Monthly Archives: March 2016

Ketosis

Why autophagy should be part of your vocabulary

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I have no idea how to pronounce it, but I know it’s a good thing.    Autophagy is your body’s way of detoxifying and repairing itself.  You can boost autophagy through exercise, and (drum roll) through a ketogenic diet!  Intermittent fasting is another way to boost autophagy.  I do intermittent fasting a few times a week where I will fast for 15-16 hours overnight and throughout the morning before eating solid food.  I still drink coffee with butter and MCT oil in the morning, even when fasting.  It certainly helps get through the long period without food.

Check out this article by Dr. Mercola for more information on what autophagy is, and how to boost it.

 

Diet and Dementia

I can’t wait for this documentary about Alzheimer’s prevention

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I started this blog and my ketogenic diet journey after reading some research on the connection between diet and dementia.  I devoured every bit of research I could on the topic.  It’s been a little quiet the last several months, so when I heard about a new documentary in creation about Alzheimer’s, I got pretty excited.

The documentary is called “Bread Head” and is created by Max Lugavere.  His mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 59.  Could it have been prevented?  He was determined to find the answer.

If you’ve read other posts you know my belief on Alzheimer’s prevention.  I firmly believe it can be prevented by eliminating processed carbohydrates and by eating a diet high in good fats, combined  with physical exercise.  The science just makes too much sense to me not to believe this.

I have been following a ketogenic diet now for 14 months, and I have never felt mentally sharper, nor have I felt stronger when exercising.  I have become more sensitive to sugar alcohols, and I’ve become more sensitive to meat that isn’t high quality, and from grass-fed cows or pastured pigs.  I can immediately feel a difference in cognitive function, and physical well-being when I’ve eaten foods that are not of high quality or that have high amounts of sugar alcohol.  As you can see, I have reasons other than avoiding dementia to continue with this way of eating – I feel much better than my “old” way of eating that involved processed carbohydrates.

You can learn more about Max and his research on a few podcasts he has been featured on – Bulletproof Radio, where he is interviewed by Dave Asprey, and on Ben Greenfield’s podcast, The Surprising Facts About What Bread Does to Your Brain.   I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen, or read the transcripts.  Your brain health could depend on it!

Training Rides

And so it begins…Breathless Agony Part 2

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As Yogi Berra said, “It’s like deja vu all over again.”

We are registered again this year for Breathless Agony, 114 miles with 12,000 feet of climbing.  And I’m again questioning why I am going to put myself through this (with my mom’s voice in my head answering, “Because you’re an idiot.”) We rode it last year but were only able to complete 60 miles, as Jonathan’s back decided to give out on that day.

We’ve been training fairly steadily through February (Jonathan a little more than me), and we’ve set at least one PR nearly every ride.  We are certainly stronger this year than last year at the same time.  But we have a ways to go before being “Breathless Agony” ready.  Unfortunately for me, that means revisiting my old friend Mt. Baldy, ranked as the 20th most difficult climb in the U.S.  My legs and lungs hurt just thinking about it.

The good news is we’ve got our fueling figured out.  No more worrying about what to eat the night before, the day of, during the ride…after last year we’ve got it dialed in.  Our breakfast is the same as any other day, and we use bars to fuel on the bike if/when we get hungry.  The only challenge I currently have is I can no longer tolerate Quest Bars – a low carb protein bar that had been my go-to bar.  The bars contains sugar alcohols and my stomach has decided it will not deal with any more sugar alcohols.

I’m on the hunt for an alternative, and right now the only thing I’ve found is a new bar by Atkins that contain no sugar alcohols – their Harvest Trail bar.    I guess it’s back to using more Super Starch and ketone supplements, too.  Oh, and Slim Jims, my personal favorite.  I just love the heckling I get when I have one sticking out of my jersey.

Travel and food

Why does it take an act of Congress to get meat from local farmers?

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I did not know until today how difficult it is for local farmers to sell their meat to local restaurants and businesses.  Federal requirements make it nearly impossible for them to do so.

This is extremely frustrating for several reasons.  First of all, their meat is of a much higher quality than slaughterhouse meat coming from feedlots where cows are fed grain and grain byproducts and shot full of antibiotics and hormones.  And don’t get me started on the pigs.

Secondly, I come from a small town in Nebraska and know how hard those small farmers work, often for little profit.  For our government to tie their hands with onerous federal requirements just to get their meat sold is offensive, especially when there is a growing segment of the population who wants organic, grass-fed beef, and pastured pork.

Finally, most people I know truly want to buy local, and they want to know where their meat comes from.  Let’s make it easy for all of us, not more difficult.

The PRIME Act was recently introduced and will make it easier for local farmers to sell their meat.   Please read this article and support the passage of this Act any way you can.

Uncategorized

NPR discusses a ketogenic diet and cancer

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I was pleased to see the ketogenic diet getting national attention in a recent NPR article, “Fighting Cancer by Putting Tumor Cells on a Diet.”  As shown in the article, there are certainly persuasive arguments on both sides – whether cancer is a metabolic disease or the result of genetic cell mutation.  However, if there is even a chance that diet can reduce my chances of getting cancer, I’m in.  Why not give myself every advantage possible, while decreasing my risk of Alzheimer’s at the same time?