For years I have been recommending to people with intestinal imbalance—especially Candida overgrowth—a diet that avoids sugar and starchy carbohydrates. As it turns out, this diet is beneficial for much more than intestinal imbalance. A diet low in starchy carbohydrates and sugars has been found to be protective against certain conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and, according to a new study from the Mayo Clinic, cognitive impairment (a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease).
The researchers of this study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, found that among 937 healthy subjects with normal brain function at the beginning of the study, 200 developed dementia or mild cognitive impairment by the end of the four-year study. Those subjects who ate a diet with a high percentage of carbohydrates were at greater risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia, while those subjects who ate a diet with a higher percentage of fat and protein (and thus, lower percentage of carbohydrates) were at decreased risk. “This was a bit of a surprise,” stated lead author Rosebud Roberts, “I thought the big problem would be eating too little protein.”
Those people who got most of their calories from pasta, rice, bread, and other starchy carbohydrates were at higher risk, while those people who ate plenty of protein such as chicken or fish lowered their risk by 21 percent, and those who had a high fat intake from oils and nuts lowered their risk by 42 percent. Roberts said the culprit appears to be the sugar that is created when carbohydrates are digested. “Sugar fuels your brain, so you need some carbohydrates, but too much may stop the brain from using sugars effectively.”
This study is in line with my own recommendations in my latest PBS special and book; both called Heart of Perfect Health. A healthy diet that helps reduce silent inflammation—the underlying cause of most, if not all, chronic disease, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease—is one that is full of non-starchy vegetables and fruit, healthy fats, lean proteins, nuts, and seeds. Take notice of the foods you eat this week and if you find your carbohydrate intake is high, take steps to reduce it.
This is very interesting. I will share with my peeps. My concern is that people seem to take this kind of info to extreme. They see carbs bad, then they miss the part about needing some and just cut out carbs. I had a client tell me she does not eat veggies too much because they have carbs..we are talking leafy greens. How do you explain to people on a very elementary level about balance. some carbs okay….That is my mission in life. What is your take?
Great info for seniors and their caretakers. Brenda could you refresh my memory on your daily sugar count, the carbs less fiber/4 = grams or tsps with day max at 10, thanks
Dear Brenda Watson,Naturopathic Doctor.
I got very ill by eating too much of sweets,fermented Apple cidar and Swiss cheese with mold during ddriving my car in the city of Sarnia,Ontaro on Aug.21/12.
I had headache,brain fog,arthritis,depression,sinus problem and was driving to hospital Emergency Dept.in Sarnia,when police stoped me and hadcufts me and tortured me by pushing into my osteoarthritic stiff dody front seat in locked Police car and place me to police jail instead od Hospital by my request.They had impression that I was dronk-intoxicated by alcohol.But I was not.Next few day I
I wnt to hospital to find out what was casing me this illness.They took blood samples and I WAS TOLD I HAD DIARRHEA,and no alcohol was found in my blood.I was not satisfied with this kind of diagnosis and went to several naturiopathic and health food stores to aks if they would know what kind of illness I had.I was told to filed up the Candida test designed by you and the result of this test showed by total score of 219 that I had Candida overgrowth/I can fax it to you/.
But Police is suing me for beig intoxicated by alcohol but have no breath test of showing that I was intoxicated.Could you please give me some document I need for court /after your examination of my documents/that your Candida Albicans test is indeicating that I had at that time Candidiasis?wich can creat alcohol as well in liver?I need your statement for court purposes.I have also passed another test at that time witch was designed by Dr.Whitaker Julian,M.D.THE FOUNDER OF THE WHITEKER WELNESS INSTITUTE,INC. in Newport Beach,California which is also clearly showing the result iof his test showing that I had Candidiasis.If you want to see it I can fax it to you.Mail me pleas your e-mail address,fax number and your telephone number,to discuss posibility of getting some document from you about this health problem and the price you would charge me for your statement,please.
I am lookig foreward to consult it with you as soon as posible.Thank you kindly.
Dr.J.Dusan Belacik
209 Felix St.,Sarnia,Ontario,N7T 5L4; Tel.:519-336-6982;E-mail address: srdceeuropy@hotmail.com