was a mistake. Dave Asprey, the Bulletproof guy, has been ketogenic for a couple of decades now and has raised his kids on it–and they are healthy and very intelligent.

      Reply ·
  73. Susan Usai

    The Atkins plan DOES recommend modest protein consumption. When discussing this plan, it is helpful if you are familiar with the latest versions published.

    Reply ·
  74. Ellen

    I must say I don’t agree fully – some things have been overlooked or over simplified.

    I have been keto since january – not for weight loss – but because I believe it is a healthy – ancestral – way of eating. And I do eat lots of vegetables and greens, moderate protein – not bacon with butter but eggs with avocado e.g. and good fats like coconut cream and oil, olive oil on salads, avocados, nuts and seeds. And while Susan is right, that everybody will lose weight when they stop eating sugar and wheat on a keto diet people lose weight because the body is now using fat – from diet and body fat – as energy source – not glucose. It doesn’t have any other choice – so one burns off all that excess body fat . Fat provides over 200% more energy – that’s why people feel satisfied and energetic even if they create a SMALL calorie deficit to ensure weight loss.

    In regards to water loss – that also happens with every diet. I went into keto using the Ketopia program (www.nurtureness.fgxpress.com/#/ketopia) – so no starving or fasting for days or even weeks. The program asks you to drink lost of water as there is a huge detox effect happening when the fat cells “get burned” (and release stored toxins) – so the water loss is balanced by the intake. People burn 5kg/10pounds of body fat – no muscle loss – in 10 days and if they stay with a keto or even Paleo type lifestyle they don’t put it back on!

    That keto and fats are good for the brain has been known for nearly 100 years – it stops seizures in people with epilepsy and for the US Navi divers who breath pure oxygen. (university of South Florida has done lots of research on using exogenous ketones to get into ketosis for this effect). Babys are born in ketosis and get deeper into it when they have breast milk – they brain needs the fats for healthy development!

    And last but certainly not least – keto is the only diet to reverse Diabetes 2. It’s logical. It’s like people are gluten intolerant don’t eat gluten and so have no symptoms – if one is carb intolerant you just need to stop eating them and you won’t need to take drugs and more of them to fight the side effects ;o)

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  75. Tracy

    I love and respect you so much Susan! But I have to share my personal experience Last year I started a largely plant based anti inflammatory diet much like BLE. The first few months were good for weight loss. Everyday was truly an exercise in self control and I soon found my energy was gone and my body pain sky rocketed. I felt mentally and physically sluggish.

    All I could think about was eating. I was starving all the time. There were not enough veggies to fill me up without fat to anchor them. I felt that I was developing an eating disorder because I had to eat every hour and all I thought about was what I could eat next.

    In desperation I started Keto (no diary, or flour or sugar) and I immediately saw my energy escalate! My body pain is gone and I’m not sleeping all day. I feel great and I haven’t even “fat adapted” yet. My weight is down a bit, but I don’t even care because I feel so good! I realize this diet may not be for everyone, but for those with adrenal, thyroid and hormone issues, and brain disfunction like me it has been a relief.

    My appetite is gone. This is a luxurious way to eat. And I still get 6 cups of greens a day with lots of olive oil and coconut oil. Bacon and butter don’t really figure in to how I eat. I hope, dear Susan, you’re learning a bit more about Keto!

    Reply ·
    1. Chloe

      Just my own personal experience, I tried keto some years ago and LOVED it because my energy skyrocketed. I couldn’t believe how much better I felt. However I ended up gaining weight and I think that’s because I was eating way too much fat and even eating when I was not hungry to keep my ketones up. And as for how the diet began, it started with a doctor at Johns Hopkins that helped children with their epilepsy. For some children it greatly decreased their seizures. I have heard since then that that’s definitely not the case for all epileptic children though

      Reply ·
    2. Sue

      I feel the same way – I love and respect you Susan – a lot. But this VLOG was a huge disappointment to me. I totally agree with the no sugar & flour way of eating, but the body needs lots of good healthy fats to thrive, especially the brain. There’s where my personal experience comes in, which I won’t go into here, but suffice it to say I was vegetarian for 1 year in the past & I’m still suffering from the effects of it. What has gotten me back on the road to good health is when we found the good old-fashioned way of eating as explained here: http://www.westonaprice.org/
      As far as my husband & I are concerned there is nothing like it — we feel better than we have in many years.

      Also, who really & truly says the keto diet is “bacon & butter, bacon & butter”? I doubt that anyone does & hearing it portrayed as such sounds very unprofessional. Again, I’m truly disappointed in how this was handled.
      Although I am not a Keto follower, I do know that people who do, get phenomenal health results.
      Like one of the comments before me said, “Different strokes for different folks”. Everyone’s bodies are different and need to be respected as such.

      Reply ·
      1. Sue

        I would also like to add to my comment above, that by eating the Weston A Price (back-to-the-basics) diet (link above) I am no longer diabetic.. After 15 years of being insulin dependent and using 64 units of insulin a day at the on-set, I am now off of it totally for over a year. The healthy grass fed meats & dairy keep the level on my own insulin in my body very stable. And with the help of keeping sugar & flour out of my diet truly helps matters along.

        Reply ·
  76. Karen

    So right on very well said! Thank-you!!

    Reply ·
  77. Karen Brennan

    Susan
    I feel better with taking the MCT oil. Any thoughts on this with the BLE plan.

    Less hunger! Better BM’S.

