Epoch Times - Why a Low-Carb/High-Fat Diet Is Good for Your Joints

Jan. 26, 2026 - Epoch Times

01:48

Why a Low-Carb/High-Fat Diet Is Good for Your Joints | Dr. Shawn Baker

🔴 WATCH THE FULL EPISODE: https://ept.ms/49YJidnShow more High-carb, high-sugar diets trigger chronic inflammation that destroys joint lubricants and accelerates arthritis, says former orthopedic surgeon Dr. Shawn Baker. He tells his patients to consider going on a low-carb, high fat diet or even a carnivore diet—instead of immediately opting for knee replacement surgery. Show less
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Time	Text
High Insulin, Joint Damage 00:01:47
	University of Alabama a few years ago did a study looking at specifically knee osteoarthritis and they found that they compared a low fat versus a low carb group and by far the low carb group was much better for our ostearthritis in the US had better symptomatic relief.
	There was also another study looking at insulin levels and people that had high circulating insulin levels activate something called a fibroblast-like synovia sites.
	So synovia sites are the cells that make the synovial fluid.
	Synovial fluid is the liquid that's inside of our joint that lubricates.
	It's a lubricant.
	And so when those cells are exposed to high levels of insulin and the biggest driver of insulin in the body is largely carbohydrates, particularly refined carbohydrates, right?
	So when you're eating the sugars and the starches and refined grains and things like that, that drive high levels of insulin.
	High levels of insulin then lead to an increase in these synovial sites secreting inflammatory cytokines, which will then damage the joints that they live in.
	So we get this acceleration of arthritis.
	I mean, that's truly interesting.
	So it's almost like there's this compounding effect because you weigh more, joints are infected more.
	There's more of this, these cytokine, protocytokine substances.
	Yeah, one of the most impactful things you can do, and I'm a fairly simplistic guy.
	I mean, my job was to hit joints with hammers and saws, right, as a doctor, right?
	But I think when it comes to how do we assess our health, one of the most impactful things you can do is just lose the excess central fat.
	If you have extra belly fat, man or woman, that is driving inflammation.
	It's driving all kinds of metabolic problems for you.
	It's associated with dementia, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, inflammatory issues, depression, everything associated with that.

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Text

High Insulin, Joint Damage 00:01:47

University of Alabama a few years ago did a study looking at specifically knee osteoarthritis and they found that they compared a low fat versus a low carb group and by far the low carb group was much better for our ostearthritis in the US had better symptomatic relief.

There was also another study looking at insulin levels and people that had high circulating insulin levels activate something called a fibroblast-like synovia sites.

So synovia sites are the cells that make the synovial fluid.

Synovial fluid is the liquid that's inside of our joint that lubricates.

It's a lubricant.

And so when those cells are exposed to high levels of insulin and the biggest driver of insulin in the body is largely carbohydrates, particularly refined carbohydrates, right?

So when you're eating the sugars and the starches and refined grains and things like that, that drive high levels of insulin.

High levels of insulin then lead to an increase in these synovial sites secreting inflammatory cytokines, which will then damage the joints that they live in.

So we get this acceleration of arthritis.

I mean, that's truly interesting.

So it's almost like there's this compounding effect because you weigh more, joints are infected more.

There's more of this, these cytokine, protocytokine substances.

Yeah, one of the most impactful things you can do, and I'm a fairly simplistic guy.

I mean, my job was to hit joints with hammers and saws, right, as a doctor, right?

But I think when it comes to how do we assess our health, one of the most impactful things you can do is just lose the excess central fat.

If you have extra belly fat, man or woman, that is driving inflammation.

It's driving all kinds of metabolic problems for you.

It's associated with dementia, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, inflammatory issues, depression, everything associated with that.