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Blood Sugar, Diet and Memory
Medical researchers have known for many years that people with blood sugar problems, particularly diabetics, have a 65% increased risk of developing Alzheimer's.
Recent research has uncovered what may be a deeper link. A Brown University Medical School report identified a new connection between blood sugar and memory loss. They discovered that insulin, the hormone responsible for sugar utilization in the body, is not only produced in the pancreas, but also in the brain.
The discovery came from studying the brain tissue from 45 Alzheimer's patients where they found insulin abnormalities similar to those found in advanced stages of diabetes. There were other similarities as well.
Their conclusion? Alzheimer's is a new form of diabetes, which they call "Type 3." Not everyone agrees with this label, but it is clear that blood sugar metabolism problems are not only related to diabetes, but also to degeneration in the brain, and particularly in memory.
What can you do with this information? First and foremost, avoid all the foods that tend to spike blood sugar and that will ultimately lead to insulin resistance and diabetic-like problems. These foods include all concentrated sugars (honey, molasses, white sugar, fructose, etc.) and any products that contain them.
In addition, refined (i.e. processed) carbohydrates are high on the list of things to avoid. This includes breads, cookies, cakes, candies, pasta, etc.
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