00:00:00 – The Environmental Causes of CancerImagine your body as a well-organized society, where each cell plays a specific role. Cancer disrupts this harmony, as a group of cells goes rogue, breaking the rules of normal growth and function. These renegade cells multiply uncontrollably, forming tumors that invade and damage surrounding tissues. Origins of the Word… Read More
00:08:54 – The Warburg EffectDecoding the Warburg Effect: A Journey Through the Legacy of Otto Warburg Imagine cancer cells as ravenous party guests, gorging themselves on sugar even when oxygen is readily available. This peculiar metabolic behavior, known as the Warburg effect, was first observed by the brilliant German scientist Otto Warburg nearly a… Read More and Cancer MetabolismMetabolism is the set of chemical processes that happen inside the body to keep it alive and working. Think of the body as a busy kitchen where food is turned into energy, building blocks, and waste. These processes break down food to release energy, build new cells, and remove unwanted… Read More
00:17:49 – Cancer CellsThe cell is the basic building block of the human body, a tiny, microscopic (too small to see without a magnifying tool like a microscope) unit that works together with billions of other cells to form every part of the body, from the skin to the heart. Each cell is… Read More and Energy Metabolism
00:27:27 – Warburg’s Misunderstanding and the Role of Fermentation“Ferment” describes a process where microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, or mold break down organic substances (often carbohydrates) in the absence of oxygen. This breakdown creates a variety of products, including acids, gases (like the bubbles you see in some fermented foods), and sometimes even alcohol. While fermentation isn’t directly involved… Read More in Cancer
00:36:27 – Autolytic Cannibalism and GlutamineGlutamine is the most abundant amino acid in your body, meaning it’s a crucial component of the proteins that make up your muscles, tissues, and organs. But glutamine’s role goes beyond just being a building block. It’s also a versatile energy source for certain cells, especially those in your gut… Read More Restriction
00:45:18 – Managing GlucoseGlucose, a simple sugar (a sweet substance the body uses for energy), serves as a vital component in the human body, acting as the primary fuel for cells (tiny units that make up the body). Imagine the body as a bustling factory, where glucose is like the electricity powering the… Read More and Glutamine for Cancer Treatment
00:53:51 – Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for cancer treatment
01:02:14 – Therapeutic benefits in humans, dogs, and mice
01:10:45 – Pablo’s Story: Metabolic Diet Therapy for GlioblastomaUnderstanding Glioblastoma: A Deep Dive into the Most Aggressive Brain Tumor Imagine your brain as a bustling metropolis, a network of intricate highways and pathways where billions of cells communicate and collaborate. Now, envision a rogue storm cell, rapidly multiplying and disrupting the city’s infrastructure. This is a glimpse into… Read More
01:18:51 – The Link Between Insulin ResistanceInsulin resistance is a condition where your body’s cells become less responsive to the hormone insulin. Imagine you have a key (insulin) that unlocks the door (cells) to let sugar (energy) in, but the key isn’t working as well as it should. Here’s a breakdown to make it clear: •… Read More and ChronicChronic simply means “happening over a long period of time” or “of long duration.” Imagine a situation that keeps going on and on, unlike something short-lived. • Other Names: You might not encounter many other terms for chronic in everyday conversation. In some specific contexts, terms like “long-term” or “persistent”… Read More Metabolic Diseases

The cancer field today focuses on mutations and targeting mutations, but it is the environment that puts us at risk for chronic diseases, including cancer. Fast food and processed carbohydratesCarbohydrates, often called carbs for short, are organic molecules that your body uses for energy. They’re one type of fuel the body can use for energy. Carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, hence the name “carbohydrate” (carbo = carbon, hydrate = water). They come in simple… Read More disrupt healthy mitochondria, which are necessary for the prevention of cancer. To prevent cancer, it is important to maintain healthy mitochondria and avoid highly processed carbohydrate foods, exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle choices.

