To dodge a bullet...

I stayed with cousins in Quincy, who are prepping their gorgeous family home to sell as their parents recently died. Needless to say, we are both experiencing tremendous loss. One morning, unable to sleep, I watched the sun rise.  

​It’s been said that having a parent with diminishing brain function, be it dementia or Alzheimers, is like being given a loaded gun. One’s lifestyle choices will pull the trigger or not.
 
What’s the difference between the dementia and Alzheimers anyway? Dementia is a group of conditions that includes Alzheimers, which is why they are often used interchangeably.  There are specific tests for Alzheimers, and many other forms of dementia.  My mom has not been diagnosed with Alzheimers because she refuses to take the test, but she has dementia.
 
Thanks for the outpouring of support.  To clarify: Mom's long term memory is still incredibly impressive. It is her short term memory that is troubled. For example, once I convinced her at our first visit that I was Stephanie, she was thrilled to see me, and then cried because she realized she had not recognized me. She will often forget where she is, but still knows the names of all her grandchildren and asks for them. 
 
Dementia in all forms frightens me frankly, so I read up on it regularly, especially with an eye on how I can avoid it.  Turns out, the consensus is that I can.
 
Cutting edge doctors like neurologist David Perlmutter MD, Dale Bredesen MD, and Dean and Ayesha Sherzai MDs have effectively proven the link between sugar, carbs and resulting brain cognitive impairment.  In fact, in their book The Alzheimer’s Solution, the Sherzais say that approximately 95% of dementia is preventable through lifestyle.  Those who have early onset dementia are the 5%. 
 
This was great but bitter news. I love food. I really enjoy stuff like small batch ice cream, fresh baguettes, gourmet chocolate chunk cookies, hand crafted ravioli, mimosas. So researched more, to hopefully contradict the carb/sugar/dementia link. But the more I sought, the more I learned that diabetes is considered Alzheimers 1.5, and that carbs/sugar really are not our friend, especially if dementia runs in the family. Women are believed to get dementia three times more than men because during menopause, when our progesterone levels go down, our cortisol levels go up, so our insulin resistance levels rise too.
 
Therefore I became interested in the keto diet, which cuts out carbs and sugar.  I discovered that I get decent results baking with almond flour, that the natural (expensive) sweeteners can work, that I enjoy 90% chocolate.  The meat and dairy were delicious. We didn’t feel deprived and I thought I had adjusted my diet appropriately to beat the dementia threat.  (I did notice that men seem to shed weight much more easily than women on keto).
 
Then, however, I had my first check up in 20 months. For the first time in my life, my LDL (bad cholesterol) levels were red flagged: too much red meat and dairy.  I did a little more research, and it appears that this keto diet is the Atkin’s diet of my generation.  We’ll have clear brains, but clogged arteries. We’ll look trim but drop dead of heart failure.  In 20 years time, they’ll look at the keto diet the way we consider the Atkins diet.
 
I just learned a lot at the virtual World Food Summit hosted by John and Ocean Robbins (ironically of Baskin Robbins fame). While they are vegan, they interviewed omnivore neurologist Perlmutter, who spoke of how processed foods temporarily break down the connection between the impulsive self-centric amygdala part of the brain and the wise rational pre-frontal cortex. This breakdown in brain communication explains why, after eating Oreos, my nine-year old will have a meltdown when I ask her to do her homework.  It is why I feel unmotivated after the Ben & Jerry’s and blow off writing.  Our spontaneous amygdalae are running the show, no longer even talking to our enlightened pre-frontal cortexes. Processed food interrupts our brain functioning and ability to think through decisions.
 
In this interview, Perlmutter even seemed to backpedal on the keto craze too, despite his keto cookbook. “Plant based diets are best,” Perlmutter affirmed. He went on to quantify: small amounts of meat and dairy, combined with mostly plant based food. (the traditional keto diet features meats and dairy).  
 
Veggies, however, are a form of carbs (albeit healthier carbs) but carbs nonetheless, that can interrupt that fat burning state known as ketosis.  However, our bodies are not acidic enough to handle meat daily.  Had we the stomach acid of true carnivores (like dogs) it would burn a hole right through our stomachs.
 
Ugh. First cut back on carbs and sugar, now meat and dairy? My husband has developed a following for his grilled steaks. Going cold turkey in my family would result in an ugly crash and burn barbeque-frenzy months down the road.  
Besides, a traditional vegetarian diet would feel too restrictive. As pointed out by Robbins, vegetarians often rely on pasta, pizza, some veggies and then rice.  Having a parent with dementia, I remain vigilant about when I choose to eat sugar and carbs.  I have to be. 
 
It seems the Standard American Diet (SAD) is slowly killing us. But hey – I try to rationalize, we’re all going to die anyway, so do we just eat drink and be merry?  I think of my mom and realize that if I want to truly be merry, I must do all I can to be healthy enough to really live out the time I have.  
 
Food affects us all differently. Some can have coffee at 8PM and go promptly to sleep, while others drink decaf at 4PM and will stay wired.  Some have an insulin spike after sushi, others don’t.  Food is not one size fits all.  But moderation, especially when it comes to carbs, sugar and meat, is key.
 
So Jory and I decide to recalibrate our family menu. Red meat once a week, chicken once a week, then fish, veggies, fruit and more veggies the other nights. We watch in astonishment as our picky eaters devour bean burritos (Ali), zucchini and mushroom burritos (Lillie) and quesadilla (Ty Ty).   Our veggie baked potato night was also a big hit. It’s a huge victory for Ali to bring out celery and ranch because she doesn’t like brussel sprouts but wants to eat veggies. Added bonus: our grocery bill shrinks dramatically, always a boon for feeding a family of five.  New adventure: how to make veggies continually taste really really good. 
 
We’re not militant. We love food and aim for balance, not deprivation. I’ve never been one to count calories or weigh food. However, changing our everyday diet to more plants rather than mindlessly eating whatever we want is a WIN. Planning why and when to eat the decadent stuff matters. Maybe someday we’ll be able to eat healthy all the time.  However, as long as that French bakery still makes those croissants, and I want to celebrate something, I doubt it.  Progress not perfection: living with the prefrontal cortex as the chef.