Hold onto your memory by holding the fries
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink,” says Jesus in this Sunday’s gospel in pointing out the need to rely completely on God. While trusting God in all things is paramount, a little self-discipline when it comes to nutrition can help avoid serious health problems. New research suggests . . .
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink,” says Jesus in this Sunday’s gospel in pointing out the need to rely completely on God. While trusting God in all things is paramount, a little self-discipline when it comes to nutrition can help avoid serious health problems. New research suggests that eating a high-carbohydrate diet may increase the risk of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia as well as other conditions including depression and ADHD.
The rise in blood sugar caused by consuming carbohydrates may compromise brain health, according to Dr. David Perlmutter, neurologist and editor. “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," Perlmutter said in an interview published in Alternative and Complementary Therapies.
Today’s first reading reassures us that the Lord does not forget us, but degenerative memory loss is a ever-present risk as people age. To reduce the risk and to improve brain health overall, Perlmutter recommends a low-carb, high-fat, gluten-free diet. "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. We understand the benefits of doing this from both the literature and clinical observation," Permutter said.
Perlmutter notes that going "gluten-free" is not by itself the answer. "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.”
Homily hint: Healthy living involves striking a balance and avoiding excess but also staying away from a fixation on nutrition. While a healthy diet is indeed important, it is also crucial to avoid becoming so obsessive about what you will or will not eat as to suffer anxiety—or create it for others! “In all things, moderation,” Aristotle said.
The rise in blood sugar caused by consuming carbohydrates may compromise brain health, according to Dr. David Perlmutter, neurologist and editor. “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," Perlmutter said in an interview published in Alternative and Complementary Therapies.
Today’s first reading reassures us that the Lord does not forget us, but degenerative memory loss is a ever-present risk as people age. To reduce the risk and to improve brain health overall, Perlmutter recommends a low-carb, high-fat, gluten-free diet. "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. We understand the benefits of doing this from both the literature and clinical observation," Permutter said.
Perlmutter notes that going "gluten-free" is not by itself the answer. "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.”
Homily hint: Healthy living involves striking a balance and avoiding excess but also staying away from a fixation on nutrition. While a healthy diet is indeed important, it is also crucial to avoid becoming so obsessive about what you will or will not eat as to suffer anxiety—or create it for others! “In all things, moderation,” Aristotle said.
Sources: Articles by Christine Hsu for Counsel & Heal and by The Huffington Post (UK)