A new study suggests that consistent spikes in blood sugar caused by excess carbohydrates can be harmful to a person’s brain health.
Along the lines of similar research, the study suggests that carbohydrate calorie-rich diets have been linked to an increased likelihood of:
- Brian shrinkage
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Impaired cognition
- Other mental disorders
Dr. David Perlmutter, author of the book “Grain Brain,” said people should be aware that not all calories are the same.
“We live with this notion that a calorie is a calorie, but at least in terms of brain health, and I believe for the rest of the body as well, there are very big differences between our sources of calories in terms of the impact on our health,” said Dr. Perlmutter. “Carbohydrate calories, which elevate blood glucose, are dramatically more detrimental to human physiology, and specifically to human health, than are calories derived from healthful sources of fat.”
Dr. Perlmutter added that excess carbohydrates can be detrimental throughout all stages of life.
“In the clinical arena, when we see children with ADHD, or elderly individuals with depression or dementia, we may see improvement in these clinical presentations simply by removing gluten, reducing carbohydrates, and adding healthy fats back into the diet,” said Dr. Perlmutter. “We understand the benefits of doing this from both the literature and clinical observation.”
Gluten-Free Not The Answer
When asked whether people should strive for a low-carbohydrate or gluten-free diet, Dr. Perlmutter noted that those who go gluten-free still often end up with excess carbs in their system.
“People who are gluten-sensitive may suddenly become attracted to the gluten-free aisle in the grocery stores and gravitate toward gluten-free pastas, breads and crackers. These people are not doing themselves a favor because they are still dramatically pounding their bodies with high levels of carbohydrates,” Dr. Perlmutter explained.
He concluded by saying the best thing people can do is limit their intake of foods like breads, pastas and crackers that have extremely high glycemic indices. Doing so may not guarantee a life free from dementia, but the research “is certainly much more significant than we have ever thought about in the past.”
Dr. Silverman comments
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. One of the pillars of a healthy lifestyle is maintaining balance. Eat a balanced diet, get regular exercise, and continually work to develop both your mental and physical health.
Eating any food loaded with sugars or carbs is obviously bad for your health, but I am glad researchers are working on tangible links to promote awareness. Hopefully people use this information to make better dietary decisions.
Related source: Counsel Heal