How It All Started
It all started when Dr. Mary Newport’s husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 51. He quickly deteriorated to the point where he couldn’t tie his shoes, hold a conversation or read a book. His existing medication weren’t working and he was rapidly going downhill.
Being a researcher, Dr. Newport started looking into the physiology of the brain and the changes that occur in the demented brain. She came up with a new possibility: coconut oil. She started her husband on four teaspoons per day, and soon noticed some amazing results.
Not only did Steve Newport stop deteriorating, he also became more cognitively agile, was able to read again, interact, and walk around without help. Mary felt she got her husband back.
The Study
Dr. Newport wanted to quantify her findings, so she started applying for funding that would enable her to do research on coconut oil in relation to treating Alzheimer’s. After a lot of convincing, she was finally given green light.
The USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute is supporting the first clinical trial of its kind, and the results are expected within a year. 65 individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s are included in the study, which will look at the effects of coconut oil versus a placebo.
To function normally, our brain needs fat and glucose. This is the brain’s fuel. Recent research has shown that a low-carbohydrate diet or a diet low in fats (especially essential fatty acids) can be detrimental to the function of our brain and can lower the mood. Stephen Cunnane, who studies brain metabolism at Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, explains that when the brain starts starving, it slips into Alzheimer’s disease.
Why Coconut Oil?
Alzheimer’s disease has been dubbed type 3 diabetes. It involves insulin impairments and brain cells start having difficulty metabolizing glucose (read more about the link to insulin in my previous article about top 5 foods and supplements to delay Alzheimer’s disease and dementia).
An alternative fuel needs to be provided to the brain. This is where coconut oil comes in. Coconut oil is rich in ketones. These molecules can be used by the brain as energy when there is a shortage of glucose. We talk of ‘ketonic effect’, which can also be achieved by eating a high-fat diet.
Demonizing high-fat diets is becoming a thing of the past, and the benefits of coconut oil are now being hailed (you can read more about them in my article about the amazing health benefits of coconut oil).
So far, coconut oil showed a lot of promise with patients in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s, but improvements were also seen in the late stages of the disease, as was the case with Dr. Newport’s husband.
Although there is no scientific proof yet, coconut oil definitely brings new hope. More testimonials are confirming positive experience people have with coconut oil in relation to their cognitive and overall health.
Using more coconut oil in your daily routine is also one of the 70 habits featured in my e-book 70 Powerful Habits For A Great Health which will guide you how to take positive steps to improve your wellness and overall health.
Read my other related article about Alzheimer’s disease:
8 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease You Shouldn’t Ignore
This Fruit Can Halt Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Top 5 Foods to Delay Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Resources:https://youtu.be/mMw3d3ohx_s