Resources
The science continues to evolve and as we learn more we aim to share it with you. Whether it is the research we personally conduct, or our fellow colleagues in this space, know that you can find solid information you can trust here.
Why Low-Carb / Ketogenic Nutrition? Click to learn more.
Before we discuss low-carbohydrate and ketogenic nutrition, let us first answer a more pressing question…
What Is The Ideal Human Diet?
To answer this question, we must examine both the past footprint of our species and the growing evidence of research today. Anthropological data reveals our species thrived with a diet high in plants, healthy fats, and adequate protein. If we recreate this diet today, we are left with a nutritional plan much lower in carbohydrates than our modern-day westernized diet. Why has diabetes, heart disease, obesity, autoimmune disease, dementia, and cancer become so prevalent today? While there are many contributing factors, current research reveals our diet to be a large catalyst. Sugars and processed grains increase our blood glucose levels, which results in a surge of insulin production. Insulin moves glucose out of our blood stream and into our organs for energy use and storage. However, insulin also causes inflammation and fat storage. Over time we develop insulin resistance which contributes to the development of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, dementia, and many other disease processes. When we follow a low carbohydrate diet and/or ketogenic nutritional path, we radically reduce blood glucose levels and therefore, the need for insulin. As a result, we see beautiful improvements in metabolic health markers such as weight, body mass index, blood pressure, waist circumference, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and Cholesterol/HDL ratios.
What Defines A Low-Carbohydrate And Ketogenic Diet?
Current guidelines are still being defined. Truthfully, there are likely variable definitions based on individual genetics, current body habitus, fitness levels, and insulin sensitivity. Based on our research and experience within Well-Being, we define a low-carbohydrate nutritional path as less than 65 grams of net carbohydrates per day and a nutritional ketogenic path as less than 20 grams of net carbohydrates per day. We help every tribe member then identify their individual fat and protein goals based on their ideal body weight. Creating these specific macronutrient goals for every individual is a key component to our program’s success. There is a science in optimizing health and weight loss. Our macronutrient formulas have proven to be effective!
What Is Nutritional Ketosis?
Essentially, a nutritional ketosis creates a metabolic pathway in which we shift our bodies to use fat for fuel. This is why a ketogenic path is so successful for weight loss. In order to make this shift and turn triglycerides (fat) into ketone bodies (Beta-hydroxybutyrate, Acetone, and Acetoacetate), we must use up glucose and glycogen (storage form of glucose) first! Herein lies why calorically restrictive diets so often fail. We often have just enough glucose and glycogen available and therefore never break through that barrier of using our own body fat for fuel. Our well-formulated ketogenic diet incorporates copious vegetables, adequate protein, and fat sources from foods like olive oil, avocado, nuts/seed, and fish. Once our tribe members enter ketosis, we see dramatic reductions in hunger due to the effects on Leptin and Ghrelin. Research reveals that ketones are a cleaner, more efficient energy source for the powerhouse of our cells, our mitochondria. Multiple disease processes start within our mitochondria largely due to the oxidative damage of glucose. During Well-Being you will be empowered with the science to understand why we should use our fat as fuel to not just lose weight, but more importantly prevent and treat disease!
Published Research on Low-Carb / Ketogenic Nutrition
Low carbohydrate ketogenic therapy as a metabolic treatment for binge eating and ultraprocessed food addiction – PubMed (nih.gov)
Ketogenic diet as a metabolic treatment for mental illness : Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity (lww.com)
Obesity Treatment By Very Low-Calorie-Ketogenic Diet At Two Years: Reduction In Visceral Fat And On The Burden Of Disease
Ketogenic Diet As A Metabolic Therapy For Mood Disorders: Evidence & Developments
Do Ketogenic Diets Really Suppress Appetite? A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis
Dietary Management Of Diabetes: Focus On Ketogenic Diet
Carbohydrate Quantity In The Dietary Management Of Type 2 Diabetes
Benefits Of Ketogenic Diet For Management Of Type Two Diabetes
The Effects Of Dietary Improvement On Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials
Dietary Intervention For Overweight And Obese Adults: Comparison Of Low-Carbohydrate And Low-Fat Diets. A Meta-Analysis
7 Research studies using Levels to learn more about metabolic health – Levels (levelshealth.com)
Effects of a ketogenic diet in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome
The Well-Being Book Club
The Obesity Code
Jason Fung, MD
The Complete Guide to Fasting
Jason Fung, MD, and Jimmy Moore
The Paleo Cure
Chris Kresser
The New Atkins for a New You
Eric Westman, MD, Stephen Phinney, MD, and Jeff Volek, MD
The Art and Science of Low-Carb Living
Stephen Phinney, MD, and Jeff Volek, MD
Fat for Fuel
Joseph Mercola
Why We Sleep
Matthew Walker, PhD
Keto: The Complete Guide to Success
Maria Emmerich and Craig Emmerich
Wired to Eat
Robb Wolf
Meditation is Not What You Think
Jon Kabat-Zinn
The Power of Serving Others
Gary Morsch
Daring Greatly
Brene Brown Ph.D., LMSW
Tribe
Sebastian Junger
Grain Brain
David Perlmutter
The Influential Mind
Tali Sharons
Dare to Lead
Brene Brown
The Telomere Effect
Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, Dr. Elissa Epel
5 Ingredient Ketogenic Cookbook
Jen Fisch
Sapiens
Yuval Noah Harari
Switch on Your Brain
Dr. Caroline Leaf
Simply Keto
Suzanne Ryan
Heart Breath Mind
Dr. Leah Lagos
Keto Mealprep Cookbook for Beginners
Kira Peterson
Made Whole
Cristina Curp
Dairy Free Keto Cooking
Kyndra Holley
The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook
Maya Krampf
Low-Carb Diet for Two
Bek Davis
The Vegan Ketogenic Diet Cookbook
Nicole Derseweh
Dinner in Five
Vicky Ushakova
Keto in Five
Vicky Ushakova
Ask the Dietician
All About Carbohydrates
There are many different ideas about carbohydrates: “Carbs make you gain weight. You...
Dirty Keto: How To Avoid The Pitfalls Of Processed Food
A low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diet creates amazing benefits and offers an...
Electrolytes And Keto Meal Planning
Electrolytes are key players in health and they are especially important when you’re...
Fasting For Health And Longevity
Regular fasting has been practiced for generations and many people are now realizing...
Food, Mood, And Migraines
The phrase, “You are what you eat” is quite common but what about, “You are what your...
Mindful Eating
If you have ever found yourself eating out of habit, boredom, frustration, happiness, or...
Is It Worth It To Buy Organic Food?
People who are making changes to their diet sometimes wonder, “Is it worth it to buy...
Sweeteners, Functional Fibers, And Rare Sugars
At first glance sweeteners may seem like the perfect addition to a low-carb or ketogenic...

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