Did you know Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.? It's scary: This fatal and progressive condition destroys brain cells, resulting in memory loss and severe thinking and behavioral problems (aggression, delusions, and hallucinations) that interfere with daily life and activities.

While we know that certain diseases, like type 2 diabetes, are definitely connected to the foods we eat, Alzheimer's is generally thought to strike without warning or reason. And it's striking at an early age now - it's not just a disease of the elderly anymore. And the cause is believed to be a mystery.

Until recently anyway. Abundant research suggests there is a powerful connection between the foods we eat and our risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, via similar pathways that cause type 2 diabetes. Some researchers have even re-named Alzheimer's as "type 3 diabetes."

It should be no surprise then, that the approach to dealing with insulin resistance and diabetes is exactly what's called for regarding dealing with Alzheimer's prevention. Dramatically cut down on the sugars in your diet. There's no way anymore that a discussion of brain health won't include this advice.

It's becoming increasingly clear that as you over-indulge on sugar and grains, your brain becomes overwhelmed by the consistently high levels of sugar and insulin and eventually shuts down its insulin signaling, leading to impairments in thinking and memory abilities, and eventually causing permanent brain damage.

By now you know I am passionate about warning of the dangers of fructose - this is a warning I will never stop issuing. It's been proven over and over that consuming more than 25 grams of fructose regularly will dramatically increase your risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Consistently consuming too much fructose will inevitably wreak havoc on your body's ability to regulate proper insulin levels.

Additionally, fructose has other modes of neurotoxicity, including causing damage to the circulatory system upon which the health of the nervous system depends, as well as profoundly changing your brain's craving mechanism, often resulting in excessive hunger and subsequent consumption of additional empty carbohydrate-based calories.

Now if you're a "bottom-liner" like me, you're likely wanting to know, "OK, so what do I eat - what's the best diet for good brain health?" The bottom line is that the majority of your diet should be comprised of good fats (extra virgin cold pressed olive oil, cultured raw butter, and coconut oil), followed by good proteins such as those from grass-fed cows, and organic grass-fed beef, pastured organic eggs and chicken, and fish such as wild-caught salmon.

So in a nutshell, the healthiest option is to ensure your carbs come primarily from fresh, organic vegetables, and high-quality protein. Eat primarily a high, healthy-fats diet. Depending on the type of carbs (high fiber or not), most people need anywhere between 50-75 percent fat in their diet and sometimes even higher for optimal health. The good news is, this is a delicious and very satisfying diet lifestyle that is easy to live with! And brain protection to boot - no Alzheimer's for us!

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Sources:
www.actionalz.org
www.kaboodle.com
www.cookinggodsway.com
www.sierranevadacheese.com
www.eatwellsa.com