    Thanks
    Karen

    Reply ·
  79. Enais

    The ketogenic diet does NOT eschew vegetables!! Nonstarchy vegetables are basically “free” carbohydrates. And nobody should eat as much protein as they want. Excess protein raises MTOR and is highly correlated with cancer. I basically live in a mild state of ketosis most of the time (can check with urine strips). I am at a weight I like, and I’m not currently losing weight. The keto diet can be a long-term solution. FYI, babies are born in a state of ketosis and remain so as long as breaskt milk is ther sole food.

    Reply ·
    1. Enais

      sorry about the typos, I dislike typing on the tiny keys on my phone ; )

      Reply ·
  80. Victoria Schneider

    I instinctively put myself into ketosis back in 1998 during my cancer experience. I had been a vegitarian for many years before I got diagnosed with late stage Hodgkins Lymphoma. There is some new research that is showing that vegitarians have more cancer and more drugs for depression than non vegitarians. http://drkaayladaniel.com/do-vegetarians-live-longer-dont-count-on-it/ This was research done in the country of Austria.

    But having said that, 100% believe in bio-individuality. We are not all the same and we need different things at different times. In the early 1970’s, Ketosis was developed by John Hopkins University for treatment of children that did not respond to anti-seizure medications. Being in ketosis slows down your brain waves like meditation does. Powerful. These kids were at Inuit levels: 80% saturated fat for calories. They were followed for their lives and no adverse reactions took place. Now, ketosis is being employed for terminal cancer. It worked for me. I did not follow standard of care, since that was also putting me at risk for long term survival, but that is a different story. I am not in ketosis, but certainly not vegitarian, never again. Like my son says, he eats like a vegitarian with tons of veggies but just adds in good proteins in fish, meat, poultry. I am totally NOT on board with veganism and I think it will bear out to be a very dangerous course, especially for growing children. I am totally happy with my BLE foods, I just don’t eat many carbs. I started with this October boot camp and have lost 7lbs in just over 2 weeks. It’s gonna work! And the support here, I hope, is the missing ingredient for long term success. Thanks for reading!

    Reply ·
    1. Angela Brown

      Interesting. If the ketosis treated children were children in the 70s will be curious how they age…
      Congrats on beating cancer and on your BLE success!

      Reply ·
  81. carrie

    Hi Susan, Thanks for your advice on eating health. Can you say if eating pop corn as a dessert safe for weight watchers. I substitute my cravings with pop corn because I heard it is not a high calorie snack. Thank you so much.

    Reply ·
  82. Cheryl

    It was unnecessary to mock people who have adopted or benefited from a ketogenic diet (or a variation thereof) and your “bacon and butter” story mocking your professional colleagues was totally unprofessional. There is room for different schools of thought and modifications for the many different people you claim to be committed to serving. Very disappointed, Susan.

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  83. Denise

    Wonderful message!!!

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  84. Hbj

    There’s lots of science regarding the Keto diet. I recommend a little more research it seems like you know just a bit and you might be helped if you read the research.

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  85. Barbara Foster

    SO MUCH MISINFORMATION AND BAD SCIENCE in comments. Thank-you Susan for your thoughts. Please folks the BEST nutrition info, evidence and science based can be easily accessed at NutritionFacts.org and Michael Gregor MDs “How Not to Die” book. And the website is free. And I am in no way benefiting from this referral. I just want to share the grounded empowerment available there.

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  86. Darlene Meath

    I have a daughter who needs to eat Keto because of a medical condition. I respect that you have stated that there are varied kinds of Keto but there are some plant variations that are very high in vegetables. You actually fill your plate with half vegetables. There are plenty of studies recommending this type of eating for specific reasons. If the weight loss was purely water from this kind of plan you wouldn’t see upwards of 100 pounds lost. I understand that you cannot recommend other forms of lifestyles when you feel that yours is the best. I just think that there was a better way of saying it without making fun of it. There are a lot of things that we don’t know about unless we actually look into it. Butter and bacon have their place but are not the major foods of the plan.

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  87. Gail Peters

    It is important to acknowledge that there are certain medical conditions that respond favorably to a ketogenic diet. It has been prescribed by doctors long before Atkins.

    Reply ·
  88. Carol Wheeler

    I am disappointed that you did not appear to research the Ketogenic diet before you shared your opinion about it . The Ketogenic diet was not originally designed for weight loss. Many diet plans can be successful if the plan is followed. Often a problem crops up because the plan is hard to follow. If people distort the Bright Line Eating plan, over indulge in some aspects of it, completely skip and ignore important suggestions, it will not be successful.
    The Ketogenic diet is very complicated. The average person would not take the time to understand such a complicated diet. Your experiences with Bright Line Eating have been very successful, and I am happy for you, and the many people you have helped. I feel along with your success, has also come big responsibility. Your opinion has great influence. One of the things that I have always liked so much about the things you have shared, is that you included the science behind what you had to say. It is my hope that this vlog will be a catalyst to prompt people to explore facts concerning what is involved in the Ketogenic diet, and the specific physical changes that are the result, rather than accepting your rather misguided opinion as fact.

    Reply ·
    1. Ellen

      she got a few things wrong.. I put a long reply further down as well.
      But I don’t think keto is complicated – I’ve been doing it for 10 month now. I used myfitnesspal app in the beginning to get an idea about the macros and then just trust. There is a great program to get you into keto fast and they have a products to take if you get out for any reason – just a drink and you are back within ONE hour ;o)

      (www.nurtureness.fgxpress.com/#/ketopia)

      Reply ·
  89. Cheryl

    The biggest and best statement here is Bio-Individuality. One man’s food is another man’s poison. This is why BLE has a susceptibility scale. I am a 6 on the scale and have committed to the eight week bootcamp. After the bootcamp, and I am continually losing, I agree with more fat, a little less fruit and grain, vegetable carbs and grass-fed, pasture and humanely raised animal protein, and only three meals a day. Also, I have had my DNA tested and I am supposed to eat pork and dairy for my body to function correctly, it’s what my ancestors ate and is part of me. What I absolutely love about BLE is the structure, and for eight weeks it helps it to set. After that, it feels to me, a little obsessive once you reach your goal weight. I understand that people who are higher on the scale need this. It has also helped with other areas in my life like impulse buying because now, I feel fulfilled. I had more of a problem with eating for the wrong reasons, and overeating as well as some addiction to sugar and flour.

