Carbohydrates Clog Your Brain

September 25, 10:53 AMDenver Low Carb ExaminerLinda Duffy

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Sure, the title may sound a little sensational, but according to Dr. Vincent Fortanasce, eating foods that spike your insulin levels can encourage the development of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is associated with the build up of toxic beta-amyloid proteins in the brain. If your brain is full of insulin from bread, rice, potatoes, sugar or other carby foods, the enzymes responsible for getting rid of those toxic proteins can't because they are too busy trying to get rid of the excess insulin. So, in a sense, your brain gets clogged.

Dr. Vincent Fortanasce, who lost his own father to Alzheimer's, believes that carbohydrates are about as healthy as cigarettes. "Binging on carbs is like smoking cigarettes each time we do it; it leaves a residual “amyloid” deposit on the brain like a cigarette leaves tar on the lungs."

Considering all the carbs I ate up until recently, the brain cells I killed during my misspent youth, and a family history of Alzheimer's disease, ingesting excess carbohydrates just isn't something I can afford to do.

While Dr. Fortanasce recommends a diet low in refined carbohydrates and sugars, he still advocates eating whole grains. Applying the doctor's cigarette analogy, I personally view refined carbohydrates as an unfiltered Camel cigarette and whole grains as a filtered Virginia Slim. No thanks! I will still pass on the grains. At least he recommends lots of anti-inflammitory fish, nuts, berries and vegetables. Plus, he states that you should eat proteins and fats first. His recommended anti-Alzheimer's diet might not have a low enough carb level for me, but you have to admit, it is far superior to the standard American diet.

Next time you consider scarfing those cupcakes, drinking that sweet tea, or even eating whole wheat pasta with a side of multi-grain garlic bread, think about what it will do to your brain. Can you really afford the cost later in life? I already lose my purse and keys on a regular basis, forget birthdays or meetings, and leave my cell phone in the refrigerator (still not sure how I ended up doing that, but yeah, I really did do that). It may already be too late for me, but for goodness sake...save yourself!