Fat Based Diat = Higher IQ vs Carbs + Sugar Based Diat

[♫anna♫]

Has anyone ever tried putting butter in their coffee?

brighterbrains.org/articles/entry/ketosis-makes-your-brain-work-better-its-why-dave-asprey-puts-butter-in-his QUOTE:
Ketosis Makes Your Brain Work Better - it’s why Dave Asprey puts butter in his coffee
BY AARON MORITZ
Every morning for the last four and a half months, I’ve broken off a large chunk of grass fed butter (usually around 50 grams or just over three tablespoons) and a couple tablespoons of coconut oil and thrown them in a blender with my morning coffee. You might have heard of this idea, dubbed ‘bulletproof coffee’ and created by a guy called Dave Asprey.

You might ask why the hell somebody might want to put butter in their coffee, but all you’d be proving is that you haven’t tried it (because it tastes amazing) and according to Dave Asprey, apparently will help make you healthier, feel better, perform better, think better – everything short of give you superpowers.

Now, I didn’t want to like Dave Asprey… he’s just a little bit too charming – especially once you realize he’s created a whole line of supplements and other consumables that meet his extra-special toxin-free super-executive standards. I tried his upgraded mycotoxin free coffee beans and didn’t notice any difference between them and any other local fancy-shmancy coffee I’ve purchased since – not that I doubt that some people are more sensitive to these toxins, I just didn’t notice a difference. Nevertheless, I do like him. He does a good podcast and he clued me into something that I previously would have thought was completely insane, but now am starting to think is key to keep my brain working optimally – eating a high fat diet.

A diet that is high in fat (60-70% of calories), is almost by definition low in carbs, and this means that when eating a high fat diet, it is likely that one is at least partially and some of the time in a state of ketosis. For those of you who don’t know, ketosis is what it is called when the body switches over from burning glucose (the kind of sugar our body uses as fuel) to burning an alternate fuel called ketones, which are made from the breakdown of fatty acids in the liver when glycogen (how the body stores glucose) levels are depleted. 2

Basically, the body starts burning fat for energy when we don’t consume very much sugar or foods that readily break down into sugar — carbohydrates. While glucose is metabolically preferred by the body (meaning that if glucose is present, the liver produces only small, baseline amounts of ketones), 3 it is interesting to note that ketones are a principal source of energy during early postnatal development, 4 5 when our brains are growing and developing at the most rapid pace of our lives.

Ketosis, not to be confused with ketoacidosis (a harmful out-of-control state of extreme ketosis associated with type-1 diabetes in which the pH balance of the blood becomes upset), 6 is an entirely normal and healthy state for the body to be in – in fact, most people will be in some amount of ketosis every single morning after ‘fasting’ while they sleep (you can often smell the acetone – a ketone – in your pee when you wake up), which is a sign of metabolic health. 7

There is quite a lot of debate, however, about whether or not prolonged ketosis is in some way damaging to the body. While some studies suggest that there may be long term problems with low carb diets, 8 9 other studies suggest contradictory results. 10 11

Given that most long term diet research is done with what are called observational studies these contradictory results are not surprising. Observational (or epidemiological) studies are inherently problematic because they are unable to isolate experimental variables or determine causation – they can only report correlations. 12

Nevertheless, as the jury is still out, it is possible that long term states of deep ketosis may have the potential to cause some harm. Luckily, one need not be continually in deep ketosis to enjoy some benefits from this metabolic state.

One area in which the ketogenic diet is completely uncontroversial is as a relatively effective non-pharmaceutical treatment for a set of common neurological disorders called ‘epilepsy’. 13 14 15

It is often effective in cases in which epilepsy drugs are not, as well as in severe infant and childhood epilepsy syndromes like ‘West Syndrome’, ‘Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome,’ and ‘Dravet Syndrome’. 16 17 18 A systematic review found that “all studies showed 30‐40% reduction in seizures compared to comparative controls” 19 and other studies have found that a single high carb meal can rapidly reverse the antiseizure effect of the diet. 20

You may have heard about Mary Newport. She is a medical doctor who makes the controversial claim that she actually reversed her husbands Alzheimer’s disease using coconut oil. 21 Coconut oil is a uniquely ketogenic food in that it contains a high percentage of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT’s), which are metabolized directly by the liver into ketones 22 (hence the inclusion of MCT’s in the bulletproof coffee recipe). Claims of a cure notwithstanding, there is some evidence in the medical literature to back up what Newport is saying about ketogenic diets as a treatment for Alzheimer’s. Single doses of MCT heavy meals have been shown to improve memory performance in Alzheimer’s patients. 23

Preliminary work with patients at-risk for Alzheimer’s has also shown potential cognitive benefit 24 and another pilot study has shown promising, yet ultimately inconclusive results. 25

