Wellness ALERT- Your Brain: On Carbs!

A low carbohydrate recommendation for both brain and total body health is supported by both history and science.  According to neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, eating carbohydrates and sugar over time may do more harm than simply leading you to pack on some extra pounds. In his new book Grain Brain, which hits September 17th, Dr. Perlmutter attributes — with the research to back it up — the consumption of wheat, gluten, and sugar to a slew of negative health effects including Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and even Alzheimer’s.

“Historically, humans have never had access to any meaningful dietary carbohydrate; throughout our 2.5 million years on this planet, the foods we consumed were either high fat and protein animal products, providing the most efficient sources of calories, or high fiber, as well as extremely low carbohydrate plants and plant products.” In other words, we were not built to intake a high level of carbohydrates. We were designed to be on low-carb, high-fat intake.

The other question this immediately brings up is one of energy — we need carbs and sugar for fuel, right? In reality, the most efficient brain "super fuel" is fat, allowing far better ATP production with reduced production of damaging free radicals,” he says. Indulging in a wheat-and-sugar-laden diet can cause "dramatic and clearly detrimental changes in the brain,” says Dr. Perlmutter. “Even slight elevations of blood sugar — well below the threshold for diagnosing diabetes — very directly predicts the future risk of developing dementia, as was recently described in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine."

While a lot of us LOVE Carbs (I have a sweet tooth that really has no bounds too), its is important to focus on doing what is good and right for the brain and body. I may never fully cut out sweets from my diet but instead of having it everyday, I definitely opt for twice a month or on very special occasions. Be truly "sweet to yourself", balance and regulate your carbohydrate intake and your body will thank you for it.


Xo
~ Maryam

Wellness Fix: Pure Honey and Fresh Lemon to the Rescue

In the past week, I've been sick with a dreadful bout of sore throat, voice loss, sniffles, coughing (uncomfortable, mostly at night...The worst), and aches.   It’s likely that working too much and neglecting nutrition probably left my immune system even more susceptible to getting sick. 

We can avoid getting sick by maintaining a good diet and taking vitamins? Mum's advice on one sure way to keep the "cooties" at bay (and this is super easy): 

Every morning, have a spoonful of raw honey (in raw form, it should be a pale yellow color and very thick) with organic cinnamon sprinkled over it. Try to take this before breakfast and it’ll ramp up your defenses! Take it straight and not in your tea; it’ll just turn to sugar once in the tea. This is a preventative way to boost our immune system.

Another way, more reactive than proactive- and I find this helps especially with voice loss is taking a shot of freshly squeezed Lemon (2 tablespoons will do). Follow directly with a teaspoon of honey.

Leave us a quick comment on how YOU boost your immune system. We'd love to hear from you.

~ Maryam