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Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about…
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Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers (edition 2018)

by David Perlmutter (Author), Kristin Loberg (Contributor)

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9173322,987 (3.52)22
There is a quite a bit of "marketing" of the author's "diet plan" spread throughout the book.

The author seemed loathe to actually call his eating plan what it is: Keto. Though, he does permit legumes/beans, so maybe it is a Keto-Paleo hybrid. But he is extremely anti-gluten and, to a much lesser extent, anti-sugar.

I liked hearing about another take on the low carb lifestyle; I did not like his upselling of his own stuff (since I already bought this book, he got enough of my money). I listened to this in audio format, but might have preferred this in print, so I could look back at the info in select chapters of interest to me. If you already follow a gluten free and/or a keto diet, there is nothing new in this book. ( )
  crazybatcow | Mar 20, 2019 |
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Another book that claims to be right about things that are the opposite of others. Cholesterol is bad, no it's good, fat is a killer, no fat is a perfect nutrient. Who are we supposed to believe? I'm not sure about anything it seems. He mentions studies, but so do the others. I just don't know how to tell what is true and what is not. I guess I'll need to research this, now, and try to come up with a conclusion on my own, again. I'm working on it... can you tell I've read a lot of hype, but am tired of not having definitive evidence/direction? ( )
  Wren73 | Mar 4, 2022 |
Gluten and glucose are gonna kill us us...

Mind blowing stuff in this book. Stuff you've heard about, read about, or studied in class.

For instance: How come I put out of my mind that testosterone is made from cholesterol AND that cholesterol is a precursor for Vitamin D?

Took a grad level nutrition class in college by mistake. It was nothing but witchcraft and applied biochemistry. Scared me to death but I learned a lot.

He even talked about advanced glycation end products and prions!

More in depth review pending. ( )
  nfulks32 | Jul 17, 2020 |
I've been doing the keto diet for several months (now doing a "cyclical keto," I guess). I've lost 25+ pounds, eat less, crave less, and feel more energetic and better. This book provided some of the scientific underpinnings to explain why the keto diet has worked for me.

In a nutshell: carbs, sugar, and gluten are bad. They encourage fat growth, mess with insulin and blood sugar levels, and are poor fuel for the brain.

The book, of course, goes into greater detail. There are references to Dr. Perlmutter's own patients and protocols, there are references to scientific/medical studies, and there are numerous sources. Now, I know that many doctors and dieticians poo poo this type of low carb and high fat diet. But, I can say it has worked for me. I will remind everybody that eggs were once considered the worst, but now they are seen as nutritious. I will, as a historian, note that we eat far more carbs, gluten, and sugar in the 20th and 21st centuries than we ever did in previous centuries and we've gotten fatter. I don't think one could or should do this type of diet at all times, or forever, or with no breaks. But, I think that this type of diet is the wave of the future (and of the past). ( )
  tuckerresearch | Mar 30, 2020 |
A lot of reviewers complain that this title is very repetitive. It is but for the audiobook that is alright. It is very easy for much of what the author wrote to slip right by especially if I'm doing other stuff while listening. I'm not convinced that this diet is for everyone, but I am convinced that for the people who need this diet that it is life changing. I'll change my food choices some based on this book and definitely watch for future news on this topic. ( )
  Jerry.Yoakum | Jan 21, 2020 |
There is a quite a bit of "marketing" of the author's "diet plan" spread throughout the book.

The author seemed loathe to actually call his eating plan what it is: Keto. Though, he does permit legumes/beans, so maybe it is a Keto-Paleo hybrid. But he is extremely anti-gluten and, to a much lesser extent, anti-sugar.

I liked hearing about another take on the low carb lifestyle; I did not like his upselling of his own stuff (since I already bought this book, he got enough of my money). I listened to this in audio format, but might have preferred this in print, so I could look back at the info in select chapters of interest to me. If you already follow a gluten free and/or a keto diet, there is nothing new in this book. ( )
  crazybatcow | Mar 20, 2019 |
pg.41 growing more brain cells is under your control
LDL is not a cholesterol molecule, nor is it good or bad. (Low Density Lipoprotein)
pg.126 We are designed to be smart people our entire lives.
Cognitive decay is not a part of aging.
pg.132 BDNF is your brain's growth hormone. Exercise. (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor)
133 Caloric restriction increases BDNF
141 have a kid with behavioral problems? have their DHA tested. ADHD can be "cured"
148 Sugars & gluten filled carbs do trigger changes in behavior, control of focus and concentration, mood conditions like depression. Inflammatory carbs and being low in healthy fats messes with your mind: ADHD, anxiety disorder, Tourettes Syndrome, mental illness, migraines, and even autism.
152 In the U.S. as of 3/2013 6.4 million children ages 4-17 are diagnosed with ADHD and put on powerful mind-altering drugs and the long-term consequences have never been tested!