The metabolic theory of cancer, which emerged in the 1900s from Otto Warburg, has been an accepted form of research and thinking for 30 years. This theory suggests that people with high blood sugarBlood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is a type of simple sugar circulating in your bloodstream. It can be a primary source of energy for your cells. Your body can get blood sugar from carbohydrates that you eat. The Word “Blood Sugar” This term is a modern invention, emerging… Read More levels and diabetesDiabetes is a chronic condition where your body struggles to regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels. Glucose is like fuel for your cells, and it comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by your pancreas, acts like a key that unlocks cells, letting glucose in to provide energy…. Read More have a higher risk of developing cancer. Otto Warburg’s work on the Warburg effect was initially discredited but has since evolved into a process that has led to advances in areas like immunotherapyHarnessing the Immune System’s Power: A Deep Dive into Immunotherapy Imagine your immune system as a well-trained army, constantly patrolling your body for invaders like viruses, bacteria, and even rogue cells that could develop into cancer. Immunotherapy is like giving that army a powerful upgrade, equipping them with advanced weapons… Read More and car T cells.

The metabolic theory of cancer has been developed by geneticists and biochemists, who have been working on epilepsy at Yale University. One student at the time was excited about the ketogenic diet1. Simple Definition: Imagine your body is like a hybrid car with two fuel tanks: one for gasoline (sugar) and one for electricity (ketones). The ketogenic diet, or keto diet, is like switching your car’s engine to run primarily on electricity. This means you drastically reduce your intake of carbohydrates… Read More for epilepsy, but the mainstream medical community did not care about it. However, Mariana Troto and others have been working on the effects of ketogenic diets on epileptic mice, and the field is now moving towards a more comprehensive understanding of cancer.

In conclusion, the metabolic theory of cancer has been a significant advancement in our understanding of cancer and its relationship with the environment. By focusing on the metabolic theory of cancer and incorporating it into our treatment plans, we can work towards a more effective and personalized approach to cancer prevention and treatment.

The study focused on two parallel projects: epilepsy and cancer biochemistry. They found that calorie restriction and restricted ketogenic diets improved seizure management in epilepsy mice. A drug called 60 Oxygen (BDNJ) was developed, which had an effect on epilepsy in pre-clinical models but not on cancer mice. The drug blocked sucrases in the gutThe intestine is a long, winding tube in the body that plays a very important role in helping the body get the energy and nutrients (good parts from food) it needs to work properly. Think of the intestine like a very busy workshop in a factory, where different workers have… Read More, allowing the animals to eat food but not digest it, leading to decreased bloodBlood is the life force coursing through your veins and arteries, delivering vital oxygen and nutrients to every cell in your body while whisking away waste products. It’s a complex, dynamic fluid—not just a simple red liquid. Consider it a bustling highway system within your body, carrying various cellular vehicles… Read More sugarSugar is a substance represented as a simple carbohydrate (a basic type of molecule made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) that serves as a vital component throughout the body. It is the primary source of energy for most cells, acting like the body’s main fuel. Every part of the body,… Read More levels.

The drug company initially thought it was a blockbuster drug for cancer because it was shrinking tumors. However, when the mice were fed a control group of mice, the tumors shrunk just as well in the control group as in the drug-treated mice. The drug was simply preventing the mice from eating and digesting food.

The researchers discovered that calorie restriction has a powerful effect on reducing cancer, particularly brain cancer. They found that calorie restriction reduces blood sugar and elevates ketonesKetones, organic compounds produced by the liver, are the unsung heroes of energy metabolism, stepping in when glucose, the body’s primary fuel, becomes scarce. Think of them as a reserve power generator, kicking into gear when the main power supply (carbohydrates) is low. While often associated with the ketogenic diet,… Read More bodies, an evolutionarily conserved adaptation to food restriction. When we stop eating food for a long enough period, our brain goes into ketosisA Deep Dive into the Metabolic State Transforming Health and Wellness Imagine your body as a hybrid car, capable of running on two distinct fuel sources: gasoline (carbohydrates) and electricity (fat). Ketosis is like switching your body’s engine from gasoline to electricity, primarily using fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates…. Read More, mobilizing fatsThe substance known as fat occupies a role far more complex and vital than often perceived. While frequently discussed in terms of diet and appearance, this tissue, properly termed adipose tissue when referring to the cellular mass, is a dynamic and essential component supporting a myriad of the body’s critical… Read More and making water-soluble ketones that go to the brain and allow the brain to burn energy in the presence of low glucose.

