America's Health Problem

We’re getting the Word of Wisdom wrong 

The episode features Greg Matson interviewing Dr. Ben Bikman, a BYU scientist who studies metabolism and insulin resistance. Bikman argues that mainstream dietary guidance has been shaped by weak or misleading science, especially the long-standing claim that saturated fat is a primary cause of heart disease. He says this led to decades of low-fat advice, increased carbohydrate consumption, and worsening metabolic health. In his view, refined carbohydrates are the main dietary driver of insulin resistance, which he describes as the most common metabolic disorder worldwide and a root cause of many chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, infertility, fatty liver disease, and cognitive decline.

A major theme of the interview is Bikman’s distinction between glucose and insulin. He argues that blood glucose is often measured too late in the disease process, while elevated insulin can signal metabolic dysfunction many years earlier. He contends that insulin resistance develops silently over time, with the body producing more and more insulin to keep glucose in the normal range. For that reason, he believes clinicians should pay more attention to insulin levels rather than relying so heavily on glucose and LDL cholesterol.

Bikman also rejects the idea that weight control is simply “calories in, calories out.” He says calories matter, but hormones, especially insulin, strongly influence whether the body stores or burns energy. In the interview, he argues that high-carbohydrate meals raise insulin, promote fat storage, lower metabolic rate, and increase hunger later, whereas meals centered on protein and fat tend to produce better satiety and metabolic outcomes. He recommends three broad nutrition principles: control carbohydrates, prioritize high-quality protein, and do not fear natural fats. He also emphasizes resistance training and muscle mass as important because muscle helps clear glucose from the bloodstream and improves insulin sensitivity.

The final part of the discussion turns to Latter-day Saint theology, especially Doctrine and Covenants sections 89 and 49. Bikman argues that many church members misread the Word of Wisdom as prescribing a vegetarian or plant-based diet. He says no prophet has officially defined a specific “Word of Wisdom diet,” and he interprets the revelation more broadly as a warning against addiction rather than a command to avoid meat. He appeals to D&C 49 and 1 Timothy 4 to argue that teachings forbidding meat are spiritually and scientifically mistaken. This religious section is one of the central features of the episode and is presented as a challenge to common dietary assumptions in LDS culture.

APA reference

Matson, G. (2026, January 30). We’re getting the Word of Wisdom wrong [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq_TOMum5lo

Keywords

insulin resistance, nutrition, Word of Wisdom, saturated fat, metabolic health