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  90. Chris

    I do keto diet as I have been fighting cancer alternative style for 2 1/2 years. It has receded and went dormant. The diet includes tons of veges and small amount of low sugar fruits. It is to promote burning keytones instead of sugar. And yes I also eats fats but all grass fed and organic. I believe there is a balance there to be had.

    Reply ·
    1. Gigi

      Yes I was going to say that, that what I have been told also it’s the good fats advocado, olive oil , coconut oil and MTC oils are the oils that they are talking about. Then some fruit , veggies and good organic protein.
      I feel it’s kind of what we do right now except they do have more consumption of the good fats in the diet.

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  91. EVA

    Very interesting. You look very pretty and happy!!!

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  92. Coll

    I guess she doesn’t know that keto diet allows unlimited green veggies??? All kinds of protein and healthy fats too. Oh well. Ill stick to keto. Its changed my life in so many positive ways.

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  93. Wendy

    Obviously you have not done your homework on Ketogenisis, Susan. The science does not lie. Is it perhaps an eating plan currently getting much mainstream press which competes for your pound of flesh in the ever ongoing business of battling the bulge?

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  94. Ellen Rozics

    Please do NOT use this diet! I worked for the Epilepsy Association for 9 years and saw how miraculous this diet worked for people (mostly kids) with intractable seizures. It was typically used for less than a year or until seizires were under bettet control because the risk of damage to your liver and kidneys was so high (not to mention cholesterol through the roof). In addition this diet is heavy in animal proteins and fat which are linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc. This diet is best used for those with epilepsy, not the obese. The best, safest, and healthiest “diet” is the one that your body was designed by nature to thrive on…a whole foods plant based diet (WFPB)

    Reply ·
    1. Wendy

      WRONG.
      Do the research.

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  95. Katleen

    Thanks Susan for sharing your thoughts on this diet that is becoming more and more popular. I’ve been living the low carb/moderate protein/high fat diet now for 2 years. I started with a strict keto-adapted diet with truly 5-10g carbohydrates a day, a normal amount of protein and the rest … fat. My motivation was not “losing weight” but I was curious how my body would respond to this change. Over 6 months I fully transitioned into keto-adapted (it truly takes months for all our internal systems to fully adapt to this new way of using and generating fuel) and then adjusted my total daily intakes a little to 25 – 45 g of carbs a day, same amount of protein as before and rest fats. What I eat? Every meal exists of 75 % organic veggies with either pasture-raised eggs or grass-fed meat or a big salad with a mix of nuts. I use grass-fed ghee, extra virgin unrefined coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil and in some cases grass-fed butter. I daily add MCT-oil to at least 1 meal. What I don’t eat : dairy (with exception of the butter sometimes), any grains and legumes, pre-prepared foods, soda or diet-soda, any candy or pastries or protein bars etc you can buy in the store. And for any sweets, we make our own ice-cream or sugar-free chocolate from scratch without dairy. And I must say that my body and mind have never been more vibrant and healthy. I do believe though that anyone who wants to go “keto” will need to watch both carbs and protein and certainly mind the quality of the fats! It’s indeed not enough to just eating bacon and eggs and cheese 😉

    I totally love how you motivate us to leave out sugar and flour. Even this is a HUGE advantage to our bodies that I’m sure anyone will feel within days to weeks.
    Thank you 🙂

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  96. Hollie

    I have never heard of this diet, so I listened to Susan’s remarks and read down through the responses. I just started Boot Camp in September. What I don’t understand is if you paid money to get the help from BLE why are there so many people on here quibbling about this ketogenic diet? If you’re not going to follow BLE why are you here? I don’t mean to sound harsh but I’m invested in this. I want to read comments that are supporting my efforts not comments that are telling where all they are changing the BLE and what they’re eating instead. I put a tough week in coming off of sugar and flour, haven’t weighed myself yet, but I am seeing some changes. I understand if someone has to eat a certain way for a health reason (epilepsy, insulin, etc.). But I thought we were all on here to do the BLE program??!!

    Reply ·
    1. Diane

      You don’t have to be a paying BLE follower to sign up for Susan’s Vlogs.

      Reply ·
    2. Cathie

      Hi Hollie

      There are lots of ways to benefit from BLE. I joined BLE to be healed of my addiction to sugar and flour and to oversized portions. I benefit from the program’s rules about portions, accountability, learning healthy new psychological habits and, of course, abstinence from sugar and flour.

      I don’t follow the exact food list because my body does not do well on dairy, legumes (including soy, tempeh, etc) or more than a tiny bit of fruit. I’ve learned this from many, many years of trial and error. So, in fact, I thrive on a diet more closely aligned with keto than not. But I am completely on board with no sugar, no flour and tons of vegetables!!

      Hope this helps!

      Reply ·
    3. Anita

      I think most everyone here would support the views on BLE, but to trash a diet that has great benefits for some conditions.. such as type 2 diabetes, when it FITS within BLE is disappointing.. After all eating ‘bacon and butter’ is within the food BLs of this program so a non advocate could make the same observation about BLE

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  97. CollinBl

    Time to do more research on fat Susan, in forcing the body to burn fat the by product is Ketones – ask any Marathon runner. Check out Peter Attia MD!

    Reply ·
  98. Veronica Palcich

    You shouldn’t make fun of this diet until you’ve seen the results that people are getting on it. I know I spent $1000 on brightline eating, only lost 6 lbs and gained it back and more. I was starving and obsessing about food and sugar the whole time. Didn’t work for me. This KETO diet has been life changing for me. Lost 10 lbs first month and it keeps coming off. I’m no longer depressed. Cravings & obsession for binging and wanting candy are completely gone. I finally have freedom from sugar and for the first time from not cheating. Bottom line it works for people who try it. I’ll eat this way for the rest of my life!

    Reply ·
  99. Anthea

    Carbs are definitely not the enemy. Look at the longest lived cultures in the world – all plant-based and high carb. I’ve done BLE eating 30-40 ounces of fruit and veg at each meal, 3 x a day, lost all my excess weight and felt incredible.

    Reply ·
  100. Allie

    I was on a ketogenic diet and had great success with it. I lost over 40 pounds and there’s no way that was all water weight from my cells. The problem with the particular program I was on is that it’s not sustainable and they don’t teach you that it’s truly a lifestyle change. That’s what I love about BLE. I can do this for the rest of my life and feel good about that choice.

    The interesting part is that when I did that old program, we would pee on ketone test strips to make sure we were in fat burning and I’ve got some still left at home. I peed on one the other morning and after 2 1/2 weeks doing BLE, I’m in fat burning. Something to think about.

    Reply ·
  101. Peter Bucy

    Am I wrong for having Bullet proof coffee for breakfast with a large kale, spinach. broccoli salad with sardines for a late lunch followed by a salmon, Brussels-sprouts and green bean supper. Is this outside the Bright line eating plan? I think you are looking to the extreme with the ketogenic diet and not thinking as successful ketogenitc lifestyle.

    Reply ·
  102. Gill Kay

    I had been a life long mainly vegetarian for 25 years. 20 of those years were blighted by thyroid problems and chronic fatigue. I now eat keto mainly but of course with veggies and I feel wonderful. Susan doesn’t mention lectins which are present in many veggies and these can be toxic to many people. I find I just can’t process carbs very well and have to take digestive aids sometimes. A really easy meal for me would be beef casserole with veggies but no carbs, this makes me feel great. We are all so different as is our gut microbiome. I am British so my ancesters will probably be neanderthals, just think about it, where would you find kale, salad crops etc in the winter in northern Europe? ….. You wouldn’t and you would have been forced to hunt animals for food and that is probably why I am so good at digesting fats.
    Quite a few people have mentioned epilepsy and I have direct experience of this with my nephew who had up to half a dozen fits every day, that is apart from when he stayed with me. We could go all weekend without a fit. His brain needed saturated fat as does mine and beef works extremely well for me. However , I can see that some people can’t digest fats very well , thrive better with vegetables and should avoid meat. Perhaps they are linked to ancesters from tribes who had started basic farming and so became attuned to digesting cultivated crops…. See blood type diets for more info. There is no ‘right’ diet for everyone, we are all different.

    Reply ·
  103. BJ (Brenda Jeter)

    Really,

    There is so much more to the keto diet than just bacon and butter. Too be fair you should have talked a little more on other parts of the keto diet, good green stuff is also included in the eating plan, as well as some high fiber, lower sugar fruits.

    I think you have been unfair in your assessment of the keto diet.

    Still love ya!

    Reply ·
  104. Lorna

    I’ve stayed away from a keto diet since I’ve had Smart DNA testing and was told my body does not handle saturated fat well, and apparently there are many in the same boat. Also I’ve wondered if keto people get enuf carbs to feed their gut microbiome. You can join http://www.rebelhealthtribe.com for free and watch an entire microbiome series with Kiran Krishnan where he points out that if they don’t get enuf carbs they will start munching on the intestinal mucosal lining. (They also have a video on the keto diet.) I’ve also read that in general postmenopausal women do better with some carbs in the evening. It sounds like you really have to know what you’re doing to benefit from a keto plan.

    Reply ·
  105. Cathy

    Susan – I love that you get so pumped up! Where’s my pound of bacon for breakfast-NOT. NMF. (I don’t like bacon anyway) Thanks for the great information!

    Reply ·
  106. Cathy

    I agree 100% with you Suzan you’re right on the money

    Reply ·
  107. Sally

    I tried Keto – the macros are sooo hard to hit correctly and honestly, caused me a lot of stress. And Susan is right – you pee tons the first week, but the instant you tip your macros wrong, the scale goes up. I am a 3 on the susceptibility scale, but on high fat, low carb, I was so bored with the food, and I craved a bowel of oatmeal or a piece of fruit and if I cheated in the least, I would gain back what I had lost. I was constantly 5lbs down, then 3lbs up, then 1 down, 3 up. It was an emotional roller coaster and the scale reflected water weight, not fat loss.
    BLE is so, so very much more EMOTIONALLY satisfying. I had convinced myself that I could not lose weight if I ate over 20 grams of carbsI have been so THRILLED to introduce oats, a bit of potato, a ripe peach from my tree and not only lose weight, but be totally satisfied and HAPPY with my meal – I have truly been shocked! I would have never believed it if I had not tried it!
    I always wanted “something” when trying low carb/high fat. I was not hungry true, but my heart, my soul, was NEVER happy and satisfied. I just trudged through the plan with my head down, telling myself I HAD to do this for my health. 10 days into BLE eating, I am totally beginning to understand the HAPPY part of Happy, Thin and Free. I have really not missed flour and sugar at all – that fresh peach, Oats and a banana – oh, so worth it. And to be losing on top of it – bliss! This is going to be so much more sustainable for me, I can tell already.