let that sink in

184 Brain enhancing genetic pathways activated by caloric restrictionn are also engaged by fasting. Fasting produces BDNF, but also powers up Nrf2. (worth looking up) Fasting causes the brain to switch from glucose to ketones as fuel, and mitochonrial genses are turned on. Energy and better brain funcion as well as clarity are obtained.
188 gives supplements for healthy brains. pgs 223-224 gives more detail
194 Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order. John Adams
The best way to make you smarter is not by doing a puzzle, but by taking a walk; exercise.
Aerobic exercise has been shown to reverse memory decline and increase growth of new brain cells in the brain's memory center.
202 Exercise improves insulin sensitivity. It helps manage blood sugar balance and reduce the glycation of proteins. Exercise decreases hemoglobin A1C and this rivals the diabetes medications.

chapter 11 gives meal plans and recipes

The reason I didn't give it five stars: on page 240 he gives a schedule example and the eating times are too many and too close together with only 3 hours of digestion between. What happened to all of the fasting he talked about in the book? It does however, give four times throughout the day of exercising. So again, 4 stars and I highly recommend reading the book and eating healthier. ( )
  VhartPowers | Dec 27, 2018 |
I really learned a lot by reading this book. It was highly recommended by my MD and several friends. I have changed my diet and exercise programs to reflect this new knowledge and I feel a lot better. ( )
  Katyefk | Aug 4, 2018 |
This will change everything you know or don't know about the effects of carbs and sugar on your brain. Cholesterol is your friend!! ( )
  amyghilton | May 11, 2018 |
The author has an interesting combination of expertise in that he is a neurologist at a nutrition expert. He has some information that is counter to the mainstream thinking on diet. I plan to significantly decrease my gluten intake and increase my healthy fat intake. The book is well written and understandable. I think that in some points the recommendations are rather extreme. I strongly recommend this book. ( )
  GlennBell | Apr 4, 2018 |
Didn't like it as much as "Wheat Belly" with which it shares a lot of content. Extremely disturbing information. ( )
  RFBrost | Nov 2, 2017 |
I probably have a higher-than-average understanding of scientific research. I have a couple of graduate degrees, and while that certainly doesn’t guarantee anything, they both required statics, conducting my own research studies, and spending a whole lot of time seriously analyzing the conclusions of other research studies. And yet when it comes to health-related items, I’m kind of baffled.

Okay, not totally baffled. I know that movement is good. There doesn’t seem to be any credible research suggesting it’s better to NOT exercise at all. Cool. Got that. And, as of late, I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that sugar is probably super bad for me. Also not surprising. A bummer, but not surprising.

After that, though, I’m kind of out. Should I be a vegetarian (both for animal rights purposes, and also for my health)? Vegan? But (somehow, magically) low carbohydrate? Should I eat all the eggs but no dairy? What about carbohydrates? Only in veggie form? Whole grain? Or not at all? I thought my brain needed a minimum of 130 g carbohydrates to function – and this guy wants me to limit it to 30?

After reading this book, I really don’t know what to do. I felt kind of gross reading it, as though I were experiencing the print version of one of those olde tyme snake oil salesmen. There were so many ‘guarantees,’ and a lot of anecdotes about his patients. Plus, Dr. Perlmutter has his own website where he offers up his ‘preferred’ supplements, which reads a little skeevy to me. And while he cites a lot of research, I don’t have the time to read all of the studies, so that junk I posted at the beginning of this review isn’t really applicable. Plus, when I googled “Debunking Grain Brain” I got a whole lot of hits.

But on the other hand – the man is a neurologist and a nutritionist. That gives gives him some credibility, right? And I read Good Calories, Bad Calories last year, and Sugar Nation just a few weeks ago, which made some of the same arguments. And we know that nutritionists have gotten it so wrong in the past ** cough ** margarine ** cough **. Is it possible they are still getting it wrong? And of course, when I googled “Debunking [group that debunked this book]", I also got hits.

