“This is Your Brain on Gluten”

Can a strict low-carb diet dramatically reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease? And the risk of almost every other neurological disease, like depression and ADHD? That’s what Dr. Perlmutter argues in his bestselling book Grain Brain. Here’s a good article on Perlmutter’s claims with comments from several other doctors: TheAtlantic: This is your brain on… [Continue Reading]

Small Steps or Radical Changes?

When seeking to improve health or weight, should we do this in small steps or radical changes? Should we, for example, go on a strict LCHF diet or start out by just making a minor dietary change? My tip is to start small with one big change. For example, I advise patients who want to… [Continue Reading]

A Calorie Is NOT a Calorie

A calorie is not a calorie. There are plenty of studies demonstrating how different kinds of food affect us in different ways – despite having the same number of calories. Recently another interesting study was published. The participants were served milkshakes that were identical in every way, except how rapidly digested the carbs were. The… [Continue Reading]

“Have Some Candy”

Why do people assume that everybody wants candy, no matter where you are? Has this become so normal? The other day I was at a lunch restaurant, where you can buy healthful foods, such as a salad full of nutritious ingredients (my choices: chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, feta cheese). I chose mineral water to go… [Continue Reading]

Lose Weight: Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

Many people replace sugar with artificial sweeteners in the belief that this will reduce their calorie intake and cause weight loss. It sounds plausible. Several studies, however, have failed to show any positive effect on weight loss by consuming artificial sweeteners instead of plain sugar. Instead, according to scientific studies, artificial sweeteners can increase appetite… [Continue Reading]

Memory Like a Gold Fish

A recent PhD thesis was interpreted as proving that carbohydrates protect against type 2 diabetes. Therefore, low carb diets were said to increase the risk of diabetes. As usual this is a case of a single observational study (i.e. statistical correlations from a survey) and headline-seeking journalists. But it’s more irresponsible than usual. Observational studies… [Continue Reading]