    Reply ·
  108. Sarah Wells

    I have to add I love your comments Michael – I totally agree, well said!

    Reply ·
  109. Sarah Wells

    Like many have already said – the docs who write about a ketogenic diet for reducing insulin, managing cancer, seizures, alzheimers are also advocating a high plant based diet! I don’t eat bacon or butter, I also don’t eat grains and eat small amounts of legumes – I also don’t call my diet ketogenic but know that I cycle in and out of it. One does not need to be either in ketosis or out – you can cycle in and out for eg. with intermittent fasting and fasting and have higher and lower levels of ketones. I have found for myself and others, testing blood sugar before and after meals (and fasting insulin, A1C – through blood work) is a great way to determine how well you are managing your load of carbs and how to tweak this for your own best health. I have found Dr. Wahls, Dr. Perlmutter, Dr. Mercola and Dr. Fung have excellent detailed info on this.

    Reply ·
    1. Janet Riben, Sweden

      Fantastic information! Thanks Sarah. I listen to Dr. Perlmutter and Dr. Mercola but will not also take a look at the other two. I have also heard that testing blood sugar levels can be a help to know how one should tweak these ways of eating to best suit their personal body needs.

      Reply ·
      1. Anita

        Check out dietdoctor all those experts feature there and the scientific research is second to none for general listening..

        Reply ·
    2. Tracy

      I agree with Sarah completely – you can also check out Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt from Sweden (the Diet Doctor website), Dr. Ron Rosedale, Dr. Tim Noakes in South Africa (they call it “Banting” over there) as well as researchers like Dr. Jeff Volek and Dr. Stephen Phinney. There is a lot of good information and very well-done research on the ketogenic diet. The media seems to hype the idea of bacon and butter, but in reality, the ketogenic diet can be a very healthy, whole food, mostly plant-based diet with healthy fats from coconut oil, olive oil, flax seeds and chia seeds, and nuts (if you can control yourself!). Some people are super-sensitive to carbs (I am) and have to keep their carb levels and protein levels low in order to lose weight (I do). If you can eat grains and fruit and lose weight, then go for it and enjoy! The bottom line is that we are all unique…you just need to listen to your body and do what works for you. There isn’t one plan that fits everyone.

      Reply ·
  110. Erika

    I just signed up to receive your emails and vlogs. For the first time, I have found someone who makes sense, information that I understand when it comes to eating habits. I look forward to receiving more of your emails!

    Thank you!

    Erika

    Reply ·
  111. Dennis

    I have been following ur blog for some time and have enjoyed ur thoughtful wisdom

    However ur knowledge base of the keto genic lifestyle
    Is laughable

    I would say thanks for the laugh today except
    I’m a little concerned that you have effectively
    Misled insulin resistant folk from an approach
    That works

    Reply ·
  112. MariettA

    OMG Bacon and butter… LOL

    Reply ·
  113. Chris

    Any time a diet goes to extremes like this one, it usually isnt a good solution in the long term. If you are interested in learning more about it check out the blog at Precision Nutrition. Just search on ketones and youll find a nice overview of what it is and when it should be utilized.

    Reply ·
  114. Michael

    Feedback
    I wish the response on the Ketogenic diet was more credible. Citing some research would specifically support your views but dancing in generalities doesn’t improve the credibility of a response like this. It would be much better to define the two, discuss and contrast, and stay away from “I like” or “I dislike”

    Ketogenic research has focused on “net carbs” and so comparing carbs from plant-based sources is not very credible in this argument.

    There is plenty of research on Ketogenic diets and it’s relationship to specific diagnoses – ie. Alzheimers, dementia, type 2 diabetes, etc. – that can’t be brushed aside because many of us have read these studies and they’re very credible. There are many scientific studies of Ketogenic approaches that don’t tout “Bacon and Butter” so treating the subject as a popularized “my diet vs. your diet” and sticking it in the “weight loss” bin instead of the healthy lifestyle playground minimizes the subject matter and with it the credibility of the comment.

    You’re better off with a response that says, “There is a time and place for everything and ketosis plays a role in a healthy lifestyle if only through the application of fasting.” Being inclusive of subject matter will help retain credibility and audience.

    Reply ·
    1. Mary

      Great response, Michael! Keto works for me! Whereas I eat a small amount of bacon and butter, I mostly eat a large salad with coconut oil and MCT oil for lunch and for dinner 3 oz protein, 1/2 c non-starchy veggies, and 2 tbs rice/potato with berries for dessert . I don’t find it boring at all! I love my eating plan! So does my husband! His triglycerides dropped significantly. And both of us dropped 20+ pounds.

      I was shocked and disappointed to hear my hero Susan call my eating style a SHAM!

      Reply ·
      1. Rosie

        Mary eating rice / potato, even small amts, is NOT a ketogenic diet! Great that you have found what works for you, but true ketogenic would not allow any rice, preferably no potato, and especially not every day and in the evening!
        I agree it’s disappointing to see ketogenic reduced to ‘bacon and butter’, but just goes to show the modifications we all need to all the diets to cover everyone’s optimal situation. It’s the ‘one size fits all’ idea , whatever the promoted ‘one size’ is, that is the problem.
        What works even for one person may not work for that same person some years later. It takes consciousness and willingness to experiment and learning to listen to our bodies to know what works for us………plus of course our results.

        Good for you for finding your perfect fit!

