077: Against The Grain: Exposing Conventional Health Wisdom w/ Mark Sisson

The Better Man Podcast

We’ve been told conventional health wisdom so much that most people believe it blindly. Things like you need to do cardio to lose weight. Eating fat makes you fat. And you need to eat at least 3 servings of grains to be healthy.

The trouble is, these conventional health wisdoms aren’t true. And today’s guest, Mark Sisson—founder of Primal Nutrition and Primal Kitchen, best-selling author, and publisher of MarksDailyApple.com—has been exposing false conventional thought about health his entire career.

In this episode, we tackle some of the most insidious “truths” that have derailed Mark’s health (and will derail yours too). Some of these topics include:

• Why eating grains riddle your body with low-grade inflammation (the worst kind)
• Why losing weight is more of a hormonal equation than an exercise and caloric restriction one
• How to eat less without getting as hungry
• Why nothing changed Mark’s life quite like switching to an anti-inflammatory diet

And so much more. Mark has been a long time hero of mine for his unconventional wisdoms about health and fitness. My hope is that after listening to this episode, you start challenging your own beliefs about health and fitness that may be subtly stifling your progress.

Other highlights from this show include:

• How running sabotages your muscle mass: A lesson from a former weightlifting marathon runner (6:06)
• 3 of the biggest inflammatory foods (and how cutting them out makes your inflammation subside) (11:49)
• Why one of the most influential “carb loading” experts recanted his entire career when he realized THIS… (15:40)
• How eating more healthy fats in your diet actually increases your fat-burning rate (18:09)
• Why exercising is a terrible way to lose weight (and what actually makes you leaner) (19:02)
• How giving up grains for 30 days made Mark’s IBS, arthritis, GERD, and sinus congestion disappear (19:53)
• The “Metabolic Flexibility” secret for retraining your body to burn fat instead of carbs for energy (24:28)
• The “no longer hungry” cue from your body that stops you from overeating (34:42)
• The insidious “Systemic Inflammation” which can cause leaky gut syndrome, diabetes, and other major health problems (38:06)
• Why taking antioxidants after a workout can deprive your muscles of the benefits of exercise (43:39)
• How mixing fats with carbs drives insulin into your fat cells and cripples your metabolic flexibility (49:49)
• Do you wish you had a faster metabolism? Here’s the counterintuitive reason you should want a slower one… (51:19)
• Does your knees or lower back hurt after walking? Mark’s new 5-toe shoes will eliminate your pain (1:06:44)
• The one mindset shift required to transform your deepest holes in your life into growing experiences (1:18:12)

Resources mentioned on the show:

1. Save 15% on Mark’s barefoot Peluva Shoes with code ManFlowYoga: If you have lower back pain, hip pain, or knee pain, the problem may be your shoes. Not only are they more comfortable than the first-generation barefoot shoes (they even feel like a foot massage every time you walk!), but they’re also critical for eliminating knee, hip, and lower back pain. Try Mark’s Peluva barefoot shoes and save 15% on your order with code ManFlowYoga here: https://peluva.com/

2. Mark’s Daily Apple: Mark’s been publishing the #1 health and fitness blog, Mark’s Daily Apple, for over a decade. Check out Mark’s Daily Apple to hear his daily musings on health, nutrition, fitness, the health industry and the low-carb, paleo, Primal lifestyle here: https://www.marksdailyapple.com/

3. Follow Mark on Instagram: Keep in touch with Mark and what he’s up to by giving him a follow on Instagram @marksissonprimal or here: https://www.instagram.com/marksissonprimal/

Other important links:

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