CalciumCalcium is a mineral, a naturally occurring substance your body needs to function properly. It’s the most abundant mineral in your body, and most of it’s stored in your bones and teeth. Think of it as the building block that gives your bones and teeth their strength and structure! The… Read More restriction is powerfully anti-angiogenic, meaning abnormalWhat does “abnormally” mean?”Abnormally” means something is different from what’s usual, regular, or expected. It’s like something is out of the ordinary. Imagine you have a line of evenly spaced trees. If one tree is much taller or shorter than the others, it would look “abnormally” tall or short. Here’s… Read More blood vesselsBlood vessels are like tiny pipes or tubes that create a transportation network throughout your body. They carry blood, which delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to your cells and removes waste products. Think of them as the highways and roads that supply your body’s cells with fuel! • Other Names:… Read More and tumors are hammered, which is thought to be provocative to tumorA tumor is a lump or abnormal mass of tissue that grows in the body. It’s like a bump that shouldn’t be there. While some tumors are harmless, others can be serious and even life-threatening. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand them better: The Root of the Word: The… Read More growth. Anti-angiogenic therapiesTherapy is a broad term encompassing various treatment approaches aimed at improving health and well-being. It’s like a toolkit with various tools designed to address specific ailments and promote healing. While often associated with mental health, therapy extends far beyond the mind, encompassing physical and medical treatments as well. Etymology… Read More, such as those developed by Judah Volkman and Napoleon Ferrara, were often pulled off the market due to adverse effects.

Calorie restriction has been shown to be as powerful or more powerful than anti-angiogenic drugs, targeting inflammationInflammation is your body’s natural response to injury or infection. Imagine it like a fire alarm going off in your body, sending out signals to fight off invaders and heal damaged tissues. • Other Names: You might not hear many other names for inflammation in everyday conversation. Scientists sometimes use terms… Read More and reducing tumor cells. This was demonstrated in mice and later applied to humans through water-only therapeutic fastingFasting simply means abstaining from food, and sometimes drinks, for a set period. It’s a practice observed across cultures and throughout history, for various reasons. What is fasting? Think of fasting as giving your body a break from eating. Instead of using the food you just ate for energy, your… Read More. The human body could achieve the same effects as mice with a calorie-restricted diet only if they followed a ketogenic diet.

Caterol restriction mimics calorie restriction by burning fat from fat stores, which can lead to decreased blood sugar and increased ketones. This concept was initially unpalatable but was later explored for cancer treatment. Warburg’s concepts were introduced, arguing that cancer cells have a defect in their mitochondria, which are responsible for producing energy through oxidative phosphorylationOxidative Phosphorylation: The Body’s Power Plant Energizing Life: Understanding Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS) Have you ever wondered how your body transforms the food you eat into the energy you need to move, think, and simply exist? It’s a complex process, but a key player in this energy conversion is oxidative phosphorylation… Read More. When these mitochondria become defective, the end product of glycolysisImagine you’re building a fire to stay warm. Glycolysis is like the first step in that process! It’s the metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose (sugar) from carbohydrates into a simpler molecule called pyruvate. This breakdown starts the process of generating energy for your cells. Think of it as the… Read More is diverted to lactic acidLactic acid, often associated with the burning sensation in muscles during intense exercise, is a molecule with diverse roles in the human body. It’s a byproduct of glucose (sugar) metabolism, particularly in situations where oxygen is limited. While its association with muscle fatigue is well-known, lactic acid is much more… Read More, a waste product of the glycolytic pathway, which acidifies the cancer micro environment.