        Reply ·
        1. Rhonda

          Nope, sorry, this is not right. “Ketogenic” means being in fat metabolism rather than carb metabolism. Everyone can eat some carbs and still be in fat metabolism. One can get a breathalizer that measures the amount of ketones on one’s breath. Different people can tolerate different amounts of carbs and still stay in ketosis. Most menopausal women can’t eat very many carbs and do this (including me) which limits their carb intake to mainly vegetables. But even when I was in the weight-loss phase, I ate 1/2 cup of rice a day and some starchy vegetables. Now that I’m done losing weight, I eat small amounts of legumes and other grains, and stay in ketosis. Some people who do heavy physical work like athletes and laborers can eat up to 300 grams of carbs a day and stay in ketosis. You’re absolutely right that different bodies need different things, and it’s up to us to figure out what that is for us.

          Reply ·
      2. Anita

        Me too Mary.

        Reply ·
    2. monique

      very smart comment. I agree with you.. these researches cannot be brushed over.

      Reply ·
    3. Diane

      Great response, Michael! There is plenty of research going back way before the discovery of epilepsy drugs that can’t be dismissed!

      Reply ·
    4. Gail Peters

      Thanks for your eloquence Michael. We all know there is ample research to support a number of positions. The shallow way these arguments were presented cause me to call into question the integrity of the program being promoted.

      Reply ·
      1. Rosie

        Agreed Gail, well said.

        Reply ·
    5. Leigh

      Thank you Michael.
      Susan disappointed me on this subject.
      Many new studies, nutritionists & scientists, PhD researchers, all types of doctors & well care “experts”could argue that “sham” is not an appropriate word.
      Also, “like & dislike” is opinion, not a realistic nor science based answer that is actually beneficial in helping anyone use their education & intuition to alter the BLE program to fit a more individual success in getting healthier.
      “Likes & dislikes” can all be science based with “proof”, but a successful teacher/presenter, needs to offer enough “correct” information on all or both sides to lead the listener on their own pathways toward finding their tweeks & adjustments.
      Healthier is the main goal, addiction & weight controls follow more as good side effects for doing what each individual needs to do at any given time period.
      Those needs change as the body progresses toward better mental, emotional, spiritual & physical good health.

      Reply ·
    6. Betty Campbell

      I have to point out that the person/persons asking wanted SUSAN’S OPINION. I’m sure they are well aware they could research scientific studies, but that’s obviously not what they wanted. They wanted Susan’s opinion.

      Reply ·
    7. Alison

      Well said, Michael.

      Reply ·
  115. Maria Sangiorgi

    It is a tragedy that people persist with these kind of unbalanced animal based diets as a solution to loosing weight or good health. on my BLE weight loss plan I actually do eat a little more fat than recommended. It is olives, avocado, olive oil and such. I feel these are the foods of the gods and my weight is still going down at a good rate. I also totally believe that fruit and vegetable are medicine. I do eat meat and fish but not a lot, I feel the protein is the side dish and the veggies and fruit are the main. I can feel them feeding my body with goodness. LIke the person above I feel I need more fats but I also need more fruit. But people go over board. I have always been drawn to fruit and veg, even when I used to go on a flour, sugar cake binge fest, i would have to still eat vegetables and fruit, my body and soul insisted

    Reply ·
  116. Melissa

    I was doing a Keto diet for six weeks prior to starting BLE and I think the transition to BLE has been easier as I was already off the sugar and most flour. On BLE I feel better too. Less tired & dizzy. Perfect timing on today’s topic Susan! ❤️

    Reply ·
  117. Mary

    Thank you so much for this, Susan! So important to get this science-supported information out.

    Reply ·
  118. Susan

    Ketogenic Diet sounds like it would be a boring food plan and would not be able to stay on program for long.

    Reply ·
    1. Rhonda

      Not boring at all! Vegetables, berries, healthy meats, small amounts of legumes and grains, as much healthy fat as you want, even raw dairy products and cheese!

      Reply ·
  119. Deborah Genovesi

    As Susan mentioned, the ketogenic diet is not all bacon and butter, although implying butter and saturated fat are bad for us is not based on current science. I agree that eating plenty of whole food veggies and some fruit is a great idea (and the keto diet does not prohibit that), and eliminating sugar and flour is a no-brainer and a life saver.

    However, eating animal protein (as long as it’s organic, grass fed, not filled with hormones or nitrates) and healthy fats (avocado, organic butter, olive oil, nuts) works very well for some, including myself. I had trouble losing on BLE until I shifted to less fruit, more fat and no grain. Happy to be celebrating a 45 lb loss since the Feb bootcamp and have been maintaining for a couple of months now!

    My point–different strokes for different folks. Our bodies are not all 100% calibrated the same way. There is a way to combine ideas from the keto diet and BLE. I have and it has worked very well for me.

    Reply ·
    1. Jen

      I completely agree with you. I have been doing ketogenic the healthy way. Not bacon and butter (I am a vegetarian). Healthy fats. Coconut oil, avocado, nut butters..etc. My Cholesterol dropped 29 points in 3 weeks ! Not that it was bad to begin with, but still dropped. You can still eat Kale on the ketogenic diet. It is carbs-fiber=total carbs.

      Reply ·
    2. Casey

      Congrats to you Deborah! I appreciate the points you made here.

      Reply ·
    3. Diane

      Deborah, I totally agree and have experienced a drop in my A1C eating healthy, organic fats and meats as well as a drop in LDL and increase in HDL. I am following BLE but am very mindful about the kinds of fruits (high glycemic vs. low glycemic), fats and meats that I eat. I order grass fed, hormone free beef, pork and butter. I DON’T touch vegetable oils or margarine! Sadly, all fats have been vilified!

      Reply ·
    4. Karen

      Thanks so much for your comments. I think others are experiencing slow weight loss on BLE as you did. Your feedback may be very helpful for them, as well. congratulations on losing and keeping off 45 lbs!!

