AMA #75: Diets: how to evaluate and implement any diet including keto, carnivore, vegan, Mediterranean, and more

Peter Attia

15 sept 2025

Episode description

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode

Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content

Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter

In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter explores how to determine the right diet for yourself rather than searching for a universal “best” diet. He begins by laying out five non-negotiable criteria that any sustainable eating pattern must meet—energy balance, metabolic health, adequate protein, micronutrient sufficiency, and long-term adherence—before introducing a practical rubric for evaluating different diets. Using this framework, Peter walks through the ketogenic, carnivore, vegan, and Mediterranean diets, highlighting their strengths, ideal candidates for each, and common pitfalls such as micronutrient gaps or adherence challenges. He explains why this guidance is aimed at people who feel overwhelmed by diet choices, not zealots defending a single approach, and provides practical advice on using tools like DEXA scans, lab markers, continuous glucose monitors, and symptom tracking to assess whether a diet is truly working.

If you’re not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you’ll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you’re a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the AMA #75 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here.

We discuss:

  • Peter’s family chess battle [3:00];

  • Framing the diet discussion: moving past tribalism to practical frameworks for evaluating various dietary strategies [5:00];

  • Peter’s high-level nutrition framework [11:00];

  • Why diet is such a uniquely polarizing subject [14:15];

  • The five non-negotiables that apply to any diet [17:45];

  • How to think about energy balance in the context of evaluating a specific diet [20:15];

  • How diet can address metabolic health [21:45];

  • Pr

Episode description

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode

Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content

Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter

In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter explores how to determine the right diet for yourself rather than searching for a universal “best” diet. He begins by laying out five non-negotiable criteria that any sustainable eating pattern must meet—energy balance, metabolic health, adequate protein, micronutrient sufficiency, and long-term adherence—before introducing a practical rubric for evaluating different diets. Using this framework, Peter walks through the ketogenic, carnivore, vegan, and Mediterranean diets, highlighting their strengths, ideal candidates for each, and common pitfalls such as micronutrient gaps or adherence challenges. He explains why this guidance is aimed at people who feel overwhelmed by diet choices, not zealots defending a single approach, and provides practical advice on using tools like DEXA scans, lab markers, continuous glucose monitors, and symptom tracking to assess whether a diet is truly working.

If you’re not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you’ll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you’re a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the AMA #75 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here.

We discuss:

  • Peter’s family chess battle [3:00];

  • Framing the diet discussion: moving past tribalism to practical frameworks for evaluating various dietary strategies [5:00];

  • Peter’s high-level nutrition framework [11:00];

  • Why diet is such a uniquely polarizing subject [14:15];

  • The five non-negotiables that apply to any diet [17:45];

  • How to think about energy balance in the context of evaluating a specific diet [20:15];

  • How diet can address metabolic health [21:45];

  • Pr

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.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius