Episode Details

In this episode of The Feldman Protocol, can the principles of metabolic flexibility reframe how athletes — and everyday people — think about fueling exercise? Dave Feldman sits down with Bronson Dant (metabolic performance coach and doctoral candidate in health science), who makes the case that food is function, not fuel. Bronson discusses his Army nutrition research experience, his carnivore diet journey and its effect on longstanding IBS, the distinction between fitness and health, oxidative priority debates, and emerging research on ketogenic adaptation timelines.

📎 Mentioned in this episode:

• 2:18:58 – Clinical audit of Dr. Mark Cucuzella's VA low-carb nutrition program: `https://journalofmetabolichealth.org/index.php/jmh/article/view/141`

• 3:00:37 – Bronson Dant & colleagues — substrate-corrected VO2 / movement economy paper: `https://journalofexerciseandnutrition.com/index.php/JEN/article/view/212`

• 3:02:58 – Coach Bronson's website / coaching hub (coachbronson.com): `https://coachbronson.com/`

• 3:03:04 – Coach Bronson — YouTube channel: `https://www.youtube.com/@coach.bronson`

🔥 This episode is sponsored by us --

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🔗 CONNECT WITH DAVE FELDMAN:

Main Channel: `https://youtube.com/@realDaveFeldman`

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Instagram: `https://instagram.com/realDaveFeldman`

Website: `https://thefeldmanprotocol.com`

⏱ Chapters

0:00 – Cold open & intro

1:15 – Bronson's background in fitness

6:36 – Decision to join the Army

11:04 – Army nutrition research at Natick Labs

20:57 – Transition from IT to CrossFit coaching

31:52 – Opening a gym: lessons learned

51:20 – Carnivore as an elimination approach

1:05:04 – IBS resolution and dietary change

1:21:56 – Coaching, identity & behavior change

1:34:22 – The 2020 disruption & rebuilding

1:46:43 – Systems thinking in nutrition science

1:56:37 – Metabolic flexibility: four components

2:04:06 – Ketogenic adaptation & performance research

2:18:09 – Virginia nutrition counseling audit findings

2:30:09 – Nutrition advice across training types

2:41:21 – Oxidative priority and food as function

2:50:26 – Glycogen storage, fat adaptation & RER

3:00:37 – Substrate-corrected VO2 research

3:02:53 – Where to find Bronson & closing thoughts

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