Table of contents:
- A low carbohydrate diet can prevent premature aging of the brain
- Ketone intake improves overall brain stability
- The brain needs a combination of glucose and ketones
As a person gets older, brain function will also experience aging with decreased ability to remember and think. So that this doesn't happen too early, you need to take precautions, one of which is through your daily diet. Recently, a study suggested that a low-carbohydrate diet might prevent and even potentially reverse the brain aging process. How is the explanation?
A low carbohydrate diet can prevent premature aging of the brain
Many people think that the slowdown in brain function occurs only when they enter the unproductive age.
In fact, according to brain scan data found by researchers, a communication disorder between brain regions can occur when a person is in their late 40s.
Most likely, reduced brain function is closely related to the presence of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body's cells cannot respond to insulin's work to control blood sugar.
Mujica-Parodi, a professor from the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University said, when a person gets older, the brain begins to lose its ability to convert blood sugar into energy efficiently.
As a result, the nerves in the brain that lack energy intake make the tissues in that part of the brain unstable.
Fortunately, there are ways you can do to replace glucose as a source of fuel in the brain. One thing that can be done is with the intake of ketones which will provide energy to the brain.
Ketones are chemical compounds that are produced by the liver when you don't have enough insulin to convert sugar into energy. As a result, the body will need another source, namely fat instead.
Ketones can also be obtained by following a low-carbohydrate diet, which reportedly also prevents brain aging.
To prove this, researchers also conducted experiments on 42 participants who were adults under 50 years of age. Participants were asked to run a low carbohydrate diet for a week.
The research, conducted by a team of professors from Stony Brook University, aims to determine the impact that certain diets have on brain aging.
Research focuses on the pre-symptomatic period, a state when symptoms do not appear, during which prevention is more effective.
Later, the difference in the brain's response to two different eating patterns will be known through fMRI scans.
Ketone intake improves overall brain stability
From these experiments, the two different diets were seen to provide different types of fuel to the brain.
In a normal diet, the brain tends to use glucose as its energy source. Whereas in a diet that is low in carbohydrates, fat is a source of energy that is used.
However, participants experienced increased work and more stable brain function after undergoing a low carbohydrate diet. This is because ketones can provide more energy than glucose even with the same amount of intake.
The effect of this low-carbohydrate diet is of course very good for preventing premature brain aging. With the intake of ketones which increase energy for the brain, it is hoped that brain function can also return to normal.
In addition, a low-carbohydrate diet can relieve epilepsy symptoms. Other research has shown that limiting carbohydrate intake can be an effective way to reduce seizures in children and adults with epilepsy.
A diet low in carbohydrates can also reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia. Both of these diseases are closely related to hypermetabolism which is caused by the loss of the ability of the brain nerves to absorb glucose.
Therefore, the use of ketones as a fuel source will really help the brain to keep working properly.
This fact is supported by a study which explains that the early symptoms of Alzheimer's do not affect the work of the brain in absorbing ketones.
This discovery is certainly good news. Moreover, in Indonesia alone, the number of people with dementia has reached 1.2 million people per year 2016. In order not to continue to increase, it would be better if this preventive step could be carried out earlier.
The brain needs a combination of glucose and ketones
Indeed, ketone intake can provide better energy for the brain. However, that doesn't mean the brain can rely on ketone intake alone. The combination with glucose is still needed so that the brain can work properly.
When you do not have sufficient glucose levels, the production of neurotransmitters that function as messengers from the brain is disrupted. This incident will cut off communication between neurons.
In addition, the risk of hypoglycemia will also increase. Hypoglycemia is a common complication of diabetes and can be caused by low blood sugar levels.
Hypoglycemia can cause the brain to lack energy which ultimately makes it difficult for you to concentrate.
Having a low-carb diet will help you prevent brain aging, but that doesn't mean you have to cut out carbohydrates altogether. Carbohydrates remain a necessary substance if you are to get energy.
Maintaining a balanced diet remains the best key to maintaining overall health. If you have a health problem that requires sugar restrictions such as diabetes, it's better to consult your doctor again to find out the right diet.
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