Healthy Fat for Reversing and Preventing Alzheimer's
Ok girls, if you haven’t heard me say this yet hear it now: Fat is not the enemy!
Healthy fats, monounsaturated and some polyunsaturated, even saturated fats all have beneficial effects on every system in the body. Fat actually powers our metabolism. It causes no blood sugar spikes which lead to inflammation which puts us at increased risk of the diseases of aging. It is critical for preservation of bone, immunity, and energy throughout the day.
Adding fat to a carb will slow down the blood sugar response and it will help you feel full–one key way to prevent overeating. But this post is about Alzheimer’s and related kinds of disease processes and how you can help someone you love and yourself.
Today I read in Dr. Whitaker’s newsletter a story about a new Alzheimer’s drug which is actually fat in a pill. A man who at 59 was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, put on Aracept and a few other drugs, but declined over the years following his diagnosis. His wife, a doctor, (Dr. Newport) was made aware of a clinical trial evaluating a new Alzheimer’s drug. When her husband was not approved for the trial she did some research to find out what the active ingredient in this new drug was. To her surprise, the active ingredient was medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). These are natural fatty acids abundant in coconut oil.
She started giving her husband coconut oil and with the first dose, “a light switch came on” said the patient. Maybe I should tell you that at this point he was unable to use a calculator, work, type or remember to eat.
One dose! Why it worked is too long to go into here but it has to do with ketones which are the body’s alternative energy source. These are the very things produced and burned as fuel when you do an Atkins type eating program.
It’s a remarkable story and just one example of how a food we’ve been told for years is a “bad, saturated fat” is being rightfully shown as an important part of a healthy diet. Even Big Pharma found something to love in this healthy fat.
The drug they based on MCTs is called Axona and is available as a “medical food.” That phrase makes me laugh just thinking about it. Now the medical world wants to claim natural foods as their own? If you were to take enough of this “food” to help brain function throughout the day you’d have to take it three times per day at a cost of $300/month. According to Dr. Whitaker, insurance companies are not reimbursing for it at this time.
Dr. Newport has a website with more information.
Food for thought and for those who want to keep on thinking clearly.
7 Responses to “Healthy Fat for Reversing and Preventing Alzheimer's”
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I got the news letter this week and went and bout the mct oil and coconut oil, but my news letter got put up somewhere I don’t know and I would like to know how to mix it. thanks so much for a response
Hi Janet, According to Dr.Newport as reported in Dr. W’s newsletter the mixture is 12 oz coconut oil + 16 oz of MCT. She says to start with 1 – 2 teaspoons per meal to avoid diarrhea and build up gradually. Don’t forget not to eliminate your fish oil as this mixture has no Omega -3 essential fatty acids.
Would love to hear how this helps you.
Thank you, Gregory Anne, for your sane and sensible suggestions for eating right and staying healthy. I was on the anti-fat band wagon for years and, as a result, developed dry skin and hair and gained weight. I do try to keep up on what’s current health-wise but so many of the experts are at odds with one another or change their minds completely after a few years. From now on, I’m sticking with you: you know your stuff and you’re into moderation and common sense–the best approach around!
Greetings Greg!
I don’t know if I can handle it! Running across more coverage on MCT’s AND epi-genetics on the SAME DAY!! I have been bugging the heck out of my two oldest kids to take me up on learning about this for some time now.(They keep promising) I’m going to go look up Lorenzo’s Oil and see if there’s any connection to this. It was some sort of deficiency or storage disease-a child’s parents researched it.
Thanks for the great stuff! Yeah! Jan
Hey Jan,
Too funny. I love when that happens. Also loved the Lorenzo’s oil film. May have to watch it again.
Epi-genetics just thrills me as I learn more–and work to practice more thinking and doing from the point of view of health and well being.
Cheers
Hey Eileen,
Glad to be of service. I know it’s been so confusing over the years. I never could do without fat but have had my share of rice cakes and plastic non fat cheese–blech! Glad you are feeling better and enjoying life and food more compliments of the latest science. Funny thing is, it’s not new science, it’s just getting some air time at last.