Warburg noticed that all major cancers produced large amounts of lactic acidA Deep Dive into pH, Health, and Everyday Life Have you ever puckered your lips after biting into a lemon or felt a burning sensation in your chest after a spicy meal? That’s the tangy sensation of acidity in action. While we often associate acidity with food and taste, it’s… Read More, which accumulates in muscles when overexertion occurs. When oxygen is deficient, the muscles can be re-oxygenated and return to respiration. The muscle then uses local glucose to produce massive amounts of quick energy with the waste product of lactic acid, which goes back into the bloodstream during exercise and is created back to glucose.

In conclusion, calorie restriction has the potential to be a powerful treatment for various diseases, including cancer. By understanding the mechanisms of action behind calorie restriction and incorporating it into cancer treatments, we can develop more effective treatments for cancer.

The Cory cycle, a process that breaks down glucose into pyruvateImagine your body’s cells as bustling factories, each with a complex network of conveyor belts and machinery designed to produce energy. Pyruvate is like a central hub in this factory, a crucial intersection where different energy sources converge and are transformed into a usable form of energy that powers your… Read More and energy, is crucial in understanding the originWhat is an origin? An origin is the starting point, the place or source where something begins. It’s like the very first chapter in the story of that thing. Examples: • The origin of a river: Where the river first starts to flow, like from a spring or a melting… Read More of cancer. Cancer cells, like other cells, can run on sugar, which is a dirty, burning fuel, leading to various diseases like diabetes and resistance.

The Krebs cycle, a secondary pathway, breaks down sugar and energy, making it an essential part of our lives. Understanding the Krebs cycle is crucial for managing cancer and other devastating diseases.

Warburg’s theory suggests that cancer cells don’t need oxygen for growth, and they can take all oxygen out of the system, allowing them to grow without oxygen. He argued that cancer cells replaced their oxidative phosphorylation with energy through fermentation, which is energy without oxygen. This process produces lactic acid as a waste product from the fermentation process.

Warburg’s argument was that cancer cells are resistant to cyanide, which is the key basis of all life. He showed that cancer cells can survive in cyanide, but they die quickly due to the mitochondria shutting down electron transport and the mitochondria shutting down electron transport.

In the 1920s, researchers showed that a rat with a tumor would die instantly when injected with cyanide, but the tumor would survive. However, the tumor was resistant to cyanide, and the cells could be grown and cultured.

In conclusion, the Krebs cycle and the Krebs cycle are crucial in understanding the origin of cancer and managing other diseases. By understanding these processes and their impact on cancer management, we can better manage and prevent the spread of cancer.

The mitochondrialMitochondria, often called the powerhouses of the cell (tiny units that make up the body), are vital structures inside cells that produce energy to keep the body functioning. Picture the body as a busy factory, where mitochondria are like generators, tirelessly converting food into energy that powers every organ, from… Read More metabolic theory of cancer suggests that cancer cells consume oxygen just as readily as normal cells, and therefore use oxidative phosphorylation for energy generation. However, this theory has been challenged by the fact that cancer cells do not use oxygen for ATPATP, which stands for Adenosine Triphosphate, is a molecule that acts like the energizer bunny in your cells – it keeps them going and going! It’s the primary energy currency that powers all sorts of cellular activities in your body. Imagine ATP as tiny packets of energy that your cells… Read More synthesis or generating energy through oxidative phosphorylation. Instead, they use it to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS)Imagine oxygen as a life-giving breeze, essential for our survival. However, this breeze can sometimes turn into a gust of wind, creating chaos and destruction. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are like those turbulent gusts within our bodies. They are unstable oxygen molecules that can damage cells and tissues, much like… Read More, which are carcinogenicA carcinogen is something that can cause cancer. It can be a substance, like a chemical or radiation, or even a behavior like smoking. But why is this word used, and how does it connect to cancer? Etymology of Carcinogen: • Carcinogenic: This key part of the word comes from the… Read More and mutagenic.