      Reply ·
    5. Fred Brillante

      We are all human! Literally hundreds of studies showing that bacon and butter animal based fat die faster and develop cancer in a higher percentage to those following a plant based diet. Read the China Study and you will see just the tip of the iceberg. No real large long term studies showing animal fat to help with your health.

      Reply ·
      1. Maria Sangiorgi

        thanks fred

        Reply ·
      2. Beki

        pastured/grass-fed?

        Reply ·
      3. Anita

        Check Denise Minger’s take on the China study!

        Reply ·
      4. Gwen

        Thank you. It doesn’t matter what someone’s “take” on the China Study is. There are hundreds of studies that support plant based eating , as you’ve pointed out.

        Reply ·
        1. Rhonda

          The point is that a lot of these studies (including the China study) did not differentiate healthy animal products from unhealthy. Any proponent of the ketogenic diet will tell you that eating commercially processed animal products is unhealthy, whereas organic products from grass-fed animals that have had a good life and a good death are healthy–but not in unlimited quantities. In fact, the ketogenic diet is mostly plant-based. 80% of the volume of food I eat is plants–mostly vegetables (including some starchy ones) and berries. I also eat small quantities of legumes and grains since I have lost all the weight I want to lose. When reading a study that “proves” plant based eating is better than meat, ask yourself whether the study specified healthy animal products or not. If not, most likely commercial meat products were used.

          Reply ·
    6. Dylan

      On any diet I feel you need to check in with your body (Intuitive Eating) & let it guide you in the right direction. Your body will always tell you what it exactly needs.

      Reply ·
    7. Stacy

      Is there any way you could give me more info on how you’ve combined keto and ble? I am so interested but not sure where to begin!

      Reply ·
  120. Janet Zampieri

    The Ketogenic Diet that I keep hearing about is a LOT of vegetables, not much fruit, and HEALTHY fats – avocados, nuts, olives, coconut products, nuts, seeds. And yes, bacon and butter, and other animal products, but only if they are from pastured healthy animals. The myth that fats are not healthy was brought to us by the sugar industry, and then truly made unhealthy by factory farming and the manufacturing of soy/canola/corn oils.

    Reply ·
    1. Lauren

      Thank you. Yes! I follow the BLE program and have had great success, but I do not eat grains or legumes in any form. I am still able to follow their recommendations with the one. Modification being that I do not eat a grain with breakfast, and eat only whole foods, protein that is pasture raised and organic, and mostly plant based fats (no bacon involved). It has helped resolve a multitude of health concerns for me and I have lost 55 pounds.

      Reply ·
      1. Dylan

        I agree with you on the grains for breakfast. I just prefer & feel healthier eating a protein, a fruit & a healthy fat (like coconut flakes in the morning. I don’t always want to eat a grain. I think losing weight on BLE is mostly about cutting out all sugar & flour and no snacking & nibbling in-between meals.

        Reply ·
        1. Perry

          That seems like that is exactly what it’s about Dylan! It’s all in the marketing and this company is doing a great job! If it gets people off the poison and into life, than that’s Kudos, but in the BLE before & after photos (& I’m trying not to be mean) but the after photos seem to look a lot older, could it be there is not enough fat in the diet?

          Reply ·
          1. Judy

            Perry, I had the same reaction to the photos! Everyone was thinner, but most looked older.

    2. Janet Riben, Sweden

      Thanks Janet. I have also heard it as you describe. Tonight I’ve made an incredible dish with lots of spices and chickpeas – a curry dish. But I am aware as most of us are, that there is no one way of eating that fits all – we are all different. At Institute for Integrative Nutrition we call it bio-individuality.

      Reply ·
  121. Amy Stapleton

    Agree’s. very interesting , thanks for sharing.

    Reply ·
  122. Deborah W.

    Thank you for clearing up the fog, Susan! I’ll play the vlog over a few more times to be sure ‘I’ve got it!’ I love your clarity Susan. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    Reply ·
  123. stacey

    Awesome! Thanks for addressing this question. My breakfast is homemade refried beans, avocado, homemade sauerkraut and greens sautéed in garlic all which I top with hemp seeds and sprouted pumpkin seeds and a squeeze of lemon. The meal was “keto” / BLE inspired… and makes me feel like a million bucks! There are vegan ketos out there who are just as religious as the butter and bacon folks. Something to “chew” on.

    Reply ·
  124. Megan

    I agree in principal with your answer in relation to weight loss and good common sense eating for the generally healthy person. There are times when a supervised medical ketogenic diet has been successfully used for treating seizure disorders/epilepsy and in an integrated treatment protocol for some cancers.

    Reply ·
    1. Deborah W.

      If a medically supervised ketogenic diet is successfully therapeutic, just imagine the the leaps and strides that would be made with the BLE way of eating!

      Reply ·
  125. Jane Owen

    As I understood it–the ketogenic diet is mainly to prevent –or slow down Alsheimer’s and dementia. Loss of weight is a side benefit.

    Reply ·
    1. BEKI

      The keto diet is (literally) a lifesaver for prediabetes and diabetes (type 2). Many people are able to come off of their medications very quickly. In addition, their heart risk factors normalize and become quite healthy.
      Most Keto proponents utilize healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil, Etc. And as far as saturated fats, stick to grass-fed beef. Saturated fats in and of themselves have been shown to not be the risk factor that many have thought for a long time. Just like foods with cholesterol (think eggs).
      And, most keto proponents that I know of are very heavily plant dependent. They would just stay away from the starchier plants such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, and so on.

      Reply ·
      1. Margaret Becker

        I just have to comment that nothing has made my blood sugar lower and stabilize as well as the BLE program has.

        Reply ·
    2. Sarah Hancock

      I’ve also heard that it’s a good diet for epilepsy.

