One of the most remarkable natural health discoveries in a long time could be a strong combatant in the fight against
Alzheimer’s. This totally natural strategy could very well contribute to the prevention and treatment of the disease.
The brain food in question is coconut oil, specifically the ketone bodies found in it that ward off “brain starvation” – one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.
The human brain is fueled primarily by glucose. Recent studies have revealed that the brain makes its own insulin to convert glucose into the food it needs for survival. When the brain doesn’t make enough insulin, as in the case of diabetes, it eventually goes into starvation mode, begins to atrophy, and eventually loses cognitive ability.
In other words the brain suffers from insulin resistance and can’t convert glucose into the energy it needs. The good news is there is an alternate source of energy your brain can utilize . . . and it’s found in coconut oil. According to one study, the ketoacids contained in coconut oil can feed your brain, prevent atrophy, and even restore nerve cell function even after damage is done.
How coconut oil contributes to brain health.Ketones are produced when fat is converted into energy. A great source of ketone bodies are
medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) as those found in coconut oil. As a matter of fact, coconut oil is about 66 percent MCTs.
Unlike long chain triglycerides, MCTs go straight to the liver where they’re converted to ketones. Your liver then releases them into the blood stream where they are carried to the brain to be used as a food source.
This is significant because the neurons in Alzheimer’s patients can’t utilize glucose because of the insulin resistance. They slowly begin to die, and eventually the symptoms of Alzheimer’s set in. If ketone bodies are available, then these nerve cells will have a source of fuel and will continue to function as they should.
One point of interest is that rather than treat MCTs as a fat, your body metabolizes them as a carbohydrate. That way there is no insulin spike like there is when carbohydrates normally enter the bloodstream.
In other words, coconut oil, though a fat, behaves like a carbohydrate when it comes to supplying your brain with energy.
How much coconut oil should you take?As a preventative measure against Alzheimer’s, or to treat a current condition, 20 grams per day is considered therapeutic (20 grams is a little over two tablespoons). To avoid stomach upset, take coconut oil with food.
One of the most pervasive influences on brain damage is insulin resistance. It contributes to inflammation which leads to brain degeneration as well as chronic diseases that affect the entire body. Since many experts believe the best defense against Alzheimer’s is
prevention, feeding the brain properly and avoiding insulin resistance could be the best step you can take towards brain health.
