Neuroscience 2009 has been going on here in Chicago since last week, and one particular announcement caught my attention. Researchers at the University of British Columbia recently published the results of a study indicating that a ketogenic diet initiated after spinal cord injury improves functional recovery in rats. Or, in layperson’s terms, a high-fat, very low carbohydrate diet significantly accelerated the healing process from spinal cord damage in these animals.
For the record, here was the breakdown of the diets involved with this study:
KETOGENIC DIET:
Fat – 66%
Carbohydrates – 2.6%
Protein – 18%
STANDARD DIET:
Fat – 5.7%
Carbohydrates – 48%
Protein – 24%
While these results are preliminary, there is plenty of prior evidence that fat – especially the animal source variety – is essential for optimal functioning of the human brain and nervous system. In fact, it’s well known that ketones are neuroprotective and that a ketogenic (read primal) diet can help prevent seizures in people with epilepsy.
Bottom line, carbohydrates – especially the junky grain-based and sugar-based ones – are not beneficial to you when it comes to enhancing nerve growth or regeneration. Remember, steak makes you stronger…