HOLISTIC HEALTH - August 2016 - Kansas City

Grain Brain: The Truth About Your Brain’s Silent Killers

By Nancy Russell, M.D.

 

The surprising truth about wheat, carbs and sugar; they are your brain’s silent killers! This is the premise of the book, with a 4-week plan to achieve optimum health called, “Grain Brain” by David Perlmutter, M.D. His book is touted by Mehmet Oz, M.D. who says, “Dr. Perlmutter is an absolute leader in the use of alternative and conventional approaches in the treatment of neurological disorders. I have referred patients to him with wonderful results.” David Perlmutter, M.D. is Board Certified in Neurology and a fellow of the American College of Nutrition. He is also a founding member and fellow of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.

 

Groundbreaking and timely, “Grain Brain” shows that the fate of your brain is not in your genes. It’s in the food you eat. The cornerstone of all degenerative conditions, including brain disorders is inflammation, which can be triggered by carbs, especially those containing gluten or high in sugar. Some of Dr. Perlmutter’s recommendations are going ‘against the grain’ of what conventional doctors may be telling you. Increasing numbers of studies are confirming the link between gluten (found in wheat, rye and barley) and neurological dysfunction. Gluten may trigger, not just dementia but epilepsy, headaches, depression, schizophrenia, ADHD and even decreased libido. As many as 40% of people can’t properly process gluten so the first step to optimal health is to eliminate it completely from the diet. The next step is to eliminate all refined sugars.

 

The good news is that you can learn to control your genetic destiny even if you were born with a natural tendency to develop a neurological condition. This will require you to free yourself from a few myths. The two biggest myths are that a low-fat, high carb diet is good for you and that cholesterol is bad. High levels of dietary fat have been proven to be important for health and peak brain function. So eat your avocados, butter, olives, cheese, nuts, seeds, free range eggs and grass fed meats and use healthy oils such as olive oil, sesame oil and coconut oil. Add plenty of vegetables, low glycemic fruit sparingly, eat often, and drink plenty of water. There is debate over the benefits and risks of this ketogenic diet however Dr. Perlmutter is convinced this is the best dietary regimen. He also tells about the importance of regular sleep and exercise.

The next important information is the book is an excellent explanation of insulin resistance, blood sugar issues and excess weight all being inflammatory to the brain. What we are beginning to understand is that insulin resistance, the precursor to Type 2 diabetes, sparks the formation of those infamous plaques that are present in diseased brains. Some researchers are now calling dementia and Alzheimer’s, Type 3 diabetes.

 

So where to start in assessing your risk for brain health starts with checking for diabetes parameters, inflammation markers and vitamin D levels. The blood tests to start with are a fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1C, fructosamine, fasting insulin levels, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, vitamin D levels and gluten and other food sensitivity testing.

 

To be proactive with your brain and overall health, Dr. Perlmutter recommends the following supplements: alpha lipoic acid, coconut oil, DHA, probiotics, resveratrol, turmeric and vitamin D3 regularly. Dr. Perlmutter’s four week program is called Grain Brain rehab and say good-bye to Grain Brain. He gives step by step instructions on nutritional requirements, meal plans and recipes.

 

Christiane Northrup, M.D. holistic gynecologist, writer and speaker sums up the ‘Grain Brain’, “Dementia and many other brain diseases are not inevitable, nor are they genetic. They are directly and powerfully linked to a diet high in sugar and grains. ‘Grain Brain’ not only proves this, it also gives you everything you need to know to protect your brain-or a loved one’s-now.” I encourage you to investigate this new information for yourself and decide if this information will be helpful to you.

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