How Keto Diet "Could Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease"

Low carb diets have long been considered an effective weight loss tool.

If you do not consume carbohydrates, you do not eat a pile of sugar that is then converted into fat – and that is what saves weight.

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But a new study now suggests that low-carb and high-fat keto diets could also help keep the brain healthy and young.

According to scientists at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky in Lexington (United States), staying away from refined carbohydrates and eating fats and proteins could help stem the cognitive decline.

They investigated the effects of a keto diet on neurovascular function (including circulation and sensory and motor functions) in mice.

In one of the tests published in the journal Scientific Reporters, rodents were divided into two groups – one fed the keto diet and the other on a normal diet.

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After 16 weeks, they found that keto mice had improved blood flow to the brain, better bacterial balance in the intestine, reduced body weight and better blood sugar.

And they also discovered that the keto diet had apparently boosted the clearance of something called "beta-amyloid protein" in the brain, the building blocks that stick together during Alzheimer's disease.

The author of the study, Ai-Ling Lin, said: "Neurovascular integrity, including cerebral blood circulation and blood-brain barrier function, plays a major role in the abilities cognitive.

"Recent scientific evidence suggests that bacterial integrity may be regulated by the intestinal bacteria, so we investigated whether the ketogenic diet improved cerebrovascular function and reduced the risk of neurodegeneration in healthy young mice.

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"While diet changes, the ketogenic diet, in particular, has been shown to be effective in treating certain diseases, we have chosen to test young, healthy mice, using the diet as a potential preventative measure.

"We are delighted to see that we could actually use a diet to mitigate the risk of Alzheimer's disease."

Even though it is still unclear exactly how keto could protect the brain, Lin suggested that this could be due to the fact that a high-fat diet may inhibit a nutrient sensor known as the mechanistic target called rapamycin (mTOR) – what previous research has revealed: have a significant impact on aging.

Lin's research also revealed that you can target mTOR through caloric restriction.

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This brain-bowel connection is not new.

It is said that anxiety and depression contribute to certain gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

According to Harvard Health, "the brain has a direct effect on the stomach and intestines".

"For example, the very idea of ​​eating can release the juice from the stomach before food gets in. This connection goes back and forth. A disturbed gut can send signals to the brain just like a disrupted brain can send signals to the intestine.

"Therefore, intestinal or intestinal distress may be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress or depression.

Indeed, the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system are closely linked. "

In 2016, a study in mice revealed that Parkinson's disease could develop in the intestine.

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Although the NHS emphasizes that the study is based on rodents (as in the latter), it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions about human health, it nevertheless indicated that the results of the study were interesting.

Arthur Roach, director of research and development at Parkinson UK, commented on this study: "This article shows for the first time how one of the key players in Parkinson's disease, the alpha-synuclein protein, might have brain modified by intestinal bacteria.

"It is important to note, however, that this study was conducted on mice and that further studies on other model systems and humans would be needed to confirm that this connection is real … There are still many questions to answer, but hopefully this will trigger further research that will revolutionize Parkinson's treatment options. "

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GET THE SKINNY What is the keto diet, what are the best ketogenic recipes and does its meal plan promote weight loss?

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With that in mind, it's no surprise that what we eat could affect the health of our brains.

But how does this fit with recent research that low-carb diets can potentially increase our risk of colon cancer and poor intestinal health?

The problem is that many people do not really understand what keto is.

Although things like bread and pasta are not on a keto diet, they are not really anti-carbs.

Nutritionist Sarah Flower told the Sun that even though a low carb diet is not good, a low carbohydrate diet is good.

"Sugar and carbohydrates negatively affect our intestinal bacteria Low carbohydrate / keto consumption should be filled with good intestinal stimulating foods, including vegetable fiber.

"Most people think of Atkins or simply a diet of meat and fat when they hear about carb or ketone, but it's more Mediterranean, real food, vegetables, nuts, seeds, good healthy fats, fatty fish, meat, dairy – nothing more than a real diet cutting cereals, sugars and all processed foods. "

In order to stay full and satisfy your instinct, you should eat as many fresh vegetables as possible (especially dark green leaves such as kale and spinach).

Nobody says that you should completely cut rice, pasta, bread, etc., but it might be worthwhile to limit the amount you eat and increase your vegetable intake. Keep this delicious pizza for Friday night, when you can really enjoy it.

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