Re: high fat diet

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

Thanks for sending the USA Today article. It addresses several concerns I've

been trying to reconcile before I would launch into the high fat level you use

for yourself. Here are some excerpted points between asterisk sections below:

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" Consequences of high fat intake, heart problems for one, could offset the

diet's hypothetical benefits in some people, Veech says. "

" The plan requires that 90% of the patients' calories come from fat and just 8%

from protein. "

" Ketone bodies can accumulate to dangerous levels, in diabetics, for example,

and turn the blood acidic. "

(I'm also concerned about the levels of toxins from meat & fat eaten since these

are stored in fat ... especially for those who can't afford organic grass-fed

meat sources.)

The article does point out some advantages:

" . . . when added to intravenous resuscitation fluids in place of a typical

ingredient, ketone bodies also reduce organ damage after major blood loss, says

hematologist C. Valeri of the Naval Blood Research Laboratory in

Plymouth, Mass. He and his colleagues demonstrated that in pigs. "

" Other teams have shown that the molecules protect mice against neurological

changes linked to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Last month, researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York reported

similar findings for Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Giulio Pasinetti of Mount Sinai says his team is launching a trial to treat

patients with the disease.

In an older report, a ketogenic diet appeared to slow tumor growth in two

children with inoperable brain cancer. Neurobiologist Seyfried of Boston

College later demonstrated the effectiveness of that approach in mice.

Most brain tumor cells, Seyfried says, 'can't burn ketones for energy,' so

elevating ketone levels and simultaneously reducing blood sugar may starve the

tumors while nourishing healthy cells. "

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According to Dr. Rigden, who wrote LIVER DETOXIFICATION & is a fibro/CFS

specialist, about 80% of patients with CFS or fibro have some form of liver

impairment. (I think you've mentioned this potential connection before.) Since

the liver is the organ that processes fats, it follows that someone who has

liver impairment could easily be adversely affected by a high fat diet. The

longer one is on the diet, the longer the potential risk. (On top of that, we

are eliminating other extremely beneficial foods like the cruciferous

vegetables, which are known to help prevent cancer, by about 40% if I recall

correctly.)

Ultimately, to turn a phrase, I've been wondering if it's possible to have your

fat and eat it, too.

Somewhere along the way, I recently read that ketones could be created with the

use of MCT oil while still eating a moderate, balanced diet (but eliminating all

grains, dairy & sugar/high starch carbs). I've been searching for the article

but can't locate. In the meantime, I've written to Dr. Newport to ask about

the diet she fed her husband when she discovered that coconut/MCT oil helped

with his Alzheimer's. I'll let you know what I find out if I hear back.

Still in investigative mode,

> http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-14-diet-treatment_x.htm

>

> Love joanne

>

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