Also, similar to what was found with epilepsy patients, a single high carbohydrate meal has been shown to worsen cognitive performance and behavior in Alzheimer’s patients 26 27 . When somebody gets Alzheimer’s, their brain has trouble metabolizing glucose, and while it is sometimes claimed that the brain can only run on glucose, this isn’t true. Research shows that ketones cross the blood-brain barrier 28 29 30 and are actually a more efficient fuel than glucose 31 32 33 which might help explain the cognitive benefits some Alzheimer’s patients report (since their brains no longer have to rely on a damaged glucose mechanism for fuel). In addition, preliminary data has also shown potential benefits for other well known neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease 34 35 and Autism. 36

But what about for people who aren’t sick? Well, epilepsy researchers noticed that the anti-seizure effects are not the only benefits shown in children who follow the diet – they also seem to have improved attention, alertness, and social functioning 37 38. Obviously, these are improvements that anybody could benefit from, and they match the anecdotal experience of large numbers of people who try ketogenic diets (often for weight loss) and report feeling clearer, sharper, generally cognitively faster, and even euphoric! 39 40

Unfortunately, there isn’t really any direct research into the cognitive effects of ketosis in healthy people, but there are quite a few biochemical reasons to believe that it could positively impact brain function.

Things are about to get even more technical, so hold on to your hats (I assume you are wearing more than one).

When the liver breaks down fatty acids there are three principal ketones produced: β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone. When cells burn fuel (either glucose or ketones), it does so in the mitochondria, which convert the fuel to ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the substance that our cells use for fuel. β-hydroxybutyrate has been shown to improve cellular respiration (the process in which the mitochondria produce ATP) in the brain, 41 which is consistent with studies with demonstrated that β-hydroxybutyrate increases ATP production 42 43 and that ketogenic diets increase ATP levels in the brain. 44

Ketogenic diets also upregulate mitochondrial biogenesis – the process by which new mitochondria are formed inside of cells. 45 46 So we have a more efficient fuel producing more energy and stimulating the growth of even more fuel engines (the mitochondria) – no wonder people report the effect of a high fat diet being like ‘the lights were turned on’. The increase in the formation of mitochondria is especially beneficial when we take into account that mitochondrial damage and energy production failure are central components of many neurological disorders. 47 48 49

Another way the ketogenic diet improves brain function is through several kinds of antioxidant effects. Oxidative stress can cause harm all throughout the body, and the brain is no different – oxidative damage has been implicated in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases as well as simple brain aging 50 51 52

Glutathione is our body’s master antioxidant substance, and ketogenic diets have been associated with increased mitochondrial glutathione levels 53 and glutathione peroxidase activity in the hippocampus. 54 In animals eating a ketogenic diet, mitochondria have been shown to produce fewer free radicals, 55 which are chemically reactive molecules that can cause oxidative stress. 56

Ketones have also been shown to reduce the amount of coenzyme Q semiquinone, which also decreases free radical production. 57 The combination of upregulating our bodies natural antioxidants as well as downregulating our bodies production of free radicals is quite spectacular. As we might expect from all this, studies show ketosis reducing oxidative damage within the body 58 and having a potential benefit from in multiple neurological disorders that are directly related to free radical damage. 59 60

Some of the neuroprotective effects from ketosis could be related to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA’s). In people following a ketogenic diet, blood and brain levels of PUFA’s, such as docosahexaenoic acid, which have anticonvulsant and neuroprotective properties 61 62 63 are increased. 64 65 66

PUFA’s have also been shown to increase the survival of neurons in the aftermath of traumatic and toxic brain injuries. 67 68 69

The last mechanism through which a ketogenic diet may confer cognitive benefit is through the increase of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the brain. GABA is the brain’s major inhibitory neurotransmitter 70 while glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter. 71

Too much glutamate in the brain can be neurotoxic. 72 73 Glutamate toxicity can lead to neuronal injury and even death by creating free radicals and inhibiting mitochondrial function. 74 75

Ketogenic diets may protect against this damage by increasing the levels GABA in the brain – though the studies at this point are unclear, showing an increase in GABA in some, but not all, patients. 76 Studies in rats have likewise been mixed. 77 78

There is, however, a plausible mechanism through which ketogenic diets might increase GABA levels, and this is through the increase of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), 79 80 81 which is a substance that facilitates the conversion of glutamate into GABA. 82

So don’t feel too ashamed next time you reach for that stick of butter – think of it as a brain vitamin. Personally, I can’t maintain ketosis too often because I am absolutely in love with carbohydrates, but I do try to often limit my consumption of carbs until later in the evening. First, I’ve found that eating them at night gives carbs an almost sedative-like effect which puts me to sleep nicely, and second, it allows me to spend most of the day in some amount of ketosis. My energy levels and brain function thank me.

And I thank you for reading, if you got this far.

If you just scrolled to the bottom it doesn’t count.

[kronks]

Hmmmm I don't care if he is "just a little bit too charming" so I am I, but I can also be downright rude
I do care however that "he’s created a whole line of supplements and other consumables that meet his extra-special toxin-free super-executive standards."

That makes him somewhat biased and someone with a vested interest.

1. What is the bit about the butter? It prove nothing in itself.

Anyway this is hard to understand unless you are familiar with a lot of science about food digestion.

