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Summary
On episode 286 of 40+ Fitness, Coach Allan sits down with Miriam Kalamian, a board-certified nutritionist with a master's in human nutrition and author of Keto for Cancer, who turned to ketogenic nutrition after standard treatment wasn't enough for her son's brain cancer.
Miriam argues cancer isn't purely genetic. There's a strong metabolic component (dysfunctional mitochondria and insulin resistance) that a ketogenic diet can address by limiting the glucose supply cancer cells depend on.
The conversation covers her son's story, the difference between glucose-fueled and ketone-fueled cells, how vegan or vegetarian eaters can still reach ketosis, and where exogenous ketones and MCT oil fit in.
Links
- https://www.dietarytherapies.com
Key Takeaways
- A ketogenic diet can slow cancer progression by limiting the fuel cancer cells depend on. Cancer cells have more glucose transporters and insulin receptors than healthy cells and rely heavily on glucose fermentation. Restricting glucose “chokes down the supply” while healthy cells thrive on ketones instead.
- Cancer has a strong metabolic component, not just a genetic one. Not every woman with a BRCA mutation develops cancer, which points to dysfunctional cell metabolism, not genetics alone, as a driver. Miriam argues for addressing the underlying metabolism rather than only chasing individual mutations with drugs.
- Repeated glucose and insulin spikes build the inflammatory environment cancer needs. Chronic insulin resistance and the inflammatory cytokines produced by excess adipose tissue create conditions that favor cancer growth and metastasis, which is why Miriam sees a role for this approach in prevention, not just treatment.
- Vegan or vegetarian ketogenic diets are possible but harder to sustain. Miriam generally discourages combining veganism with therapeutic ketosis because plant proteins bring more carbohydrate, but she has had a client succeed at it for years. She now asks clients whether their vegan choice is ethical or health-driven before recommending they pick one lane.
- There are three ways into ketosis, and the right one depends on the person. A short fast, an “all in” rapid changeover, or a gradual two-week increase in fat intake, with the gradual approach recommended for people who are nutritionally compromised from chemotherapy or other conditions.
- MCT oil and coconut oil are natural ketone boosters worth including. Because the liver converts medium-chain triglycerides into ketones, they spare protein and glucose and should be part of any ketogenic protocol for cancer, introduced gradually since they can cause GI upset at high doses.
- Exogenous ketone supplements have a specific, limited role. Miriam sees value in using them around specific therapies like radiation or hyperbaric oxygen, or for a mental and workout boost, but not as a way to claim the benefits of ketosis while still eating a poor diet.
- Consistency beats cycling when ketosis is being used therapeutically. Miriam warns cancer patients against trendy carb-up or feast-famine cycling. Find a plan that gets your numbers where they need to be and stay with it rather than experimenting.
“You can't starve your cancer of glucose. It's not going to happen, but you can choke down the supply.”
Miriam Kalamian