“Grain Brain”: Thumbs Up? Book Review and Interview

“Grain Brain” author David Perlmutter is a practicing neurologist, a professor, and a man in a whirlwind of PR.  He is committed to the study of Alzheimer’s prevention foods such as coconut oil, and the foods such as Gluten, sugar and starches which he feels may lead to Alzheimer’s. He is a founding member of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine so he has a good background in preventative healthcare. His father has dementia, and perhaps this triggered him to write about the devastating increase in Alzheimer’s in his medical practice. His premise – that gluten is inflaming our brains and causing damaging insulin and glycation problems – is startling to those new to gluten concerns. Alzheimer’s is incurable.  It is a brain disease that has no known medical treatment. The best we currently have is the hope to slow its progression, OR TO PREVENT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.   That’s where “Grain Brain” comes in.
Dr. Perlmutter’s book lays out the Numan brain’s problems with gluten, insulin and starch in a readable fashion. His end result – the core of the book – is that a very low-carb diet combined with high doses of fats such as coconut oil is the best or only preventative he sees. Unfortunately, this all comes in a rush near the end of the book. It isn’t fully explored, in my opinion, and leaves you with the awkward question: Is he saying we ALL need to eat this way, even if young or healthy? My interview with Dr. Perlmutter was cut short when my Skype went down, so I recorded an addtional segment to preceed it.  Enjoy listening as we talk about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapies, Glycation Processes, Leaky BRAIN, and Diabetes. And of course, Alzheimer’s. One point to remember: Perlmutter reports that HgB A1C levels should be kept very low as ANY elevation in Insulin can double our chances of Alzheimer’s.  A powerful message, and a book to share with those still hooked on starchy carbs and gluten. As Dr. WIlliam Davis said in “Wheat Belly”, there’s no good reason to eat gluten anymore.  Listen to that excellent 2012 podcast here.

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