However I do read that the brain needs fat, or maybe my brian does cos I am struggling to understand this

Fat

Fats typically provide more than half of the body's energy needs. Fat from food is broken down into fatty acids, which can travel in the blood and be captured by hungry cells. Fatty acids that aren't needed right away are packaged in bundles called triglycerides and stored in fat cells, which have unlimited capacity. "We are really good at storing fat," says Judith Wylie-Rosett, EdD, RD, a professor of behavioral and nutritional research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates, on the other hand, can only be stored in limited quantities, so the body is eager to use them for energy. "We think of carbs as the [nutrient] that's used first," says Eric Westman, MD, MHS, director of the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic at Duke University Medical Center. "We can only store a day or two of carbs." The carbohydrates in food are digested into small pieces—either glucose or a sugar that is easily converted to glucose—that can be absorbed through the small intestine's walls. After a quick stop in the liver, glucose enters the circulatory system, causing blood glucose levels to rise. The body's cells gobble up this mealtime bounty of glucose more readily than fat, says Wylie-Rosett.

Once the cells have had their fill of glucose, the liver stores some of the excess for distribution between meals should blood glucose levels fall below a certain threshold. If there is leftover glucose beyond what the liver can hold, it can be turned into fat for long-term storage so none is wasted. When carbohydrates are scarce, the body runs mainly on fats. If energy needs exceed those provided by fats in the diet, the body must liquidate some of its fat tissue for energy.

While these fats are a welcome source of energy for most of the body, a few types of cells, such as brain cells, have special needs. These cells could easily run on glucose from the diet, but they can't run on fatty acids directly. So under low-carbohydrate conditions, these finicky cells need the body to make fat-like molecules called ketone bodies. This is why a very-low-carbohydrate diet is sometimes called "ketogenic." (Ketone bodies are also related to a dangerous diabetic complication called ketoacidosis, which can occur if insulin levels are far too low.) Ketone bodies could alone provide enough energy for the parts of the body that can't metabolize fatty acids, but some tissues still require at least some glucose, which isn't normally made from fat. Instead, glucose can be made in the liver and kidneys using protein from elsewhere in the body. But take care: If not enough protein is provided by the diet, the body starts chewing on muscle cells.

I am getting a bit confused, ie fat v fatty acid.

Anyhow a lot (seems like all) of the evidence seems to come from people with health problem.

He really need to provide clear evidence to back up his claims, and I don't see it, that is because I expect he does not have it.


Anyhow seeing as you have scrolled straight to the bottom I will summarise by saying that if his brain was working well he would have provide a much clear explanation

I would need to see a better clearer proof, I will see if I can find one!!!

[kronks]

www.bulletproofexec.com/how-fructose-makes-you-stupid-and-fish-makes-you-smart/

DHA is an essential fatty acid that’s needed to transmit signals between brain cells and to make new nerve tissue. Their hope was that DHA would protect against any drop in mental performance caused by fructose.

“DHA is essential for synaptic function — brain cells’ ability to transmit signals to one another,” said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, the lead author of the study. “This is the mechanism that makes learning and memory possible. Our bodies can’t produce enough DHA, so it must be supplemented through our diet.”

Anyway it is complicated!!

[kronks]

Having consumed all the high fat food in the fridge I am now of the opinion he needs a study done on healthy people to show a high fat diet improves their mental performance and he has not produced one as far as I can see. (actually I had not eaten anything, I had just been to the loo!! ). ll

[♫anna♫]

Jun 29, 2015 3:36:30 GMT kronks said:

www.bulletproofexec.com/how-fructose-makes-you-stupid-and-fish-makes-you-smart/

DHA is an essential fatty acid that’s needed to transmit signals between brain cells and to make new nerve tissue. Their hope was that DHA would protect against any drop in mental performance caused by fructose.

“DHA is essential for synaptic function — brain cells’ ability to transmit signals to one another,” said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, the lead author of the study. “This is the mechanism that makes learning and memory possible. Our bodies can’t produce enough DHA, so it must be supplemented through our diet.”

Anyway it is complicated!!

www.funeducation.com/News/IQ-Test-Information/brain-food-how-to-pick-the-right-diet-for-your-brain

A major health problem in the Western world is "insulin resistance". This developes from overeating carbohydrates and sugars, which cause an overproduction of insulin. Some people don't seem to get the insulin resistance, but seem to burn out instead. The metabolism of all this industrial sugar and carbohydrate is the equivalent of an internal furnace. Those who get the insulin resistance will discover that the only interraction with the body that remains unimpaired is insulin's ability to deposit fat -usually on the belly and thus cause weight gain.
With ketosis insulin is not produced in any significant amount and the ketones and other hormones have no problems metabolising fat and accessing stored fat to metabolise as well. If dysfunctional insulin is present it seems to stand in the way of fat burning hormones by trying to access stored fat, but it will only block any significant metabolisation of fat due to the body resisting it's actions.

[♫anna♫]

Dr. Westman gives a 3 part introduction to the ketogenic diet and how it is the most effective diet in burning off body fat, without significant exercise, which is mandatory for low fat diets.