COCONUT OIL FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND FOOD FOR BRAIN HEALTH

COCONUT OIL FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

FOOD FOR BRAIN HEALTH

On staying fit, we generally think from our neck down. But the health of our brain plays a critical role in almost everything we do: thinking, feeling, remembering, working, playing and even sleeping.

This post was inspired by my blogger friend Jan Oliver of 1-2Punch. Jan blogs mainly on fruit punch recipes with unusual mixtures that amazed me every time i visited her site and i must say that most of Jan's posts are authentic, gourmet style fruit punch recipes, inherited from her late father, chef Fred Oliver. Hmmm, i like the name Oliver too.  

Thank you very much Jan, else i would have missed my research on such a valuable topic- the degenerative incurable alzheimer's disease.... do check out 1-2Punch- link here looking forward to viewing your mountain winter home coming... soon.

ABOUT DIMENTIA   link here

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life- Alzheimer's is the most common dimentia. Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is second. Other causes include thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies. 

ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE (AD)- signs and symptoms link here

Stage 1-2- No symptoms of dementia, but may have a very mild cognitive decline (either age-related  OR early AD signs)such as forgetful and stress.  

Stages 3-10- Cognitive decline starts.  Include forgetfulness , can’t handle complex tasks, withdrawn in social and  mentally challenging situations. Eventually, inability to respond to the environment , can’t control movements like eating or using the toilet. Also inability to smile, converse, to sit without support or heads up, abnormal reflexes, rigid muscles , wander around and finally death. 

Links - here and  here

No treatment or drugs have been proven to prevent or delay AD.  

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), a part of the National Institutes of Health at the US, supports clinical trials on exercise and cognitive function. Results showed:

1-A walking program- Brain activity increased in specific brain regions as the participants’ cardiovascular fitness increased. Exercise for at least 15 minutes.

2- Dietary Factors - A nutritious diet of high anti oxidant fruits and vegetables, whole grains,  low in fat and added sugar. Cold water fish with omega-3 fatty acids:  Nuts for vitamin E. HDL (or “good”) cholesterol may help protect brain cells. Use mono- and polyunsaturated fats eg. olive oil.

3-Engage in social and intellectually stimulating activities

4-Vitamins may be helpful- such as vitamin E, or vitamins E and C together, vitamin B12 and folate may be important in lowering AD risk. Molecules called “Free radicals”  can damage nerve  cells during  ‘aging process’.D

Vitamin E should not be taken to treat AD except under supervision of a physician. Vitamin E — especially at the high doses, can negatively interact with other medications, including those to prevent blood clotting or to lower cholesterol. Scientists found evidence  that high-dose of vitamin E may slightly increase the risk of death

Final Thoughts on Combating Alzheimer's with Coconut Oil

Links- here and  here

Alternative Brain Food Can Stop Brain Atrophy

In AD patients -- portions of their brain start to atrophy or starve. Brain atrophy is when the brain has parts of it that are not working and really have just died. 

ENERGY AS BRAIN FOOD IS OBTAINED IN TWO WAYS-

1-Energy derived when insulin regulates/ process blood sugar.

2-Ketones, which are produced when our body converts fat into energy.

A  substance  called ketone bodies, or ketoacids--  can feed the brain and prevent brain atrophy. It may even restore and renew neuron and nerve function in the brain after damage has set in.

A primary source of ketone bodies are the medium chain triglycerides (MCT) found in coconut oil! Coconut oil contains about 66 percent MCTs.

The benefits of ketone bodies may also extend to a number of other health conditions, according to Dr. Newport:

"Further, this is a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclero­sis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), drug resistant epilepsy, brittle type I diabetes, and diabetes type II, where there is insulin resistance.

Ketone bodies may help the brain recover after a loss of oxygen in newborns through adults, may help the heart re­cover after an acute attack, and may shrink cancer­ous tumors."

"In Alzheimer's disease, the neurons in certain areas of the brain are un­able to take in glucose due to insulin resistance and slowly die off, a process that appears to happen one or more decades before the symptoms become apparent," Dr. Newport states in her article.

"If these cells had access to ketone bod­ies, they could potentially stay alive and continue to function."

Another way to increase ketone production in your body is by restricting carbohydrates.

When we go on a high fat, high protein, low carbohydrate diet:  Our body run on fats instead of carbohydrates, and the name for this is ketosis.

However, the ketones produced by ketosis are not concentrated in our bloodstream, they are instead mostly excreted via urine.

Consuming  “medium chain triglycerides” (MCT), like coconut oil is a better option.

MCTs and Alzheimer's Research

The mechanism of this MCT-ketone metabolism appears to be that your body treats MCTs as a carbohydrate and not a fat. This allows the ketone energy to hit your blood stream without the normal insulin spike associated with carbohydrates entering your bloodstream. So in effect coconut oil is a fat that acts like a carbohydrate when it comes to brain fuel.

Therapeutic levels of MCTs have been studied at 20 grams per day. According to Dr. Newport's calculations, just over two tablespoons of coconut oil (about 35 ml or 7 level teaspoons) would supply you with the equivalent of 20 grams of MCT, which is indicated as either a preventative measure against degenerative neurological diseases, or as a treatment for an already established case.

Unrefined, Unbleached, Non-deodorised, Non-Hydrogenated

Free from - Cholesterol, trans-fats and GM ingredient..    Recipe using this product is Carrot cake.

WHAT KIND OF COCONUT OIL SHOULD I USE?

Look for coconut oils that are non-hydrogenated with no transfat.  Avoid coconut oils that are hydrogenated or super-heated because it changes the chemical structure of the fats. If you like the odor of coconut, look for products called “virgin,” “organic,” or “unrefined.”- Dr Newport -link- here

The coconut oil or MCTs should also be taken in the morning, as it takes a minimum of three hours for the oil to convert to ketones and reach the brain. A dose of four tbsp, twice a day, may benefit  those already suffering from pre-AD or AD.

Dr Fife, has taken up the cause and all about it in his book Stop Alzheimer’s Now.

Central to his book is a the story of Doctor Mary Newport about how she used coconut oil to improve her husband’s Steve’s Alzheimer’s after just 35 days of taking virgin coconut oil (VCO).

It is recommended that MCT supplements be avoided by those with diabetes and liver problems and by pregnant and breastfeeding women

Grated coconut used for making desserts

Well, as everything goes back to food and what you eat, here are some:

FOOD IDEAS

·    Use coconut oil instead of butter on toast, English muffins, bagels, grits, corn on the cob, potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, vegetables, noodles, pasta.

·         Mix coconut oil into oatmeal or other hot cereal.

·         Add coconut oil or milk to smoothies, yogurt or kefir.

·         Mix coconut oil half and half with salad dressings. 

·         Mix coconut oil into your favorite soup, chili or sauce.

·     Use a measured amount of coconut oil to stir fry or sauté (add peanut oil over medium heat)