Over the last several years we have come to learn more and more about the role nutrition plays in not only the creation of Cognitive Decline conditions including Alzheimer’s, but also in their reversal. The ketogenic diet has a big part to play in reversing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Based on research at UCLA and The Buck Institute, we have discovered more than 40 different conditions which are at the Root Cause of developing Cognitive Decline of all types. These 40+ conditions can be grouped into the following six categories:
- Inflammation
- Blood Sugar Regulation (Diabetes)
- Trophic (Optimal Nutrition and Hormone Support)
- Toxins (Mercury, Lead, Mold, etc.)
- Vascular (Stroke)
- Trauma
By the time the average person begins forgetting a word here and there, they can have 10 or more of these 40+ “drivers” actively damaging their brain. A Ketogenic diet can profoundly impact all of these factors, especially inflammation, blood sugar regulation, detoxing toxins, and reaching optimal nutrition levels.
What is a Ketogenic Diet?
It’s fascinating to see the recent surge of interest in ketogenic diets through books and social media. Many people think “Eating Keto” is something new and innovative, but ketogenic eating has been used to help conditions like cancer and epilepsy for thousands of years.
The ketogenic diet today involves significantly reducing carbohydrates, keeping protein at moderate levels, and increasing healthy, high-quality fats. These fats convert to “ketones,” a clean energy source. Your brain loves ketones and will use as much as you produce.
Switching to a ketogenic lifestyle can profoundly impact all six types of Cognitive Decline. Your brain consists of approximately 60% healthy fats, so it makes sense to feed it what it is made of.
How Does Eating a Keto Diet Help the Brain?
Ketogenic diets dramatically reduce inflammation, which underlies all chronic degenerative conditions. High-carbohydrate diets primarily drive this inflammation. Carbohydrate is simply another word for sugar, and all types of sugar are inflammatory.
Ketogenic diets also improve digestive efficiency. When the body is inflamed, this inflammation spreads to the GI system. Gut inflammation decreases the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, which can lead to the Trophic type of Cognitive Decline.
Additionally, ketogenic diets improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar. Low insulin sensitivity contributes to Type 2 Diabetes, coronary artery disease, and Dementia, including Alzheimer’s. Reducing carbs and increasing healthy fats significantly lowers blood sugar while boosting insulin sensitivity.
These diets also increase energy levels. Shifting brain cell metabolism away from sugar to ketones improves cognitive function, energy levels throughout the day, and even sleep quality.
Ketogenic diets help people lose unhealthy weight. They are far better than low-fat programs for controlling hunger, regulating appetite, and achieving weight loss.
Moreover, ketogenic diets reduce free radicals, which damage proteins, fats, and even DNA. Free radicals are by-products of energy production in mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells. Burning sugar produces more free radicals compared to burning ketones, making ketones a cleaner energy source.
Mainstream medicine often views Cognitive Decline and Dementia as unpreventable, incurable, and progressive. This belief stems from years of clinical observation and many failed pharmaceutical trials. Currently, Alzheimer’s is one of the top causes of death globally. Despite billions spent, conventional medicine offers only a few medications. These drugs fail to stop the disease progression and may even worsen Cognitive Decline after short-term symptom relief.
By adopting a ketogenic diet, you can actively address inflammation, balance blood sugar, and optimize nutrition. Eliminating sugar as a toxin also supports the detoxification of other harmful substances from the body.
