I replied to this statement, “Without glucose, your brain isn’t going to function properly”
Would a neurologist treat a child by inducing dietary ketosis, in which the brain switches to ketones for energy if the child’s “brain isn’t going to function properly”?
Why is the nutrient to which you refer necessary then? Are you saying a low carbohydrate diet is somehow going to cause malfunction of the individual’s brain? Come on.
Ok, so ketogenic diets are effective at different lipid ratios. I’ve learned something. That said, the statement to which I replied is off base. The human brain can metabolize ketones for its energy. Glucose isn’t a necessity.
I don't believe my comment was off base. We know that protein and fat can back up out of the Krebs cycle and re-synthesize as carbohydrates thereby supplying the brain with glucose. People lost at sea and prisoners in concentration camps went without food for long periods of time and their brains continued to function. So, yes, the brain can continue to function without any carbohydrates. The brain, however, is never devoid of a certain amount of glucose. If the body is completely deprived of carbohydrates, it will still produce glucose as long as it can metabolize fat and protein.
Treating epilepsy is a very specialized and there’s nothing normal about the brains of people suffering from epilepsy. In my opinion, if a normal person had to rely on metabolizing ketones to maintain brain function that would have deleterious effects on that persons nervous system. Similar to what happens when you overload your body with alcohol.
The bigger point being, 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.