AMA #75: Diets: how to evaluate and implement any diet including keto, carnivore, vegan, Mediterranean, and more
Peter Attia
15 sept 2025
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Navigate diet discussions beyond tribal arguments
Discussions about diet tend to quickly degrade into tribal and religious arguments rather than scientific ones, often with an undeserved sense of morality.
Track diet progress with DEXA scans and lab metrics
You can track if a diet is working for you using DEXA scans, lab metrics like fasting insulin and hemoglobin A1C, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and by logging simple symptoms.
Clarify diet choices for the confused majority
This advice is aimed at the 87% of people who are confused about what to do, not the hardcore diet zealots who believe their way is the only way.
Evaluate diets using a simple rubric for effectiveness
To evaluate any diet, first define its rules, then pinpoint its strengths and ideal users, and finally identify its potential pitfalls to make corrections.
Establish five non-negotiables for a sustainable diet
Every sustainable eating pattern must address five key areas: energy balance, metabolic health, protein adequacy, micronutrient sufficiency, and long-term adherence.
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