Low-carb might not be the health solution you think it is.
After years of eating low-carb, fasting, and grinding through high-stress training, I started to notice something: my results were stalling, my sleep was off, and my labs were telling me I wasn't as metabolically "healthy" as I thought. When I added carbs back in—real food carbs from fruit, honey, and roots—my energy, recovery, and hormone markers improved across the board.
That shift led me back to today's guest, Jay Feldman, a health researcher and coach who's redefining what it means to be healthy through the bioenergetic model—the science of optimizing how our cells create and use energy.
The Conversation
In this episode, Jay and I dig deep into what's really driving modern metabolic disease—and spoiler alert—it's not sugar.
Jay explains why cellular energy production is the foundation of true health and how modern diets, stress, and lifestyle habits are interfering with that process. We discuss why low-carb and fasting protocols, while helpful short-term, can mimic stress states in the body and lead to burnout, hormonal dysfunction, and poor metabolic flexibility.
We also get into the massive role that seed oils and polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) play in modern disease. Jay breaks down how these unstable fats damage mitochondrial membranes, reduce ATP production, and set off oxidative stress that disrupts everything from blood sugar regulation to brain health.
And, for anyone who still believes sugar is the bad guy, this episode flips that narrative upside down. Jay explains why sugar—especially from real foods—has been wrongly blamed for problems actually caused by PUFAs, endotoxin buildup, and poor energy metabolism.
Key Takeaways
- Energy, not restriction, drives health. When energy production drops, disease takes root.
- Low-carb can mimic disease states. The body reads low energy availability as stress.
- Seed oils are the real metabolic disruptors. They damage mitochondria and drive inflammation.
- Sugar isn't the villain. Whole-food carbohydrates can restore balance and energy.
- Endotoxin and gut imbalances are the hidden factors fueling chronic disease.
- Mitochondrial health is everything. The more stable your cellular structure, the longer—and better—you live.
Connect with Zane Griggs:
Guest Links:
Timestamps:
- 00:00 — Intro: Jay's story and the foundation of the bioenergetic model
- 05:00 — Zane's low-carb journey and realizing more isn't better
- 10:00 — Why cellular energy, not macros, defines metabolic health
- 16:00 — The hidden cost of low-carb: stress, hormones, and fatigue
- 22:00 — PUFA explained: how seed oils damage your mitochondria
- 30:00 — Oxidative stress and the link between fat structure and lifespan
- 36:00 — The "engine analogy" of energy metabolism
- 42:00 — Why most restaurant foods keep you inflamed
- 48:00 — Processed sugar vs. seed oils: the real metabolic villain
- 56:00 — Why sugar became a scapegoat (and how to rethink carbs)
- 1:03:00 — Whole-food carbs, gut health, and microbiome balance
- 1:12:00 — Endotoxin explained: the toxin your gut makes daily
- 1:22:00 — Restoring digestion and energy through nutrient balance
- 1:31:00 — Zane's personal shift: bringing back carbs and seeing better labs
- 1:40:00 — The mindset shift: curiosity over dogma
- 1:47:00 — Final thoughts: what true metabolic freedom looks like
