Podcasts, Presentations, and Virtual Summits
Joy Y. Erdile, MSc, RD | Licensed in BC, AB, ON | Clinical Specialization: Chronic Disease Management, Digestive Health, Therapeutic Ketogenic Diets.
For a full clinical background and list of credentials, please visit my About Me page.
On June 6, 2024, I spoke along with Amy Berger, MS, at the University of Toronto – Joannah & Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, on the subject of Dietary Patterns in the Management of Cardiometabolic Disease.
Amy and I taught different sections of the talk.
I shared from the academic literature how carbohydrate-restricted diets have been used therapeutically for diabetes for centuries, and that more recently, clinical evidence supports the use of low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets for improving numerous other cardiometabolic conditions, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Amy presented how carbohydrate-restricted diets have been shown to improve conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension while facilitating the reduction or elimination of related medications, and I shared how emerging research suggests ketogenic diets may be effective as adjunct therapies in mental illness, including those that are treatment-resistant.
I differentiated between therapeutic ketogenic diets used historically in the treatment of epilepsy and diabetes, and the popularized “keto diet.” I elaborated on 4:1 and 3:1 therapeutic ketogenic diets (3- or 4-part fat to 1-part combined carbohydrate and protein), which are used as dietary therapies for epilepsy and that were used historically in the treatment of diabetes, and which require weighing and measuring food and adhering to precisely calculated “macros” (percentages of total calories from fat, protein, and carbohydrate).
Amy discussed that, in contrast, the “keto diet” represents a more relaxed approach that is typically used for weight loss and improving common cardiometabolic conditions, and that does not require the same degree of precision when it comes to weighing and measuring food.
We highlighted that low-carb and ketogenic diets can be tailored to suit client preferences, food allergies or intolerances, religious or cultural needs, and budgetary constraints, and may be vegetarian or omnivorous.
We concluded the talk with the fact that while social media continues to depict “the keto diet” as abundant in steak, bacon, butter, and cream, this is both misleading and inaccurate, and may steer patients and clinicians from considering a dietary intervention with documented efficacy that has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Canada, the American Heart Association, and others.
Amy highlighted the controversy surrounding the impact of carbohydrate restriction on blood lipid profiles and outlined that while many individuals on low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diets observe decreases in total cholesterol and LDL-C, some experience increases. She concluded that ongoing research aims to clarify the significance of elevated LDL-C as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, particularly considering improvements in other relevant biomarkers such as triglycerides, HbA1c, blood pressure, body weight, abdominal circumference, LDL particle size, and fasting insulin. She concluded that in cases of elevated LDL-C, a collaborative decision should be made between patient and physician, considering individual risk profiles and patient preferences.
References
Lennerz BS, Koutnik AP, Azova S, Wolfsdorf JI, Ludwig DS. Carbohydrate restriction for diabetes: rediscovering centuries-old wisdom. J Clin Invest. 2021 Jan 4;131(1):e142246.
Volek JS, Phinney SD, Krauss RM, Johnson RJ, Saslow LR, Gower B, Yancy WS Jr, King JC, Hecht FM, Teicholz N, Bistrian BR, Hamdy O. Alternative Dietary Patterns for Americans: Low-Carbohydrate Diets. Nutrients. 2021 Sep 22;13(10):3299.
Hyde PN, Sapper TN, Crabtree CD, et al. Dietary carbohydrate restriction improves metabolic syndrome independent of weight loss. JCI Insight. 2019 Jun 20;4(12):e128308.
Unwin DJ, Tobin SD, Murray SW, Delon C, Brady AJ. Substantial and Sustained Improvements in Blood Pressure, Weight, and Lipid Profiles from a Carbohydrate Restricted Diet: An Observational Study of Insulin Resistant Patients in Primary Care. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jul 26;16(15):2680.
Feinman RD, Volek JS. Low-carbohydrate diets improve atherogenic dyslipidemia even in the absence of weight loss. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2006 Jun 21;3:24.
Khalid K, Apparow S, Mushaddik IL, Anuar A, Rizvi SAA, Habib A. Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Reproductive Hormones in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Endocr Soc. 2023 Sep 7;7(10):bvad112.
