Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Dr. Dominic D’Agostino is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and a Visiting Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition.
This episode is brought to you by:
Gusto simple and easy payroll, HR, and benefits platform used by 400,000+ businesses: gusto.com/tim
Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic broad spectrum 24-strain probiotic + prebiotic: Seed.com/Tim
David Protein Bars 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar: davidprotein.com/tim
Coyote the card game, which I co-created with Exploding Kittens: coyotegame.com
[00:00] Preview.
[00:49] Ketosis benefits: Quieting the mind, GABA elevation, metabolic psychiatry.
[05:50] My Lyme disease story: Pseudo-dementia reversed in 3-4 days of ketosis.
[09:53] Spirochetes are glycolytic: Starve the bug, boost the immune response.
[13:33] Ketosis and cancer: Slowing glycolytic tumors, enhancing standard care.
[15:07] My 18-day keto experiment: Mood stabilization, Alzheimer’s prevention hopes.
[17:40] Metabolic memory: Carryover effects and Valter Longo’s fasting mimicking research.
[21:39] Intermittent fasting as keto on-ramp: My 2-8 p.m. eating window.
[23:49] Dom’s budget keto meal: Canned mackerel, MCT oil, apple cider vinegar.
[28:12] My ketone measurement paradox: Feeling sharp at 0.2 mM readings.
[31:42] The carburetor analogy: Ketone production vs. utilization explained.
[33:34] Breath ketones vs. blood ketones: Better indicator in caloric deficit.
[34:40] Gluconeogenesis fears: Fat, fiber, and salt to slow protein absorption.
[37:52] The bunless double cheeseburger question: 80 grams of protein in one sitting.
[41:38] Post-meal walking and GLUT4 activation: Timing your glucose disposal.
[43:35] CGM and ketone monitor limitations: When your devices gaslight you.
[50:41] Rabbit starvation and protein-veggie days: Why your body won’t bankroll its own ketosis.
[58:16] Alzheimer’s prevention: Biomarkers, B12, hsCRP, and metabolic health.
[01:02:15] My family history: Letrozole, metabolic dysfunction, and rapid cognitive decline.
[01:05:55] Minimum effective dose: 80% of benefits from low-carb Mediterranean.
[01:11:41] One week per month protocol: Aggressive calorie cut to ramp ketones.
[01:16:07] GKI sweet spot: Target 1-4, aim for 1-2 during intensive weeks.
[01:28:57] Exogenous ketones 101: Palatability, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, toxicity.
[01:31:58] 1,3-Butanediol warnings: Liver toxicity, NAD depletion, dependency risk.
[01:47:13] Intermittent fasting vs. ketogenic breakfast.
[01:52:04] My accidental intoxication story.
[01:56:14] Dr. Veech tribute: Student of Hans Krebs, ketone ester pioneer.
[01:57:58] Fiber on keto: Wild blueberries, broccoli, apples, walnuts.
[02:02:37] The tainted gummies incident: Dom’s forensic investigation underway.
[02:05:46] Thanks to Dr. Boz and Medifoodz.
[02:08:56] Parting thoughts.
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded one billion downloads and been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three years running.
Sign up for "5-Bullet Friday" (Tim's free weekly email newsletter): https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-yt/
Follow the Tim Ferriss Podcast: https://tim.blog/podcast/
Visit the Tim Ferriss Blog: https://tim.blog/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss
Follow Tim Ferriss on Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss
Like Tim Ferriss on Facebook: facebook.com/TimFerriss
Dr. Dominic D’Agostino is a tenured associate professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and a Visiting Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition.
This episode is brought to you by:
Gusto simple and easy payroll, HR, and benefits platform used by 400,000+ businesses: gusto.com/tim
Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic broad spectrum 24-strain probiotic + prebiotic: Seed.com/Tim
David Protein Bars 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar: davidprotein.com/tim
Coyote the card game, which I co-created with Exploding Kittens: coyotegame.com
[00:00] Preview.
[00:49] Ketosis benefits: Quieting the mind, GABA elevation, metabolic psychiatry.
[05:50] My Lyme disease story: Pseudo-dementia reversed in 3-4 days of ketosis.
[09:53] Spirochetes are glycolytic: Starve the bug, boost the immune response.
[13:33] Ketosis and cancer: Slowing glycolytic tumors, enhancing standard care.
[15:07] My 18-day keto experiment: Mood stabilization, Alzheimer’s prevention hopes.
[17:40] Metabolic memory: Carryover effects and Valter Longo’s fasting mimicking research.
[21:39] Intermittent fasting as keto on-ramp: My 2-8 p.m. eating window.
[23:49] Dom’s budget keto meal: Canned mackerel, MCT oil, apple cider vinegar.
[28:12] My ketone measurement paradox: Feeling sharp at 0.2 mM readings.
[31:42] The carburetor analogy: Ketone production vs. utilization explained.
[33:34] Breath ketones vs. blood ketones: Better indicator in caloric deficit.
[34:40] Gluconeogenesis fears: Fat, fiber, and salt to slow protein absorption.
[37:52] The bunless double cheeseburger question: 80 grams of protein in one sitting.
[41:38] Post-meal walking and GLUT4 activation: Timing your glucose disposal.
[43:35] CGM and ketone monitor limitations: When your devices gaslight you.
[50:41] Rabbit starvation and protein-veggie days: Why your body won’t bankroll its own ketosis.
[58:16] Alzheimer’s prevention: Biomarkers, B12, hsCRP, and metabolic health.
[01:02:15] My family history: Letrozole, metabolic dysfunction, and rapid cognitive decline.
[01:05:55] Minimum effective dose: 80% of benefits from low-carb Mediterranean.
[01:11:41] One week per month protocol: Aggressive calorie cut to ramp ketones.
[01:16:07] GKI sweet spot: Target 1-4, aim for 1-2 during intensive weeks.
[01:28:57] Exogenous ketones 101: Palatability, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, toxicity.
[01:31:58] 1,3-Butanediol warnings: Liver toxicity, NAD depletion, dependency risk.
[01:47:13] Intermittent fasting vs. ketogenic breakfast.
[01:52:04] My accidental intoxication story.
[01:56:14] Dr. Veech tribute: Student of Hans Krebs, ketone ester pioneer.
[01:57:58] Fiber on keto: Wild blueberries, broccoli, apples, walnuts.
[02:02:37] The tainted gummies incident: Dom’s forensic investigation underway.
[02:05:46] Thanks to Dr. Boz and Medifoodz.
[02:08:56] Parting thoughts.
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded one billion downloads and been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three years running.
Sign up for "5-Bullet Friday" (Tim's free weekly email newsletter): https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-yt/
Follow the Tim Ferriss Podcast: https://tim.blog/podcast/
Visit the Tim Ferriss Blog: https://tim.blog/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss
Follow Tim Ferriss on Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss
Like Tim Ferriss on Facebook: facebook.com/TimFerriss
