Carbs - A cautionary Tale

i wish you the best in recovering! thanks for sharing--hopefully it stops at least one person from jumping on the "fad-diet" bandwagon.

Jeff, you may want to try eating 1 to 2 tbsp of extra virgin coconut oil per day. I know, nothing to do with carbs, but EVCO has been shown to have an amazingly beneficial effect on the memory function of Alzheimer's patients.

Citations?

Ahh so you think you have early onset Alzheimer's and naturally came to the conclusion it must be your low-carb diet.


It's quite amazing that our species even managed to survive this long really isn't it....what with them living for 190,000 years on a hunter/gatherer diet and only the last 10,000 years with the agrarian culture that allows high carb intakes. Yup, your Altzheimer's *must* be down to a low-carb diet :laugh:

Thanks for the warning.

The thing about carbs is understanding what's really wrong about them.

Last night my choices were a cup or two of spaghetti (220-500cals) or a cup or two of soup (90-200). I chose the latter, and added chicken.

Generally higher carbs = higher cals.

If you're lookin to dig deeper into nutrition, you'll realize what kinda stuff you should actually avoid.

'Everything in moderation' is another good slogan.
Except when it comes to women.

I met a man several years ago who was diagnosed with early Alzheimers. He retired from his job, went off traveling with his wife for several months and came back into the store where I worked. He told me then that his doctor had said the Alzheimers symptoms were completely gone. I have no idea what changes he made in his life. I just wanted to encourage you that it can happen. I"ll pray for a reversal of symptoms for you.

Ahh so you think you have early onset Alzheimer's and naturally came to the conclusion it must be your low-carb diet.


It's quite amazing that our species even managed to survive this long really isn't it....what with them living for 190,000 years on a hunter/gatherer diet and only the last 10,000 years with the agrarian culture that allows high carb intakes. Yup, your Altzheimer's *must* be down to a low-carb diet :laugh:

haha
I'm neither for/against low carb, but yeah, seriously, so many people do low carb and seem to be fine.

I mean I have sympathy for you and stuff, It sucks baws if you do have it...

But self diagnosis? Really? Your doctor mentions you might have it, and you immediately decide it's the carbs fault? perhaps let the doctor do their job, find out what's wrong with you, and DON'T start a panic/scare story on a health website.

next you'll be telling us it was caused by your immunisation shots or something...

Ahh so you think you have early onset Alzheimer's and naturally came to the conclusion it must be your low-carb diet.


It's quite amazing that our species even managed to survive this long really isn't it....what with them living for 190,000 years on a hunter/gatherer diet and only the last 10,000 years with the agrarian culture that allows high carb intakes. Yup, your Altzheimer's *must* be down to a low-carb diet :laugh:

I hear what you're saying - how did man survive without carbs? Obviously they aren't necessary for basic survival.

It's only been in the past century that the average lifespan has exceeded 50 years old. Alzheimer's usually onsets in the mid-60's so there is no way to know if our ancestors did/could have suffered from Alzheimer's since man did not live long enough to see such a disease. Additionally, it may have occurred but was not documented.

There are many variables and let's hope that isn't the cause and/or that he doesn't have Alzheimer's.

http://news.tufts.edu/releases/release.php?id=68

http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/carbs.html


Just some food for thought. (Pun intended.)




I'm not sold on either high or low-carb... I think the former is politically motivated and the latter may be a bit over-hyped because it does lead to quicker weight loss. Personally I am trying to land in the middle, around 40% carbs, against the advice of my trainer who sold on the 60-65% recommended by the food guide.

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I have read that the RDA of carbs for a man is some 275-325g, i have been eating less than 100 a day!!!
There are many studies on the internet explaining that carbohydrates are brain foods and to starve your body of them can and will affect brain function/memory.

First of all, my sympathy for the diagnosis. That is a frightening thing to hear, and I understand that you want to do everything you can to take control of that. I'm going to say a few things, and then give you some citations, and I hope that you can keep an open mind.

Our brains DO need glucose to function, and that we cannot get that from stored fat, so SOME sugar (carbohydrates) are necessary. Look into the works of Dr. Joel Furhman (author: Eat to Live) he has some great information on that.

However, our brains are also fat. Nutritionist Tom Naughton explores that in his movie Fat Head. In it, he does advocate a low carb diet, but he also advocates staying away from a lot of the "unnatural" fats most of us consume (that is, trans-fats aka hydrogenated vegetable oils, etc) in favor of oils from nuts, coconut oils, olive oil, and yes saturated fat from meat. All things that are easily obtained if your dietary plan has a "hunter/gatherer" mentality rather than an agriculturally based one.

Bear in mind that government dietary regulations are often based more on agriculture, and most of these "studies" that encourage high consumption of grains and carbohydrates are funded by the Department of Agriculture. In the grand scheme of human history, it has only been within the last few hundred years that we as a species have relied heavily on grains. It has also been since we began to rely on grains and agriculture - instead of what we can "hunt and gather" - that obesity and heart disease have become more and more prevalent.

My point is, do your research before you desperately start "carb loading" and end up in an even more unhealthy situation. Your brain needs energy (sugars) to function, but don't overdo it.

Brian, that's according to an article in a magazine I got at my local health food store (I didn't keep it, sorry, otherwise I'd give you the details). It's not a clinical trial but the statements of care staff and relatives of patients, all of whom independently observed the same thing. My thinking is, try it, if it doesn't help, it won't hurt.

sabinecbauer, read http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/521166-psuedoscience

Alzheimer's is often asymptomatic for years. If you have it, it's likely you developed it way before going low carb.

My Mum had alzheimers, and passed away a year ago from the disease, aged only 68. She was only diagnosed with it in 2005 and died 6 years later.

If coconut oil is meant to be so brilliant in either slowing the disease down or stopping it, why isnt it prescribed by GP's/hospitals?? It's all a crock of crap........there is currently no over the counter herbal remedy that can slow this awful disease down.

I'm so sorry Jeff.....I hope for yours and your family's sake that you haven't got early onset alzheimers disease.

I wish you all the best.