Leading Neurologist Says Grains Are Bad For Your Brain - Can Lead To Dementia, Chronic Headaches And Depression

Gluten allergies don't exist said a leading doctor last week, which surely should have given comfort to those of us who have avoided wheat grains for fear of headaches and bloating. But a leading neurologist, Dr David Perlmutter, has said we should avoid grains altogether, as they are contributing to some serious conditions and illnesses such as dementia, depression and chronic headaches. For those of us who have made the switch to healthier grains such as wholemeal, this will come as disconcerting news. But the doctor, who has just published Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar - Your Brain's Silent Killers has said that all grain-based carbs should be eliminated. He is the founder of the Perlmutter Health Center in Naples, Florida, reported News.com.au, who reported the doctor as saying that our brains thrive on fat and cholesterol but suffer when we eat grains. "Lifestyle factors are profoundly influential in determining risk for Alzheimer's, and yet, perhaps because they cannot be monetised, no one is bringing this information to public awareness," he wrote in a piece on Mind Body Green, The Surprising Ways Grains Are Destroying Your Brain. It's his belief that the risk of Alzheimer's disease can be reduced by changing your diet. On his website, he says: "During an appearance on the Dr. Oz show two ago, I was asked to highlight what I would consider to be the three items we should all be working into our diets more frequently to help support better brain health. Not knowing how popular it would later become, I outlined my “Anti-Alzheimer’s Trio,” three foods high in “brain-healthy” fat including grass-fed beef, coconut oil and avocados. "These items are all low in carbs and high in fat, helping to reduce some of that brain-bullying inflammation the root cause of so many ailments. Specifically, coconut oil is known as a rich source of beta-HBA, is one of our brain’s 'superfuels'." Dr Perlmutter's belief that grains are not good for the body echoes what other nutritionists have been saying, which is that our body's evolutionary clock is set 10,000 years ago, when we didn't have grains in our diet. Nutritionist and IBS expert Petronella Ravenshear says: "We’ve changed our diet in the last 10,000 years but our bodies haven't caught up yet. We didn't have things like grains and milk, and now it has become a part of our daily diet. After the second world war people were looking for cheap food sources and cereal and milk became one of them. People came into schools and said you need calcium for strong bones - well, we used to have strong bones without drinking milk because there was no such thing 10,000 years ago. "We are the only animals that have special foods for breakfast – I say eat what you fancy. If you want eggs, smoked salmon, or a piece of chicken, have it - it doesn’t have to be cereal based – it is not good for us. Gluten is Latin for glue because it has such a sticky characteristic – milk protein is also sticky." Dr Perlmutter, who also blogs for The Huffington Post US says: "As a practicing neurologist, I place central importance in applying current science to the notion of disease prevention." Here are his action points to help preserve your brain health and function: • Reduce your carbohydrate consumption immediately. Shoot for a total of no more than 80 grams of carbs in your daily diet. This means favoring vegetables that grow above ground like kale, broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower as opposed to those that store carbohydrate in the form of starch like potatoes and beets. It means limiting fruit consumption and being especially vigilant with things like fruit juice. A single 12 ounce glass of orange juice contains a full 36 grams of sugar. That's about 9 teaspoons -- the same as a can of soda. • Eat more fat. Increase your consumption of healthful fats like extra virgin olive oil, avocado, grass-fed beef, wild fish, coconut oil, nuts and seeds. At the same time, keep in mind that modified fats like hydrogenated or trans fats are the worst choices for brain health. Cooking oils like corn oil and soy oil that have been processed to stay on the grocery store shelf for months or even years have no place in a brain healthy program. • Get at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise each day. Aerobic exercise actually activates the DNA that turns on the growth of the hippocampus, giving you a second chance at not only preserving, but actually enhancing memory function. • Add a nutritional supplement providing approximately 1,000 mg of the omega-3 DHA to your daily supplements. Like aerobics, DHA also activates the gene pathway that enhances growth of new brain cells where you need them most -- in the memory center. SOURCE:HOFFPOST

