Wellness

THE START OF A BEAUTIFUL NEW BODY

Fatheads might be more beautiful than grain brains according to recent studies. "Grain Brain," a new book by Dr. David Perlmutter, claims that eating grain might be quietly killing your brain, while eating fat can enhance brain health.

It’s a mind-blowing 180 degree pivot from the nutrition and diet guidance we’ve been receiving for decades, and it has important implications.

Photo: Courtesy of Ennea. Olive Oil.

"The brain thrives on a fat-rich, low-carbohydrate diet, which unfortunately is relatively uncommon in human populations today," he says.

Even whole grains, which are mainstays of many of the most health-conscious diets, cause inflammation which leads to disorders like dementia, ADHD, chronic headaches, and Alzheimer’s, over a lifetime of consumption, according to studies cited by Perlmutter.

Perlmutter is the only doctor in the country who is both a board-certified neurologist and Fellow of The American Board of Nutrition.

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By removing or severely limiting these carbohydrates from the diet and increasing the amount of fat and cholesterol we consume, Perlmutter says we can not only protect our brains, but also potentially, undo years of grain-induced brain damage.

Photo: Courtesy of Cell. Stem Cell.

We’ve been told that cholesterol is bad for us. But it actually promotes neurogenesis (the birth of new brain cells) and communication between neurons. Studies have shown that higher levels of serum cholesterol correlates to more improved cognitive function.

The book cites numerous studies that indicate that it’s not fat and cholesterol, but rather carbohydrates and certain fats that compromise cardiovascular health.

Photo: Courtesy of Dualfit. Blood cells.

We’ve known for a while that when we eat carbs, it elevates our blood sugar. But it turns out that doing this over time, constantly challenging the pancreas to secrete insulin to deal with the carbs, ultimately leads to insulin resistance, a condition directly associated with increased risk for dementia and it is the forerunner of type 2 diabetes, which doubles Alzheimer’s risk.

In a recent report in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Mayo Clinic researchers showed that people with higher levels of carbs in their diets had a remarkable 89% increased risk for developing dementia, as compared to people whose diets contained the most fat. And, a higher level of fat in diets was actually showed an incredible 44% reduction in risk for developing dementia.

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All of that saturated fat that we have been told not to eat is actually a fundamental building block for brain cells. Cholesterol acts as an antioxidant to protect the brain. Our bodies turn it into vitamin D. And it is a feedstock for our sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, which also contribute to a healthy brain. About 25% of the body’s cholesterol is found in the brain.

It has now been shown, in a study published in the journal Neurology, that in the elderly, those folks whose cholesterol levels are the highest may have as much as a 70% risk reduction for dementia.

Photo: Courtesy of Timothy Titus. Eggs.

Adding grass-fed beef, pasture raised eggs, and coconut oil to your diet, while substantially reducing carbohydrates helps to enhance, preserve and protect brain function.

With statins as an over $35 billion industry in the US, clearly something is wrong with the way we eat. Sweden, on the other hand recently became the first Western Nation to develop dietary guidelines which reject low fat diets and instead favor of a low-carb high fat diet.

Photo: Courtesy of Consumer Affairs. Bacon.

Butter, olive oil, heavy cream, and bacon are the best things for people who want to lose weight. And there are no connections between a high fat intake and cardiovascular disease. Both according to the Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment,.

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If you find it hard to commit to a new diet because it is time-consuming to source, prep and cook and you don’t necessarily know what you need anyway, Sakara Life might be the life for you.

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Sakara Life Organic Meal Delivery is a weight loss and healthy living program rolled into one. It is based on a whole-food, plant-rich diet that includes fresh, nutrient-dense and delicious ingredients. They tout that they let you “take the brainwork out of eating healthy,” so you can hit the reset button and start feeling your best again.

Photo: Courtesy of Sakara.

Sakara isn’t obsessed with calorie count. And it doesn’t strictly follow all of Perlmutter’s advice. Their menus do include some whole grains but they are a more minor component of their menus They don’t include any animal protein and fat. But no one says you can’t supplement. It’s all about balance.

Photo: Courtesy of Sakara.

Fresh, seasonal, whole, clean food is Sakara’s speciality. They cook it up in a cool Brooklyn kitchen and deliver to homes and offices in the New York metro area. And now, for the first time, you can order Sakara in Boston as well.

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Sakara Life was founded in 2011 by Whitney Tingle and Danielle DuBoise with the desire to create a platform for people wanting to take charge of their health while supporting local farmers and the environment. Celebrities, models and top financiers, are among Sakara’s fans. And we are too. It makes starting a new year with a new healthy food outlook -- a possibly pun intended -- piece of cake.

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Enter this week’s BN Competition. Our theme this week is Beautiful Starts. Send in your images and ideas. Deadline is 01.12.14.

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Also, check out our special competition: The Most Beautiful Sound in the World! We are thrilled about this effort, together with SoundCloud and The Sound Agency. Finalists are announced and voting has begun! Cast your vote and help us choose the winner!