Grain Brain was one of the first healthy longevity books I bought.

Grain Brain reviews are commonly searched for. But another thing those searches have in common?

They misspell the name of the book!

Brain grain is heavily searched. No, not Grain Brain but brain grain.

I think it’s indicative of just how confusing the title of this book and its subject can be. I mean, what the heck do grains, something the government has been pushing us to eat for years, got to do with brain function, dementia and Alzheimer’s?

Let’s find out, shall we?

Who is Dr. David Perlmutter?

I’d like to introduce the person whose “brain grain book” I’m going to review because, heck, he’s darned impressive (especially since he’s writing about one of my favorite topics: Brains)!

David Perlmutter, MD is a Board-Certified neurologist, founder of the Perlmutter Health Center in Naples, Florida, and past Chair of the Neurology Department at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Grain Brain Summary

There are numerous reasons why the modern diet is killing us, but Perlmutter believes that, what some people call brain grain, is one of the biggest culprits. He argues that the overconsumption of carbohydrates and sugar are to blame for myriad health problems, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and diabetes.

Perlmutter’s Grain Brain book provides a detailed look at how the modern diet affects our brains and our overall health. He delves into the science behind his claims and provides convincing evidence that the current dietary guidelines are not adequate for addressing the needs of today’s population.

The book has received rave reviews from both medical professionals and laypeople alike. If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to improving your health, Grain Brain is a great place to start.

Read enough? Get Grain Brain now.

Grain Brain: The Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar–Your Brain’s Silent Killers

I first caught Dr. Perlmutter’s work watching his presentation on public television. To say it rattled me is an understatement. I was only just beginning to explore longevity and brain health and the things he was saying were frightening. I was scribbling notes like crazy but I finally gave up and bought the book. I needed to understand the full potential of what he was saying.

Carbs have been demonized in recent years, with the Paleo diet and ketogenic diet gaining popularity. However, not all carbs are created equal. Refined carbs such as sugar and white flour have been linked to a host of health problems, including weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

But what about whole grains? Are they really the silent killers that Dr. Perlmutter claims?

There is some evidence that certain types of wheat can contribute to brain inflammation and cognitive decline. One study found that people who ate more than two servings of gluten-free foods per week had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It can cause digestive problems for some people, but it’s unclear if it’s harmful for healthy adults.

One factor I was surprised Dr. Perlmutter didn’t talk about in his book is the issue of lectins.

According to Dr. Steven R. Gundry, author of The Longevity Paradox, another book I reviewed on this site, lectins are the real danger in grains, affecting far more people than gluten, because of their deleterious effect on your gut (they contribute to leaky gut syndrome which causes internal inflammation, which is a major cause of many diseases).

Also, the lectins in grains can be traced to all kinds of life-threatening and life-shortening diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.

Of course, every book I have read on longevity and brain health takes a different track or stand as far as what’s healthy and what is causing our bodies and brains to fall apart as we age.

That’s why I will be reviewing all the books I’ve read so you can get a more diverse and broad view of health, longevity, the brain, and aging (and how to reverse aging, which not surprisingly, is real important to me at the age of 65).

Still, if you’re worried about the potential risks of wheat, there are plenty of other healthy carb options to choose from, including beans, lentils, quinoa, and sweet potatoes. And don’t forget to focus on getting plenty of veggies in your diet as well!

Foods that are Grain or Gluten Free

If you are trying to prevent brain grain by following the path laid out by Dr. Perlmutter, there are plenty of healthy and brain-friendly foods that are gluten-free or grain-free. Reducing refined foods, refined grains, and sugar from your diet can also be done without too much pain.

I know; Lisa and I have been adapting Perlmutter’s suggestions into our diet for the last year (along with the suggestions of a few other colorful characters)!

Some nutritious, grain-free foods include:

– Nuts and seeds (Dr. Gundry in his book The Longevity Paradox, has his own take on which nuts and seeds are healthy and safe)
– Eggs (from free-range, antibiotics-free chickens, at least)
– Fresh vegetables and fruits (organic)
– Fish and shellfish
– Poultry (free-range, antibiotics-free chickens, at least)
– Beef, pork, lamb, and other meats (grass-fed, grass-finished: very important)
– Bone broth
– Coconut milk and coconut oil (avoid coconut water. It’s loaded with sugar)
– Avocados (excellent source of healthy fats and fiber)
– Olives and olive oil (cold-pressed, extra-virgin)
– Butter or ghee (grass-fed, A2 casein cows if you can get it)
– Cheeses (Southern European cheeses from Spain, Italy and France are healthier – no A1 casein like Northern European cows and most American cows)
– Yogurt
– Cacao (avoid Dutch-processing. It destroys the healthy flavanols in cocoa beans)
– Coffee
– Tea

(You can read about why milk and cheese from A2 casein cows are healthier on page 89 of The Longevity Paradox by Dr. Steven Gundry – also sheep, goat and water buffalo cheese and milk don’t have the A1 casein mutation so dairy from them is safe.)

All parenthetical comments are mine based on what I’ve learned from other healthy longevity books like The Great Age Reboot by Dr. Roizen, The Longevity Paradox by Dr. Steven Gundry, Super Human by Dave Asprey, and Life Force by Tony Robbins.

The Revolutionary Plan for Reducing Cognitive Dissonance Through Diet

Grain Brain book reviews often ignore this aspect of changing your diet to eat healthier.

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when we hold two or more conflicting beliefs, ideas, or values. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, and unease. Keto dieting may help to reduce cognitive dissonance by giving us a way to eat that is in line with our belief that we should be eating healthy, nutritious food.

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that has been shown to promote weight loss and improve overall health. When following a keto diet, the body enters a state of ketosis, which is a natural metabolic state in which the body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.

There are many benefits to following a keto diet, including improved mental clarity and focus, reduced inflammation, and stabilized blood sugar levels. However, one of the most profound benefits of keto dieting is the reduction of cognitive dissonance.

When we hold conflicting beliefs about what we should be eating – namely, that we should be eating healthy food but often find ourselves eating unhealthy food – it can lead to cognitive dissonance which can slow our brain operation like a sub-routine running in the back of our mind.

Keto lifestyle helps to resolve this conflict by providing us with a way of eating that is healthy and nutritious while also being delicious and satisfying. And contributes to healthy longevity.

Conclusion

You’ve seen how many healthy longevity books I have and there are more coming out every year. I will keep reading them, codifying them, and integrating what I learn from them to add to what I talk about in this blog.

There is some real value in this book. Do I agree with everything in it? No. But I don’t agree with everything in any book.

You have to read the books, compare and contrast, and decide what sounds reasonable, what you’re willing to change, and consult with your doctor. Get Grain Brain now.

And if you’re looking for a Functional practitioner in your area, follow this link to The Institute for Functional Medicine. They can also explain what a functional medicine practitioner is and why you should use one.

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