Luukkonen PK, Dufour S, Lyu K, et al. Effect of a ketogenic diet on hepatic steatosis and hepatic mitochondrial metabolism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Mar 31;117(13):7347-7354.
Danan A, Westman EC, Saslow LR, Ede G. The Ketogenic Diet for Refractory Mental Illness: A Retrospective Analysis of 31 Inpatients. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Jul 6;13:951376.
Hallberg SJ, McKenzie AL, Williams PT, et al. Effectiveness and Safety of a Novel Care Model for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes at 1 Year: An Open-Label, Non-Randomized, Controlled Study. Diabetes Ther. 2018 Apr;9(2):583-612.
Cucuzzella M, Riley K, Isaacs D. Adapting Medication for Type 2 Diabetes to a Low Carbohydrate Diet. Front Nutr. 2021 Aug 9;8:688540.
Westman EC, Tondt J, Maguire E, Yancy WS Jr. Implementing a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Sep;13(5):263-272.
Evert AB, Dennison M, Gardner CD, et al. Nutrition Therapy for Adults With Diabetes or Prediabetes: A Consensus Report. Diabetes Care. 2019 May;42(5):731-754.
Joseph JJ, Deedwania P, Acharya T, et al. American Heart Association Diabetes Committee of the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Council on Hypertension. Comprehensive Management of Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2022 Mar;145(9):e722-e759.
Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee. Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada. Can J Diabetes. 2018;42(Suppl 1):S1-S325.
Diamond DM, Bikman BT, Mason P. Statin therapy is not warranted for a person with high LDL-cholesterol on a low-carbohydrate diet. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2022 Oct 1;29(5):497-511.
On November 23, 2022, I was a guest on Compassionate Conversations, a podcast hosted by Esther Kane, Registered Social Worker and Registered Clinical Counsellor.
We chatted about the emerging role of ketogenic diets in mental health, the 100-year history of a therapeutic ketogenic diet, as well as the need for individualized dietary approaches for those with compulsive overeating or food addiction.
The podcast was titled “Can a Low-Carb / Ketogenic Diet Help Curb Overeating?” and is also available in video form.
[The first few minutes of the podcast are an introduction to Esther Kane’s new series, and the interview with me begins at 2:44. Enjoy!]
On November 7, 2022, I chatted with Netta Gorman of the Life After Sugar podcast #105, where she asked about my adoption of a low-carb lifestyle, my book Low Carb Breads of the World, and my recent diagnosis with hypothyroidism.
The talk is titled “You can eat bread and still be low carb,” but we speak about more than low-carb bread.
October 22, 2022: I was the Dietitian representing low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets in the management of type 2 diabetes at the Diabetes Canada Let’s End Diabetes Virtual Conference.
My talk focused on the evidence from the literature that reducing carbohydrate intake to improve blood sugar is both safe and effective, and that this approach also supports weight loss and improvements in blood pressure. I also highlighted that a low-carb eating pattern can be tailored to a wide range of individual needs, including vegetarian and pescatarian.
The session conclusion was that the most effective eating pattern is one that fits a person’s personal preferences, lifestyle, and health goals, while helping them manage blood sugar and maintain overall well-being.
On September 9, 2022, I was a guest on Episode #241 of the Low Carb MD Podcast, hosted by Dr. Tro Kalayjian and Dr. Brian Lenzkes. We talked about my book, Low Carb Breads of the World, and my recent diagnosis with hypothyroidism, and the articles that I have written on that subject.
I was also a guest on the Low Carb MD Podcast Episode #141, where Dr. Kalajian, Dr. Lenzkies, and I discuss fasting in combination with a low-carb diet, and the importance of considering bio-individuality when considering a suitable dietary approach for a patient. We talk about the necessity of lowering stress and getting sufficient sleep as part of the long-term sustainability of a successful diet.
I was one of the first guests on the Low Carb MD Podcast Episode #7, where Dr. Kalajian, Dr. Lenzkies, and I discuss our shared struggles with weight loss following the standard dietary guidelines. I talked about how a low-carb approach combined with intermittent fasting altered my approach as a Registered Dietitian, and how I lost a significant amount of weight and put my type 2 diabetes into remission. I also spoke a little bit about my academic research in mental health nutrition, and Dr. Kalajian, Dr. Lenzkies, and I discussed why some people struggle with carbohydrate addiction, while others do not.
