2 ms·

I've collected a lot of research on low-carb diets. In my previous job as a neurology professor, I had access to all of the most medical journals, and was able

I've collected a lot of research on low-carb diets. In my previous job as a neurology professor, I had access to all of the most medical journals, and was able to save a lot. I have been on a ketogenic diet for 2 years now, and my LDL cholesterol went from 180 to 130, my HDL from 28 to 80, and my triglycerides from 140 to 75. Plus, I lost 70 pounds, no migraines for 2 years, and my anxiety and depression have all but disappeared. 75% of my calories are from fat (50/50 saturated/unsaturated, mostly from red meat, oils including coconut, olive, and avacodo, butter, plus a TON of vegetables). This is pretty typical. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzEPvoDPVTV5SzJlSHV0Y21rZ0k https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzEPvoDPVTV5SzJlSHV0Y21rZ0... On page 29, there is a cool paper showing ultrasound cross-sections of blood vessels before and after a low-carb diet, and the resulting dramatic decrease in inflammation.

copperx 11y ago
That's great! I've saved the document. Seeing now that you were a neurology prof, I have a question. About 10 years ago I followed a diet similar to the [Slow Carb Diet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-Carb_Diet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-Carb_Diet) in order to lose fat slowly over a long period of time. One of the unexpected side effects was that I felt extremely clear-headed. I was doing software development at the time and I remember being able to breeze through some thinking tasks. Years later, I was feeling foggy so I used Modafinil and it gave me a similar effect. The low-carb acted as a nootropic on me. Is there any mechanism that you know about that could make this possible? Or was it all on my head?
- jawilson2 11y ago
  I believe it completely. This was one of the first effects I felt, before I had gotten deep into the literature. I remember after being on keto for a week, I was walking through a parking lot, and all of a sudden it was like my head popped through the clouds. I had a sudden burst of energy, my anxiety dropped, and I felt like skipping to the car. The keto flu disappeared, and I felt HAPPY for the first time in years. All in the course of 5 minutes. Over the next few weeks, I realized this had extended to my work as well: I felt focused, clear-headed, and able to work more quickly than I had in years. I used to get 1-2 migraines per month. I haven't had one in two years. I started the diet for weight loss (70 lbs now), unaware of the other benefits. It turns out this is starting to be supported by literature, though it is still a new area of study. I started this because of my work in the pediatric epilepsy department I worked in. Nearly all of the kids that came through were put on a very low carb diet; it significantly reduced or eliminated the seizures in about 60%+ of the cases. Naturally, I wondered what was going on. It turns out that there are a number of neurological benefits. It has been shown to treat bipolar disorder [1], schizophrenia[2,3], ADHD[4], and so on. A lot of these are small studies. I am fine with that. If you have a patient who has been schizophrenic for 50 years, and no medication has worked, then a dietary change reverses most symptoms in a week, I feel comfortable saying something significant is happening, even with N=1. (A few years back at a Society for Neuroscience meeting, some NIH director made the point that if I say I have engineered a flying pig with wings, and bring it out on stage as proof, it doesn't make sense to say repeat it 10 or 100 times; the proof is sitting in front of you!). I have only cheated twice in two years, and both times I was groggy for days, and felt the depression creeping back. I realized this was how I ALWAYS felt previously. [1]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11918434 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11918434 [2]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26547882 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26547882 [3]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19245705 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19245705 [4]http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/2/330 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/2/330
noondip 11y ago
Please see the PDF document on http://www.atkinsexposed.org/ http://www.atkinsexposed.org/ and let me know how it relates to your research.

copperx 11y ago

That's great! I've saved the document. Seeing now that you were a neurology prof, I have a question. About 10 years ago I followed a diet similar to the [Slow Carb Diet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-Carb_Diet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-Carb_Diet) in order to lose fat slowly over a long period of time. One of the unexpected side effects was that I felt extremely clear-headed. I was doing software development at the time and I remember being able to breeze through some thinking tasks. Years later, I was feeling foggy so I used Modafinil and it gave me a similar effect. The low-carb acted as a nootropic on me. Is there any mechanism that you know about that could make this possible? Or was it all on my head?

jawilson2 11y ago
I believe it completely. This was one of the first effects I felt, before I had gotten deep into the literature. I remember after being on keto for a week, I was walking through a parking lot, and all of a sudden it was like my head popped through the clouds. I had a sudden burst of energy, my anxiety dropped, and I felt like skipping to the car. The keto flu disappeared, and I felt HAPPY for the first time in years. All in the course of 5 minutes. Over the next few weeks, I realized this had extended to my work as well: I felt focused, clear-headed, and able to work more quickly than I had in years. I used to get 1-2 migraines per month. I haven't had one in two years. I started the diet for weight loss (70 lbs now), unaware of the other benefits. It turns out this is starting to be supported by literature, though it is still a new area of study. I started this because of my work in the pediatric epilepsy department I worked in. Nearly all of the kids that came through were put on a very low carb diet; it significantly reduced or eliminated the seizures in about 60%+ of the cases. Naturally, I wondered what was going on. It turns out that there are a number of neurological benefits. It has been shown to treat bipolar disorder [1], schizophrenia[2,3], ADHD[4], and so on. A lot of these are small studies. I am fine with that. If you have a patient who has been schizophrenic for 50 years, and no medication has worked, then a dietary change reverses most symptoms in a week, I feel comfortable saying something significant is happening, even with N=1. (A few years back at a Society for Neuroscience meeting, some NIH director made the point that if I say I have engineered a flying pig with wings, and bring it out on stage as proof, it doesn't make sense to say repeat it 10 or 100 times; the proof is sitting in front of you!). I have only cheated twice in two years, and both times I was groggy for days, and felt the depression creeping back. I realized this was how I ALWAYS felt previously. [1]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11918434 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11918434 [2]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26547882 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26547882 [3]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19245705 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19245705 [4]http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/2/330 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/2/330

noondip 11y ago

Please see the PDF document on http://www.atkinsexposed.org/ http://www.atkinsexposed.org/ and let me know how it relates to your research.