Dr. Mercola recently published an article on Why Half of America May Have Impaired Brain Function by 2030.
The following are my thoughts on this subject:
Although we don’t fully understand how excessive fructose and high levels of glucose harm the brain, it is clear that they do so. It is clear from resent research that excessive fructose mainly from sugar and HFCS is the driving force behind insulin resistance and type II diabetes. It isn’t yet clear whether it is high levels of insulin or high levels of glucose or perhaps both that is the most damaging to the brain.
It is well established that when you have insulin resistance and you consume high glycemic carbohydrates, especially from grains, you will end up with magnified glucose spikes. We call this postprandial hyperglycemia. Once a person has full-blown diabetes, their glucose levels are high even when they don’t eat. Both postprandial and fasting hyperglycemia appears to harm nerve tissue. It is now clear that diabetics eventually develop reversible cognitive dysfunction, and the higher their glucose levels, the worse their brain functions.
It is also clear that too much of the “toxic twins” fructose and glucose can not only impair cognition, they also interfere with mood, energy, sleep, concentration and focus. We now believe that exposure to sugar, HFCS and grain-based high glycemic carbohydrates can eventually trigger a form of food-induced brain dysfunction that we call Carbohydrate Associated Reversible Brain syndrome or CARB syndrome. People with CARB syndrome can develop up to 22 brain dysfunction symptoms that interfere with their ability to function. They are often misdiagnosed with traditional brain disorders like depression, ADHD, PTSD, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, bipolar II, fibromyalgia, autism and similar conditions. A recent article in Molecular Psychiatry clearly shows the relationship of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome to an increased risk of developing depression: Click to read article.
Because the brain plays a key role in auto-regulating fat stores, people with CARB syndrome start to store extra fat even when they lose lean body mass from dieting. Fat people whose brains don’t work so well—our waiting rooms are now stacked full of such people.
Dr. Johnson recently sent me an autographed copy of his new book “The Fat Switch”. I loved his first book “The Sugar Fix” and this one is even better. I highly recommend that you order and read this book from this site.
It is also clear that taking omega 3 fats helps to mitigate the adverse effects of too much fructose and high levels of glucose. I also agree with Dr. Mercola’s excellent dietary recommendations. If you value your health and brain function, it’s never too late to change. Why not start today?
Dr. William Wilson
Click to read the article by Dr. Mercola.
“A recent article in Molecular Psychiatry clearly shows the relationship of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome to an increased risk of developing depression: Click to read article.”
Link does not lead to the article. I’d love to read it! Thanks – MRH
Thanks for pointing this out. The link has been fixed. Check it out….
Dr. Bill Wilson