Grain Brain
 

Excerpt from Grain Brain:



A link to the complete interview at Life Extension Foundation is here:
https://www.lifeextension.com/magaz...terview/page-01

I'm doing fine on high fat, moderate protein, and low carb. I don't know if it's the diet for anyone else. After all, if one diet was best for everybody, there would only need to be one diet book. But it's working for me. My blood numbers are good and my circulatory system is that of someone 20 years my junior.

Bob

Love Perlmutter. Between his view and the lowcarbers I found common ground: weight loss, good health. Anti grains and sugar. Eat whole foods. And to extend weight loss, I found fasting.

My body is too messed up to tolerate a mostly vegetarian diet.....but others still can manage it.

The other person with a lot of good info on low carb and the brain is Tuit Nutrition. Any Berger v

Me too. I had a heck of a time wrapping my brain around the concept of "moderate protein" - I'd read so much that just reducing the carbs would be all that I would need. Once I got it figured out (math is not my strong suit) I was able to do it. And my bg started doing better, my weight started going down, my energy has gone up. Still have insomnia, but - oddly enough - with my increased energy I'm more active during the day, so I sleep better at night.

Brain Maker, also by Perlmutter, is also a great read. I've added many probiotics and prebiotics to my diet through his two books. Got personal hard cover copies for reference.

My formula is easy. Easy is better because complicated is more difficult to follow.

1) Under 2k calories/day
2) 20 carbs or under/day
3) At least twice as much fat as protein.

I got the 2K calories by filling out a keto formula somewhere on the net, for my gender, height, and activity level.

Bob

Good formula and close to what I'm eating; although, I consume a bit more protein. Works well for my n=1.

Out of curiosity I just tried the first four keto calculators that popped up in the search results. None came anywhere near to the amount of calories I need to maintain my weight based on actual eating experience. Not even close. From 500 to 1200 calories too low. So based on that I'd say a person could try the formulas as a starting place and individualize as needed. The protein amounts came out too low for me, too. Maybe because the calories were so low, but I've also learned with experience that moderate protein for me is a higher amount than I used to suppose based on books I'd read.

My own experience works like this, based on daily averages:

32g carbs and 1700 calories = stall around 155

22g carbs and 1850 calories = weight loss resumes

6g carbs and 1865 calories = hunger-free, effortless, weight loss to the lowest point of my life since puberty

And any time I try to eat less than appetite on protein (which is mostly fatty meat sources) I get restless and hungry.

Those keto calculators always set my calories much lower than I eat to either maintain or to lose a few pounds. If I followed their advice I would be hungry all the time.

They are a good starting point though.

It's hard for a keto calculator to judge your personal metabolism and activity level.

The keto calculator I found (sorry, I didn't bookmark it) is perfect for both myself and my DW.

Bob

I have never based what I eat on calories since going low carb. By setting my carbs at 20 net and my protein much higher than most people suggest the amount of fat I eat seems to fall into place. Those calculators just mess me up so I don't use them.

For example today I will eat:
Carbs: 20 gms net
Protein: 111 gms
Fat: 121 gms
Calories: 1650

Works for me.

I'm with you, Jean. I ignore calories and focus on limiting carbs. This is the primary element in developing a successful WOE that maintains good health for me. My increase in protein over the past year has been very beneficial and has not negatively impacted my blood ketones based on direct measurement.

I'm with both of you!!
Same, no calorie counting and a Good amount of protein. IDK about grams because I don't like metric but most of my diet is protein now. When I feel the full mark with a steak I save the rest in the refrigerator for another meal.

From everything I've read, as we get older we need that protein to maintain strength not less protein as some people do, then they just wither away getting weaker and weaker.

That's what I've decided also from everything I have read. The older we get the more important protein is to keep up our strength. That's why I keep walking every day too. I do not want my muscles to just keep getting weaker and weaker if there is a way to preserve muscle mass as I age.