A new study out of Israel confirms what I’ve told my patients for years: a high-fat diet can restore cognitive function lost in brain injury.
But first, it’s time to dispel one of the most pervasive lies from mainstream medicine.
A lie perpetrated by so-called “nutritionists” who should know better… because real science is staring them in the face.
You see, the modern diet we’ve all been sold by Big Agra is just that — a modern invention. It has no connection to what helped our ancestors become who we are today.
But chronic illness is also a modern phenomenon. Disorders like Alzheimer’s were practically unheard of until the mid-twentieth century.
This isn’t a coincidence.
Look at the advice the Alzheimer’s Association gives you. According to them, the only way to avoid chronic conditions like dementia is to ditch red meat and eat grains and nuts instead.1
Of course, cheap grains are Big Agra’s most profitable commodity. This isn’t a coincidence, either…
And these dictocrats have the nerve to claim an unnatural diet like this helps you avoid Alzheimer’s. But as usual, the opposite is true.
Humans evolved to eat fat. It’s what gave our ancestors big brains. And today, we know eating fat:
- Reduces inflammation
- Lowers heart disease risk
- Lowers diabetes risk
- Improves your mood
- Boosts bone strength and reduces osteoporosis
- Lowers your risk of certain kinds of cancer
- Strengthens the immune system
- Protects your skin and eyes
- And even helps you lose weight
A big fat lie goes up in smoke.
Israeli researchers examined the effects of a ketogenic, fat-based diet on brain-injured mice and compared the results to mice fed a standard grain-based diet. What they found shoots down everything organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association want you to believe…
More than 50% of lost cognitive function was restored in the ketogenic mice after two months!2
The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Following a high-fat ketogenic plan is simple… the most crucial thing is to limit carbs to about 5% of total calories. About 70% of your calories should come from healthy fats. And 25% should come from protein.
In other words…the total opposite of what mainstream medicine has been telling us to eat for decades.
A ketogenic diet is designed to increase our absorption of ketone bodies — tiny molecules produced from fatty acids to supply energy.
Research shows ketones “decrease oxidative stress, increase antioxidants, and scavenge free radicals.” These processes are essential for promoting the healing of the brain.3
Israeli researchers say this is what restored cognitive function in the mice. And they have every reason to believe it would have the same effect on humans.
Ketones can be used by most cells of the brain to make energy. When insulin resistance blocks glucose from brain cells, this energy source for the brain can help restore function. Your body produces ketones when you eat a diet high in fat and very low in carbs. Your body enters a state called “ketosis.” Because your body doesn’t have carbs to burn for energy, you burn ketones instead.
And ketones burn clean. They make fewer waste products, keeping the stress off the damaged brain cells. Studies now show a ketogenic diet can slow and even help reverse dementia symptoms.
In a recent study, 23 people with mild cognitive impairment were put on a high- or low-carb ketogenic diet. After just six weeks, the low-carb group showed improved memory compared to the high-carb group.4
In another study, 20 people with Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment took either a placebo or certain medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) fats that promote ketone production. MCT fats are saturated fats, like coconut and palm oils. In just 90 minutes, the MCTs increased levels of ketones and improved memory.5
I’ve been recommending the keto diet for many years. In fact, I have keto-friendly meals catered for by my staff every two weeks. Unlike other diet fads that have come and gone, a ketogenic meal plan doesn’t ask you to give up much — some of your favorite foods may already be on the menu.
Easy, delicious fat bomb keeps you in ketosis.
One of the best ways to make sure you stay in ketosis is by snacking on fat bombs. Instead of carbs and protein, these energy balls have fat as their main nutrient. This is a recipe given to me by one of my patients:
Ingredients:
- 1 can coconut milk
- 3/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 20 drops liquid Stevia
Directions:
- Pour coconut oil into a bowl and microwave on high for 20 seconds.
- Add Stevia and coconut milk to the oil and stir well.
- Add the coconut flakes and combine thoroughly.
- Pour into molds or roll into 1-inch balls. Freeze for an hour and enjoy.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References:
1. “Adopt a Healthy Diet.” Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, 2019, www.alz.org/help-support/brain_health/adopt_a_healthy_diet.
2. Har-Even M, et al. “Ketogenic diet as a potential treatment for traumatic brain injury in mice.” Sci Rep. 2021;11.
3. Greco T, et al. “Ketogenic diet decreases oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial respiratory complex activity.” J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2016 Sep; 36(9): 1603–1613.
4. Krikorian R, Shidler, et al. “Dietary ketosis enhances memory in mild cognitive impairment.” Neurobiology Aging. 012;33(2):425.e19-425.e27.
5. Reger M, et al. “Effects of β-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adults.” Neurobiology Aging. 2004;25(3):311-4.