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David Jockers

Brain and mood benefits of a ketogenic lifestyle

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Keto Edge Summit

We know that ketones help you burn fat for energy, powerfully reduce inflammation and show promise in preventing and eradicating diabetes, cancer, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and even play a role in mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Experts on the Keto Edge Summit share many of the brain and mood benefits of a ketogenic lifestyle.

Dr. David Jockers shares this about anxiety and GABA and glutamate (his #5 benefit) in his interview on the ‘Top 7 Benefits of a Ketogenic Lifestyle’:

We have an epidemic of depression and anxiety in our society. And so, one of the key things that being keto-adapted does—not only does it downregulate inflammation in the brain, and we know that depression now is really neuroinflammation.

So the other big thing is we’ve got these neurotransmitters. One is glutamate; the other is GABA. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter, meaning that it helps us think sharply and quickly. What balances glutamate is this other neurotransmitter called GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid. And it’s inhibitory. It helps balance us and calm us. What we find is that people with anxiety, they have high glutamate, low GABA. They don’t have a good ratio. Same thing with depression.

So what a ketogenic diet does, when we’re keto-adapted, it helps balance out the glutamate to GABA ratio and creates stability there. What does that mean to you? That means you’re going to be able to think sharply and quickly but you’re not going to get out of control. Your brain’s not going to be going too fast. You’re not going to be at risk for anxiety, for depression in the same way. You’re going to notice just an improved mood, more emotional balance.

Dr. David Perlmutter shares the importance of blood sugar regulation in his interview ‘Keto for Brain Health’:

Blood sugar regulation is pivotal as it relates to the destiny of your brain. Probably the most important biometric that determines whether you will or won’t become an Alzheimer’s patient is what your fasting blood sugar is today.

Even with the ApoE-4 gene, the ketogenic diet, physical exercise, and gluten-free, lowering sugar and carbs… are important changes that can absolutely rewrite your book.

I think it’s important to understand that humans have probably been in a state of ketosis most of the time over most of our existence on this planet. It’s only been in the last 10,000 years or so when we’ve created agriculture that we’ve had this robust availability of carbohydrate resources that has really shifted the human diet to one that is carbohydrate-based as opposed to fat-based.

Dr. Cheryl Burdette also covers inflammation in her interview, ‘Inflammation and the Ketogenic Diet’:

So when we see markers of oxidative stress high, not only do we know the DNA is suffering but we know our mitochondria, our powerhouse is suffering and, therefore, our brain is suffering. And so what you see is a high 8-OHdG – you see that high in conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s but you even see it high in depression or bipolar or anxiety. What you also see is a ketogenic diet, helps to lower that. What you also see is adding more antioxidants, helps to lower that. So again, we’re back to our green leafies with our good fats.

The Keto Edge Summit is available online and there are REPLAYS ALL WEEKEND. You can still register here to hear the replays

Please share your gems and what you’ve implemented or are planning to implement in terms of a ketogenic lifestyle.

Parasites, heavy metals and Lyme disease on the Parasite Summit

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Here are a few snippets from some of the interviews on the Parasite Summit:

The Trio of Parasites, Heavy Metals and Lyme Disease by Dr. Jay Davidson 

from what we understand research wise, Lyme disease, which is technically a bacteria or spirochete, has been shown to live inside of certain nematodes, which is essentially a type of parasite like a roundworm. So parasites can actually house Lyme disease, or bacteria, or other viruses, or other bacteria. And then, parasites are also a huge sponge for absorbing heavy metals.

And here’s what’s really crazy to think about. Parasites absorb heavy metals. So if you run a test and think, “Oh, man, I must have a ton of heavy metals because Dr. Jay and Dr. Scott are saying heavy metals are like this big thing,” and all of a sudden you have like no heavy metals show up or even false lows, and let’s say you “ran the test right,” it could mean that you also have a massive parasite issue because parasites absorb heavy metals. And if you didn’t deal with the parasites, then the heavy metals are still in the parasite, which then means that, from a testing standpoint, can still come up negative.

Digestion Strategies for Parasite Prevention by Dr. David Jockers

Now, somebody that does have their gallbladder taken out, you’re still producing bile. You just can’t produce as much. And so ultimately, therefore, you’re going to be at a much greater risk of developing something like a parasitic overgrowth if you don’t already have one. Which is typically one of the problems when you do have a sluggish gallbladder, oftentimes, it’s associated with a parasitic overgrowth or some sort of bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine.

I think it has to do with the ability of bile to be an emulsifier. Okay. So not only is it good for breaking up fatty acids in there, which is super key for digestion there, but the outer membrane of a lot of bacteria and microbes also is a fatty membrane. And so it can help break that up, as well. I believe that’s the main mechanism for it.

Parasites: Root Cause of Mystery Diseases by Ann Louise Gittleman

I think if any of your listeners have real difficulty in shaking off some of sort of illness, and if they’ve been feeling tired and listless and if they have a problem that the doctor simply can’t identify, then they have to begin to suspect that parasites could be the underlying cause. I also want them to remember that parasitic diseases don’t always happen to people just in other countries. The rate of parasite related disorders in our country is just about skyrocketing. And every single one of the 134 species that have been identified has been found on our shores.

The dark circles, the intermittent diarrhea, the persistent acne, anorexia, food intolerance, palpitations, puffy eyes, depression. Oh, that’s a good one. And there have been clinical studies from JAMA, as I recall, where they’ve connected toxoplasmosis with depression. So depression is big…who would connect it with a parasite? And the inability to relax and anxiety and being overly angry very oftentimes can have a toxoplasmosis connection.

I cover toxoplasma gondii in great detail in my interview on the Parasite Summit, as well as malaria and malaria medications.

At the Parasite Summit, experts will help you determine if parasites are silently impacting your health–they’re FAR MORE COMMON than you think! Parasites aren’t just found in third-world countries, millions are already infected in industrialized countries and could be silently hampering your health. Fortunately, with awareness and appropriate care, parasites can be prevented and treated, once detected.

If you’re struggling with any of the following, don’t miss this event:

  • Gastrointestinal: pain/cramps, excess gas, bloating, constipation/diarrhea
  • Infertility and hormone disorders
  • Skin issues: acne, itching, rashes
  • Mental health: depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, OCD, schizophrenia
  • Challenges with autoimmune disease recovery (Toxoplasma gondii may be a factor in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)

The Parasite Summit is online from September 11-18, 2017 and you can register here I hope you can join us!

Please share feedback and ask questions in the comments below.