On October 14, 2021, I was a guest speaker on the Food Junkies Food Addiction Summit.
As I wrote about in Do You Identify as a Food Addict, the evening before the summit, I was given the list of questions that I was going to be asked, including “Do you identify as a food addict?” “How has food addiction impacted your life?” and “How old were you?”
I was also a guest on Episode #1651 of Vinnie Tortorich’s 1-on-1 Luminaries, where we discussed the benefits of a low-carb diet, my personal journey with weight loss, therapeutic ketogenic diets, and more.
On March 16, 2021, I was a guest on Laban Ditchburn’s, Become Your Own Superhero, a podcast dedicated to interviewing people who are considered experts in their fields, to help listeners learn optimal ways to live their lives.
Listen to the interview on Laban Ditchburn’s Become Your Own Superhero.
On Thursday, June 20, 2019, I was invited to be the guest of Daniel Flahie and Scot Gubbels on Episode #41 of the Die Healthier Podcast. We discussed several topics related to low-carb-high-fat eating, including ketogenic diets and vegetarian approaches, and talked about prevailing dogma about nutrition. We also discuss my personal health recovery and weight loss journey, and how sleep, circadian rhythms, and blue light exposure play an important role in our overall health and well-being.
Listen below.
On May 1, 2018, I was the guest of Brian Williamson, host of the podcast Ketovangelist, where we discussed my research, findings, and publication of research in mental health nutrition in a peer-reviewed journal, and how my research background eventually led to my interest in low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets as therapeutic nutrition.
On August 9, 2020, I was one of three speakers, along with Dr. Paul Mason of Australia and Ivor Cummins of Dublin, Ireland, at Solving Healthcare’s Virtual Summit on a Low Carb and Ketogenic Approach to Health
In my presentation, I address the common but mistaken belief that there is a singular entity known as ”the keto diet”, which is a very high-fat diet that includes heavy whipping cream, butter, bacon, avocado, and fatty cuts of meat. I present that there is a range of ”keto diets” from the popularized high-fat version, to a high-protein, moderate-fat version that can be used for weight loss and improved metabolic health. I also talk about the several different types of therapeutic ketogenic diets that have historically been used as Medical Nutrition Therapy in the treatment of epilepsy and diabetes, and as adjunct treatment (along with chemo and radiation) in cancer, such as glioblastoma.
A Dietitian’s Journey – My weight loss and health recovery story
Below is a YouTube video that I made on March 16, 2017, when I started my own health recovery and weight loss journey, which I called “A Dietitian’s Journey.” That title stuck and has been used on all articles that I have written from a personal perspective (posted under the Food for Thought tab, and marked “A Dietitian’s Journey”).
In March 2017, I was obese, had type 2 diabetes for the previous 8 years, and had developed dangerously high blood pressure. There is no mistaking that I was a very sick woman. You can hear it in my voice in the video below. I could barely walk and talk at the same time.
One Year Later: March 5, 2018
A year after I had adopted a low-carbohydrate lifestyle, I had lost:
- 32 pounds
- 8 inches off my waist
- 8 inches off my chest, 3 inches off my neck, and 1 inch off my arms
- No longer meet the criteria for type 2 diabetes (achieved without medication)
- Blood pressure ranging between normal and pre-hypertension without medication
- Ideal triglycerides and excellent cholesterol levels
Two Years Later: Progress and Challenges
Two years after beginning my journey, I had lost a total of:
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- 55 pounds
- 12-1/2 inches off my waist
- Significant reductions in my neck, chest, arms, and thighs
- Met the criteria for partial remission of type 2 diabetes
- Maintained ideal lipid levels and improved blood pressure
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Four Years Later – March 6, 2021
Four years later, I took up hiking, when four years earlier, I could barely walk and talk at the same time. This photo was taken on March 6, 2021, the 4th anniversary of beginning my journey.
Like most journeys, this one has had ups and downs with both “mountain top experiences” and “valleys”. One such “valley” was being diagnosed with profound hypothyroidism in June 2022. From the mountains to the valleys, there is still no looking back, only forward.
I hope my story and persistence to pursue health, despite diagnoses, serve to encourage you.
To your good health!