What Grain Is Doing To Your Brain

Forbes ^ | 11-14-2013 | Gary Drevitch

[Renfield]

It’s tempting to call David Perlmutter’s dietary advice radical. The neurologist and president of the Perlmutter Health Center in Naples, Fla., believes all carbs, including highly touted whole grains, are devastating to our brains. He claims we must make major changes in our eating habits as a society to ward off terrifying increases in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia rates.

And yet Perlmutter argues that his recommendations are not radical at all. In fact, he says, his suggested menu adheres more closely to the way mankind has eaten for most of human history.

What’s deviant, he insists, is our modern diet. Dementia, chronic headaches, depression, epilepsy and other contemporary scourges are not in our genes, he claims. “It’s in the food you eat,” Perlmutter writes in his bestselling new book, Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar – Your Brain’s Silent Killers. “The origin of brain disease is in many cases predominantly dietary.”...

[fr_freak]

What I found was a very well researched and annotated book that is not easy to read because of the fact it was written by a doctor.

I've read a number of medical papers over the years,and I would have to say that doctors are second only to lawyers in following the principle of "baffle them with BS". They'll take an entire lengthy paragraph to say that a person has a cut on the finger their excessive use of terminology seems to lead to less precision rather than more. The industry standard with regards to writing seems to be pedantic oneupsmanship akin to writing "The fecal matter presents with a high potential risk of inducing severely abrasive contact in or around the perineum of the high-velocity rotating oscillator" instead of "The sh*t is going to hit the fan".

[fr_freak]

I can go with that except I hate scotch, got drunk under age on scotch and Coke (blech!) and hated the stuff ever since

Heh - I had the exact same experience with Tequila poppers. For at least a decade after, just the smell of tequila would make me nauseous.

[goodnesswins]

Eat enough good fats and protein and the craving for carbs goes away! I know. And anytime I want carbs I reach for...Fat or protein.

[fr_freak]

I am NOT a medical doctor, or any kind of doctor at all. My nom is based on the mad scientist variety of doctor who was described as the “World’s Wickedest Scientist”.

Huh. So I suppose you're going to tell us that there's no point in pinging Dr. Doom, either.

[Dr. Sivana]

Michael Pollan is a journalist. When people start looking to journalists for an understanding of complex issues of a scientific nature, we are doomed.

First, thank you for correcting my spelling of Pollan's name without gloating. I am going to disagree, as I can think of a number of areas where talented writers/journalists with the ability to parse a syllogism can contribute to a discussion. Men like Tom Wolfe, George Gilder and Tom Bethell have managed to write on disperate topics because they are good journalists.
Pollan does not represent himself as a scientist, but asks a couple of simple questions in "The Omnivore's Dilemma". Very simply, "How do we know what we put in our mouths is food?" Unlike cows who munch on grass, we largely have to take other people's word for it. (Which is a problem when you get food from China.)

Because his books are not diet books, they help us think about what questions to pose to the scientists and dietitians. A journalist is qualified to determine how much corn-based products wind up in a McDonalds meal. He is also able to ask scientists to help with anything outside the scope of his knowledge and experience. In "The Omnivore's Dilemma", the best operation is not the "big health food" operation, but a seriously Christian minded farmer in Virginia who's religious and political values are largely opposite to Pollan's own. Pollan fails when he gives the vegans more credit than deserve for tehir seeming philosophical consistency and also when he goes on his silly expedition to go huunting and foraging for a gourmet food experience (which reminded me of the scavenger hunt in "My Man Godfrey"). These things are easily overlooked, and the rest of the book fares well on the merits. Pollan is unusual as he makes his reasoning transparent, and doesn't assume that you come from the same starting point as he does.

We have been so used to bad journalism, when a good one writes a decent book or two outside of his field of expertise, it is easy to dismiss it. I am indifferent as to whether Pollan's books sell well or make him scads of money. The book should be judged on its content.

[topspinr]

Went to the pharmacy for eye drops, the lubricating type.
The clerk said we have two types, one with preservative and one without.

I’ll take the one with the preservative.
She said the one without is cheaper.

Told her i’m 87..... how do you think l got there?

[Dr. Sivana]

Huh. So I suppose you're going to tell us that there's no point in pinging Dr. Doom, either.

Every so often I get responses from the comic-book illiterate who actually ask me medical questions (or question my medical expertise) on these kinds of threads. That was just a pre-emptive strike.

[goodnesswins]

I agree...people ARE different...but it looks as tho many should drop much of what is considered food today...back to basics

[Marie]

We get plenty of glucose from eating adequate protein. Just eat enough to support your muscles (and to build muscle if you’re trying to) and a little more. Your body will convert the rest into glucose to support brain function. (This is why people on low-carb diets can still think just fine and not pass out.)

[Marie]

We are living longer because of antibiotics, vaccinations, better maternal care, c-sections, heart stents and bypasses, better care after accidents, appendectomies, etc.

We have more wounded warriors, not because more guys are being hurt, but because more guys are surviving wounds that would’ve been fatal not to long ago. Our dead to wounded ratio has been radically changed for the better.

[mazda77]

So read the book and prove your point. I am not asking anyone to believe me, I am giving you my opinion based on my natural inclination to skepticism as one who has.

[goodnesswins]

You say that like it is bad...those are some of the staples of my daily eating...oh and last month I lost 6 lbs of fat and gained 3 lbs of lean mass (measured in a “bod pod”)...This month should be the same...

[IamConservative]

I think one thing that we overlook in these one-size-fits-all fad diets is that there is an inherent side effect happening. When you eliminate carbs, fat, gluten, etc., you also tend to eliminate a lot of processed foods and by association, additives. IMO, processed foods should be avoided in any diet.

As a guide, I follow a simple rule when I cook. “Ingredients shouldn’t have ingredients.”

[yldstrk]

I said it like it was bad?

No I live on that

Works for me

I also love watermelon and pineapple, don’t know where that fit in

[SIDENET]

LOL.

[Gennie]

Wow, that is AMAZING! I can’t imagine how your grandparent would feel living to see the 5th generation. Can I ask the age of those in the line? Not trying to be nosy, I truly find that amazing and wonderful :)

[Jane Long]

Does wine count as fruit?

[First_Salute]

bttt

My mothered figured that out, about 45 years ago.

The trouble is probably not gluten.

The trouble is probably the yeast population, and how unfamiliar some bodies are with this or that yeast population.

In other words, the change in sea state; same as with exposure to some bacteria, and sometimes to parasites.

Something like that, is my guess.

[Mase]

Yes, protein and fat can back up out of the Krebs cycle and re-synthesize as carbohydrates thereby supplying the brain with glucose. If the body is completely deprived of carbohydrates, it will still produce glucose as long as it can metabolize fat and protein.

But why would anyone want to live without carbohydrates? That is, if they want to be healthy. It makes no sense and is, really, just plain stupid. Living without carbs would put an unnecessary strain on the body and would leave you less healthy and less competent as you would be with a diet that included carbohydrates. For someone wanting to live a healthy lifestyle, why would you even bother living without carbs in moderation? It doesn't make any sense.

Without glucose, your brain isn't going to function properly nor will you have the glycogen stores necessary for demanding physical activity. So, yes, you need to eat carbs for energy. Relying on re-synthesizing protein and fat to supply the glucose necessary for maintaining a highly active body isn't very smart....or healthy.

[goodnesswins]

I shoulda put a smiley face there.....pineapple has too much sugar for me....I’m finding even fruit causes me problems...blueberries are what I eat most...