This book was not really helpful. But I still might try some of the suggestions, mostly because if I clean everything out of my diet, I can figure out what my body likes. I’m sure there’s some dairy I can’t process, but I eat so much of it I haven’t figured out which it is. And there are probably some other foods that I have more energy after consuming, and some that make me not feel great. Perhaps that can be a good take-away from books like this (and It Starts with Food, which is up next): nutrition is complicated, and we just have to figure out what works best for us. ( )
  ASKelmore | Jul 9, 2017 |
It's a breath of fresh air to see a M.D. talk about the role of nutrition in disease, and I agree with him on most points. For people who have Alzheimer's or other neurological conditions in their family history I think it's a must-read. However, the book fails somewhat by taking such a dogmatic one-sided approach, citing study after study that confirms his premise and giving us case studies of near miraculous recoveries. I definitely believe we've been oversold in this country on the value of whole grains (not to mention GMO crops) but I'm not convinced that a grain-free diet will cure every ail. For those whose gene for certain diseases has been switched on sometimes the best we can hope for is a relief of symptoms, not a "cure".

But for someone like me, who is eliminating grains for an autoimmune condition, the book has great value and it's given me more ammunition to firm my resolve and curb cravings. ( )
  janb37 | Feb 13, 2017 |
If any book could be called 'food for thought' this one would be it. In Grain Brain Dr. Perlmutter supports his case for a gluten free / reduced carb and sugar diet with the results of multiple health studies, articles from scientific publications and anecdotal examples from his own medical practice. It's very readable and well organized into three sections that go from a broad overview down to a weekly action plan complete with exercise tips and recipes. ( )
  wandaly | Jun 30, 2016 |
Fairly heavy reading. You have to slog through the evidence / research to get to the "how to" part and recipes. Similar to paleo diet but less restrictive. Lots of research to support the concept but of course every diet has research to support ITS plan. ( )
  becka11y2 | Jan 19, 2016 |
Excellent book! Every parent, teacher, coach and human should read this book. ( )
  MathMaverick | Jul 28, 2015 |
Relax, it's just a theory. The data to support it doesn't exist. You can still drink beer. Perlmutter takes studies that show the possibility of slight tendencies and pronounces them as absolute clear certainties. That is lying.

Looking for sanity on this, try these links:

short angry version:
http://grist.org/food/is-gluten-lobotomizing-you/

long, patient, carefully thought out version, with interview:
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/12/this-is-your-brain-on-gluten/2... ( )
  dchaikin | May 30, 2015 |
Based on his neurological research and practice, Dr Perlmutter upends the traditional thinking that cholesterol is bad and instead believes that it is the thing that brains need (fat) to be mentally acute, avoid mental illness & degeneration like Alzheimers. He points to research that shows that people with higher cholesterol levels actually live longer and suffer less dementia. The main culprit for obesity, diabetes, heart disease is carbohydrates, gluten & sugars. As much as 60% of the population is gluten intolerant but it doesn't show up in gastrointestinal symptoms, but rather in mental symptoms (ADHD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, etc). So he advocates a low carb, high protein and fat diet (but not trans fats, the good fats like olive oils, omega 3s, etc). Plus exercise and sleep.