Warburg’s theory was initiated over 100 years ago, but he did not know about glutamine fermentation, which is now known to be a major fermentable fuel. He assumed that the oxygen consumed by cancer cells even when it was low was still linked to oxidative phosphorylation. This calculation is somewhat in error, and oxygen consumption is also in error.

The cancer field today focuses on mutations and targeting mutations, which are not the cause of cancer. Most oncology today is focused on the idea that cancer results from genetic mutations in the cancer. However, there may be ways to improve cancer response to chemotherapyChemotherapy (often shortened to “chemo”) is a type of cancer treatment that uses powerful medicine to destroy cancer cells. It works by stopping or slowing down the growth of fast-dividing cells, and cancer cells happen to grow and divide much faster than most healthy cells. Cellular Growth: • Our body… Read More by identifying which genetic mutations there are and which drugs work better for which ones.

The metabolic theory holds promise for treating certain cancers, such as stage four melanoma, pancreatic cancer, and brain cancer, such as glioblastoma, which respond well to ketogenic diets. However, it is essential to navigate this new landscape where certain cancers are responding to a metabolic approach, rather than relying solely on genetic theories.

Cancer cells have a common metabolic problem, which is driven by fermentation. These cells use glucose and glutamine as fuels for their energy production, which is also fermented in the mitochondria. This pathway, called glutamanolysis, is a key part of the cancer process.

The main challenge in cancer treatment is to target the fermentation pathway, which is the main source of energy for cancer cells. Most treatments are toxic“Toxic” means something that’s poisonous or really harmful. It’s like something bad that can make you sick or even hurt you. Where did the word come from? A long, long time ago, people who used bows and arrows would put poison on the arrow tips to hunt animals or fight… Read More radiationRadiation is invisible energy that moves around like super-fast waves or tiny packets of energy. It’s kind of like when you feel the heat from a campfire, even if you’re not touching the fire. Where did the word come from? The word “radiation” has its roots in an old language… Read More and chemotherapy, which can be expensive and ineffective. Metabolic oncology, on the other hand, involves diet and other compounds that block some of these fermentation pathways, which have numerous benefits for overall metabolic health, including inflammation reduction, stem cell function, DNADNA, short for Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is like the secret instruction manual inside every living cell. It contains all the genetic information needed to build and maintain an organism, including humans! Imagine DNA as a complex cookbook with recipes for all the different parts that make you, you. • Synonyms: Well-documented synonyms… Read More repair, and oxidative stressOxidative stress is a state of imbalance within the body, where the production of harmful molecules called free radicals outpaces the body’s ability to neutralize them. It’s akin to a seesaw tipping precariously, where the reactive oxygen species (free radicals) outweigh the antioxidants meant to keep them in check. While… Read More management.

The origin of many diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and dementia, is systemic inflammation and chronic exposure to chemicals. These diseases often result from disturbed energy and metabolic homeostasisMetabolic Homeostasis: Your Body’s Balancing Act for Optimal Health You may not have heard the term “metabolic homeostasis,” but your body performs this balancing act every day. It’s a bit like a symphony orchestra, where each instrument plays its part in perfect harmony to create a beautiful melody. In your… Read More. The focus now is on understanding the mechanisms of how cancer cells grow in a dysregulated way, which is the cause of cell divisionCell division is the process by which one cell splits into two new cells. This is how our bodies grow, replace old cells, and heal injuries. Normal cells go through a carefully controlled cycle of growth and division.Cancer: Division Out of Control Cancer cells are essentially normal cells that have… Read More out of control.

The organelle inside the cell that controls the cell cycle and regulates growth is the mitochondrion. Warburg and Orberg have validated the work of Orberg in their own work regarding mitochondrial fermentation pathways. By understanding the mechanisms behind cancer cells’ dysregulated growth, we can develop targeted therapies and treatments that can help combat the devastating effects of cancer.