Tuesday, February 11, 2014

The Paelo Diet and Mental Disorders

In Dr. David Perlmutter's book, "Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar," featured on U.S. News, this neurologist explores the affects of a high-carb diet on the brain.

In his book, he explains that the human body is not meant to be able to digest the high amounts of gluten found in today's processed foods. When the body encounters gluten in the bloodstream your sugar levels spike, causing inflammation and severe harm to the brain which can ultimately result in degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's or dementia.

 To avoid such horrible illnesses, Dr. Perlmutter advocates a diet very similar to the Paelo diet, one of the most popular low-carb diets today. In opposition to the rule of no dairy products or grains found in some of the most strict Paelo diets, he instead suggests small amounts of dairy and gluten-free grains as part of a weekly meal plan.

Some nutritionists oppose a diet absent of grain products, insisting that this food group is essential to a balanced diet. However, Perlmutter quoted to U.S. News:

'"The idea that people are nutritionally deprived because they don't eat grain has no scientific basis," he says, adding that the nutritional value of grain products is nothing more than a marketing ploy.'
As with many other suggestions for a healthy lifestyle, the neurologist suggests incorporating consistent exercise, a diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, and (if red, grass-fed) meats, plenty of sleep, and a few added supplements for a healthy brain.


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