      Reply ·
      1. Helga Seemann

        Thats true, and it is done more than 50 years ago and well documented

        Reply ·
        1. Hg franks

          The “keto diet” phrase was first coined in 1876 in the letter on corpulence … so there nothing “faddish” about it. Also it was the one and only original prescription for diabetes before insulin was ever and as far as neurogenesis this would directly contradict Dr. Dagostino‘s work Considering that he was hired by the US military to repair Navy SEALs brains with ketosis and key tones .
          Not only that but putting butter or pure fat in your coffee or whatever drink you want to have is ithis is an old old old tradition in other cultures. Equally as Mrs. informative is the fact that on the ketogenic weight eating at least 2 cups of leafy greens are required every day in addition to other vegetables . I like the great anyone that stops in flour and sugar is going to repair their body and gain health ketogenic way of eating is therapeutic to reduce it to bacon and butter ha ha Ha is just plain nonsense And I’m sure sells more books and signs up more consultants. People in the keto field and primal ancestral field know their science because they get so much flack from the plant-based eaters. There is no way that you can kick your sugar addiction by eating what’s the fruit that isn’t even scientific and doesn’t address the psychological patterns.

          Reply ·
    3. Gwen

      It’s the opposite 🙂

      Reply ·
  126. FRANCINE

    OMG THE FATS ARE NOT HEALTHY…THINK ABOUT YOUR ARTERIES AND HEART !!!! THANK YOU BLE FOR KEEPING ME HEALTHIER…NO DOUBT….SUGARS FOR DIABETICS GO UP FROM FAT AS WELL…….<3

    Reply ·
    1. Diane

      Francine, I have to disagree with you. Not all fats are unhealthy. Yes, margarine and vegetable oils are. And yes, blood sugar goes up eating fat and protein but they are key to keeping your blood sugar stable. When you eat carbs without fat and protein, your blood sugar spikes and crashes. When you eat a fat and protein with the carbs it goes up in response to eating but falls at a steady rate when you’re finished. Not all carbs are created equal. Sugar and flour are the culprits that cause the rapid and large increase in blood sugar and the subsequent crash. Carbs, protein, and fats are the three macronutrients that we all need. Carbs for energy, proteins to rebuild tissue, and fats to maintain cell membranes and facilitate vitamin absorption. Being sugar free is so much more important than being fat free! Our society has unjustly vilified all fats!

      Reply ·
      1. Margaret

        Great explanation. I agree. I lost 20 lbs on the Southbeach diet then stalled. Then I added good fats and lost another10 lbs in a few months. High fat makes you not hungry.

        Reply ·
    2. Ellen

      Sugar does not go up from fat!!! A keto diet is the ONLY lifestyle to reverse Type 2 Diabetes. This whole thing of fats are bad is BS – and everybody knows that these days! Good fast are healthy – very!
      On a keto diet you burn fat fast and safely as your body lives from ketones from that fat.

      Reply ·
      1. Fred Brillante

        Not quite true. Lots and lots of science shows that low fat vegan plant based diet will reverse type 2 diabetes. But your saying that the only diet to reverse type 2 diabetes is a keto diet is simply not true at all.

        Reply ·
      2. Caroline

        Ellen,I did the keto diet by a well know woman and cookbook she wrote(Costco)
        for 3weeks before stopping. …my cholesterol rose significantly,my hair feel out. Yes initially I lost 7 pounds,but at what cost?
        My body was weakened….maybe this doesn’t happen to everyone….but who gets those results from mostly plant based meals? No one… so weight loss or loss of health? It’s just not for everyone.

        Reply ·
        1. Di

          If you did read a bit about keto, as well as about metabolic changes associated with deep changes in diet you would know that hair fall is more than common in ANY DIETARY CHANGE and its transitory. Same for cholesterol, it can raise during the first months and then stabilise. More than total cholesterol, particle size is what matters. In keto, HDL tends to increase and triglycerides to decrease. as for LDL it varies but usually small and dense particles decrease (yeyyyy) and large, less dense increase thereby increasing TOTAL cholesterol, which says nothing at all. I am on a ketogenic diet for the past two years, and my lipid profile is better than ever. In fact my cardiologist now approved keto after seeing the fantastic results I have.

          Reply ·
      3. Martha Cichelli

        BLE works to greatly control Type 2 diabetes – at least for me. I can’t say it has reversed my diabetes, but it has reduced my need for insulin by 50% and brought my A1c down from high 7’s to low 6’s. I don’t totally abstain from fats. Our bodies need some healthy fats, of course. But I do try to abstain from sugar and flour. And I don’t get bored with the food on my plan because there are SO MANY yummy vegetables. I also eat meat because I love it, but I have reduced the quantities.

        Reply ·
        1. Margaret

          No or low fat? Aren’t you hungry all the time? Fat is very satisfing, it keeps you focus and full.

          Reply ·
    3. Mike

      If you skip the carbs and starches fats are NOT bad for you. Do the research.

      Reply ·
  127. joseph

    Kudos Dr. Thompson! Thanks for that great message. You are so right on!
    Joseph in Missoula

    Reply ·
  128. Stephanie

    Omg….”Bacon and butter!” ……..hahahahahaha! Hilarious!

    Reply ·
    1. JANE FLORENDO

      I have been eating a vegitarian version of keto for a year. I include at least 7 cups of leafy greens a day which are almost “free” carbs and a few berries. All my health problems cleared up. My psoriasis and arthritis is gone after years of suffering. I cannot handle fruit. It spikes my blood sugar and causes intense sugar and carb cravings. I do not agree that Keto is bad. This diet has saved my health and gotten me off all my meds!

      Reply ·
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