How to "Wake Up" an Alzheimer's Patient
Axona is a medium chain triglyceride (MCT) that solves this problem by increasing plasma concentrations of these things called ketone bodies, which provide an alternate source of energy for the brain. With ketones, energy is restored and brain damage prevented. All of this is backed-up by clinical trials demonstrating that it improves cognitive function in some Alzheimer’s patients.
Sounds good so far, but it might also sound a little familiar. That's because our old friend coconut oil is also a medium chain triglyceride that increases production of ketone bodies.
As a matter of fact, the only real difference between coconut oil and Axona is that one requires a prescription and costs around $85 a month while the other can be found just about anywhere and only costs $15 a month.
Energy Metabolism in the Alzheimer's Brain
Even during the deepest sleep our brains never really shut down. They always function in some capacity and, as mentioned before, the burning of glucose for fuel is what powers our mental machine.
Unfortunately, as we age our energy metabolism naturally begins to wane, especially in those with a sluggish thyroid or insulin resistance. This causes the brain to be less efficient at metabolizing glucose, and when the brain cannot produce energy we begin to have those "senior moments" or even develop Alzheimer's disease.
It is often remarked in the medical community that Alzheimer's is similar to having "diabetes of the brain."
How Coconut Oil Prevents Alzheimer's
Medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil are metabolized differently than most other fats, which are usually long chain fatty acids. MCTs are absorbed and rapidly metabolized in the liver, but rather than being stored as fat, they are converted to ketones.
The body relies on ketones as a backup energy source when glucose stores are exhausted, which can be seen when people go on high fat, low carbohydrate diets where glucose is scarce and fatty acids are converted into ketones for energy.
As mentioned earlier, the brain does not run exclusively on glucose but can also power itself with ketone bodies. In fact, the brain is actually more efficient at getting energy out of ketones, producing 25% more energy with them than it does with glucose. More importantly for Alzheimer's patients, an affected brain can utilize ketones for energy even if it no longer processes glucose effectively.
Patients using coconut oil therapy have reported reduced tremors along with improved balance, memory recall, and overall cognition.
The following video presents the basic concepts in an extremely clear way and is equally relevant to both coconut and medium chain triglyceride oil as well.
How to Use Coconut or MCT Oil
The proper dosage is 2 tablespoons of organic coconut oil in the morning taken with a starchy meal, such as oatmeal. If the taste of coconut oil is not to your liking, another option is medium chain triglyceride oil which is virtually tasteless. MCT oil is more concentrated, only requiring 1 1/2 tablespoons, and it should be stirred into a starchy meal rather than cooked.
When first trying coconut oil or medium chain triglyceride oil, it is best to begin gradually, as using too much can cause diarrhea or loose stools. Therefore, begin using one tablespoon in the morning and increase to two tablespoons if no problems are encountered.
In addition to supplementation, coconut oil should be used for most cooking and baking needs. As a saturated fat, coconut oil is more stable when exposed to high temperatures, meaning it will degrade less and produce fewer tissue-damaging free radicals. It also tastes great!
The information presented is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure disease. Please speak with your doctor before starting any diet, exercise, or supplement program.
Comments (1)
go 100% raw food and do AGGRESSIVE HEAVY METAL CLEANSING = CURED.
no joke, get the old geezer to do it and watch him come back to normal :)
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