Worst Foods For Your Digestion

Have you ever felt gassy, bloated or experienced an extreme case of heartburn after a meal? That uncomfortable, tummy-twisting feeling was most likely due to what you ate. Some foods are worse for digestion than others, particularly if you’re one of the 70 million people in the United States that suffer from a digestive disorder, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, diarrhea, constipation and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), to name a few. We’ve rounded up some of the top foods that can put your GI tract in a bind. If you’ve found that other foods negatively affect your digestive system, let us know in the comments. 1.Artificial Sweetener How it affects you: If you like to cut calories by adding artificial sweetener rather than real sugar to your coffee, you may be affecting your digestion and increasing inflammation in your body. “In general, sweeteners which are partially digested (sugar alcohols) have the biggest impact on the GI system and can lead to bloat, gas, and diarrhea,” according nutritionist and dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade. What you can do: Experiment with the multitude of artificial sweeteners that are on the market and determine which affects you the least, suggests Palinski-Wade, who recommends using natural sweeteners, such as agave nectar. “This is not calorie-free, but because it is sweeter than sugar, less is needed, helping to reduce carbohydrates and calories,” says Palinski-Wade. 2.Chocolate How it affects you: Your sweet tooth may affect more than just your waistline. Caffeine contained in chocolate may trigger heartburn and IBS symptoms in people prone to digestive disorders. What’s more, like coffee, chocolate is also a diuretic, which can result in loose stool or diarrhea. What you can do: If you need to satisfy that craving, choose dark chocolate. “It contains polyphenols that can slow GI function and increase water absorption to prevent diarrhea,” says Palinski-Wade. “Cocoa, which is found in higher amounts in dark chocolate than milk chocolate, is also a good source of fiber, which promotes healthy digestion.” 3.Processed Foods How they affect you: Beyond upping the risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease and leading to weight gain, refined carbohydrates, like white bread, soda, and potato chips, move quickly through the digestive tract and can result in bloating, cramping, and other GI issues. What you can do: If you can’t totally cut out processed foods from your diet, eat them in combination with foods that digest slowly, like lean protein – think chicken breast without the skin – and healthy fat – like an avocado or natural peanut butter, says Palinski-Wade. On top of that, keep portions in check, so those refined carbs don’t outweigh the good food you’re combining them with. 4.Spicy Food How it affects you: Whether we’re talking hot curry or spicy Buffalo chicken wings, foods that give your taste buds a run for their money can also trigger heartburn, particularly if you eat them close to bedtime. What you can do: "Cooling foods, specifically dairy, can help to calm the burn associated with spicy food in some people," says Palinski-Wade. "Since milk itself can be hard to digest, reach instead for Greek yogurt or Daisy Brand cottage cheese, which contain GI-friendly probiotics to aid digestion while cooling the burn felt from heavy spices." 5.Fresh Fruit & Veggies How they affect you: Conventional wisdom says that reaching for nature’s bounty in the produce aisle is the best way to stay healthy. And while fresh produce should always be included in a healthy diet, digesting raw fruit and vegetables can be difficult for people with sensitive GI systems. Raw produce has high amounts of insoluble fiber, which move quickly through the intestinal tract and can result in loose stool, diarrhea, gas and bloating. What you can do: Cook your veggies and, whenever possible, your fruit. “Cooking helps to break down some fiber in produce, allowing it to be digested more easily, limiting gas and bloating that can occur when eating raw produce,” says Palinski-Wade. 6.Greasy Or Fried Foods How they affect you: Food high in saturated fat, like steak (certain cuts, like rib-eye, are fattier than others), French fries, and ice cream, is difficult for the body to digest and can make you feel uncomfortably full and increase the chances of acid reflux, according to Palinski-Wade. If you already suffer from heartburn, fatty food can make it even worse by relaxing the valve that seals off the stomach from the sphincter. The loose valve can cause stomach acid to rise into the esophagus and result in a really unpleasant case of heartburn, says Karen Ansel, nutritionist and dietitian. What you can do: If you’re jonesing for a steak, burger, or other high-fat meal tonight, remember not to combine it with alcohol, which can further irritate your GI tract, says Palinski-Wade. Whenever possible, cook meals in plant-based fats, such as olive oil, which is easier to break down than saturated fat, like butter. 7.Coffee How it affects you: This energy hero can quickly become your GI tract’s worst enemy. In fact, nearly 40 million people in the United States refrain from drinking coffee – or as much coffee as they would like – due to stomach irritation, according to the American Chemical Society. Coffee doesn’t just wake up our mind, it also stimulates acid production in the stomach, which can cause inflammation and result in heartburn and GERD. What’s more, caffeine acts like a diuretic, which can cause dehydration and, ultimately, constipation. What you can do: Limit caffeinated coffee to one cup, says Palinski-Wade. “If that’s not possible, limit to one caffeinated cup every two hours to allow your body time to process the caffeine.” It’s important not to drink coffee on an empty stomach, which can increase indigestion, notes Palinski-Wade. She recommends adding something that’s easily digestible – like a banana or bran cereal at breakfast – to reduce symptoms. 8.Acidic Foods How they affect you: Even if you have the best intentions, many healthful fruits and vegetables, like oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and tomatoes, may increase your risk for acid reflux and GERD due to their acidity. What you can do: Removing acidic foods from your diet is the best way to reduce your risk for heartburn. However, if you still want to eat these fruits and vegetables every once and awhile, don’t do it on an empty stomach, which can increase irritation and inflammation. source:hoffpost