This was a compelling & interesting book with much to mull over. ( )
  sylliu | Feb 22, 2015 |
I was interested in reading this book to see if it told me anything I didn't already know. (I am allergic to gluten but do not have celiac disease.) For the most part, Perlmutter discusses scientific aspects in a fairly accessible way, but if a reader had not taken chemistry and was unfamiliar with the areas of the brain, it might be pretty hard going in parts. I learned a few (what seemed like) new things about the brain and how its affected by various foodstuffs, and I'm going to try the author's 30-day plan to see if it makes any difference in day-to-day life. For readers who are not familiar with the research on what sugar and gluten (which is in more grains—rye, for example—than wheat) can do to brain chemistry, this book provides more than junk science. Not for everyone, Grain Brain (I hate the title but it should make the book sound accessible to a greater number of people) is a good resource for those who live on bread products, sweets, and other carbs and suspect they need a change in diet. I should think it would also be a good resource for those who are caregivers to those with some of the diseases of aging, such as dementia. (I won an ARC of this book through FirstReads.) ( )
  AntT | Jan 24, 2015 |
I was interested in reading this book to see if it told me anything I didn't already know. (I am allergic to gluten but do not have celiac disease.) For the most part, Perlmutter discusses scientific aspects in a fairly accessible way, but if a reader had not taken chemistry and was unfamiliar with the areas of the brain, it might be pretty hard going in parts. I learned a few (what seemed like) new things about the brain and how its affected by various foodstuffs, and I'm going to try the author's 30-day plan to see if it makes any difference in day-to-day life. For readers who are not familiar with the research on what sugar and gluten (which is in more grains—rye, for example—than wheat) can do to brain chemistry, this book provides more than junk science. Not for everyone, Grain Brain (I hate the title but it should make the book sound accessible to a greater number of people) is a good resource for those who live on bread products, sweets, and other carbs and suspect they need a change in diet. I should think it would also be a good resource for those who are caregivers to those with some of the diseases of aging, such as dementia. (I won an ARC of this book through FirstReads.) ( )
  AntT | Jan 24, 2015 |
Author asserts grain and sugar are harmful to the brain. Unarguably, the solution is diet, exercise and sleep. He proposes grain/sugar free diet solutions, exercise and regular sleep to cure a plethora of ills. The focus is gluten free diet--menus are provided. However, assertions don't seem supported by reputable scientific evidence and the footnotes are often self writin. Easy to read, the book seems more dogmatic than educational. Nevertheless, testimonials of easy success abound. ( )
  buffalogr | Jan 22, 2015 |
Dr. Perlmutter explains the health risks for your brain by eating grains as well as the foods you should eat to improve your brain health. For example, lower cholesterol has not been shown to improve health and statin drugs actually cause brain functioning to decrease. Also, fat is good for your brain. He also goes into the science which made my eyes glaze over. He provides tons of anecdotes and studies to substantiate his claims. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but actually eating to his standards would be boring.
  Carlie | Jan 13, 2015 |
Following the dietary recommendations (cutting wheat) did absolutely nothing to help my chronic migraines. It didn't do anything else for me either--I felt neither better nor worse in terms of mood or energy, etc.

The arguments in the book are largely based on anecdotal evidence rather than good scientific studies. There might be truth to what he is arguing, but at this point I have to be skeptical. ( )
  nicole_a_davis | Dec 7, 2014 |
It worked for me before I even heard of this book!

I went on a ketogenic diet (low-carb, high-fat) last year to lose weight and next thing I know, my chronic life-long depression and anxiety disappeared, I had more focus, more energy, more positivity in general. I had NO IDEA that a ketogenic diet would do this, but it did. I started to enjoy exercise for a change, which helped even more. My life was changed forever. (Note that I have tried so many "diets" to lose weight before keto and nothing worked for me. I ended up gaining weight every time I failed.)

Then, I discovered Dr. Perlmutter and realized that what I was experiencing was exactly what he has been trying to teach people. Reading this book was an amazing experience for me and helped solidify the "program" I need to follow for brain health (HAPPINESS). Alzheimer's runs in my family too, so if I can do anything to delay or avoid that worse-than-death sentence, I will. And it's not like it's hard to do!

I only needed to modify my supplementation some and focus on the tasks he recommends that I already knew benefit me (exercise, meditation, sunshine!, mental exercise, caloric limitation, ketogenic diet). I plan on incorporating fasting back into my life too. Beyond keto, the only somewhat positive "diet" attempt I had experienced was intermittent fasting, so I was happy to see that he recommends fasting. My mind works great while fasting, the trick is to break your carb addiction first!

It works, it's simple. Naysayers haven't tried it, so don't listen to them. Perlmutter explains the science, cites the science, but seeing (doing) is believing.

I was a skeptic when I heard about ketogenic diets, but my body and mind proved me wrong. And I'm so glad they did!


(For those who find the diet extreme, I thought I could "never give up carbs" too, but I did, and I had a very very bad carb addiction and wasn't a big "meat eater." Pinterest is a great place to find "keto" recipes that will blow your socks off with the variety and sheer yum-factor. Also search for "paleo" recipes, especially if you are dairy intolerant like I am.) ( )
  dulcinea14 | Sep 18, 2014 |
I could go on and on about the obvious fallacies in this book. (Like, where is prehistoric man supposed to have gotten all that fat in his diet?) Instead I will simply point out that he compares himself to Mesmer in the epilogue. I totally agree. ( )
4 vote MarthaJeanne | Sep 12, 2014 |
Unbelievable! If we were more careful with our diet, there could possibly be a lot less crime! Although I said, "Unbelievable", I really do believe what this doctor says about the way gluten and other elements in food affect our brain.
Besides, less crime, there would probably be much fewer cases of autism, seizure disorders, Alzheimer's and the like.
It is also easy to read. ( )
  Mariesreads | Jun 12, 2014 |
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