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Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

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Re: Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

#41

Post by semerda »

So much keto talk here yet no one mentions blood markers or LDL (bad cholesterol). What ever happened to good'ol'data approach?

It's pretty obvious that altering ones diet can have profound effects. But a scientific approach to diet is a far safer approach. Ever tried to lower your bad cholesterol?

So a group of friends who are data obsessed tried keto after another group of friends raved on about it like it was a sign from above. The group that took a scientific approach getting blood work before and after noticed their LDLs shoot through the roof. Before keto: LDL 70. After 4 months on keto LDL 190. That's well above the Sutter health recommended LDL 120. Even 120 is well above what heart surgeons recommend to avoid cholesterol in your arteries: LDL below 70.

The other group that raved on about keto claimed to have done blood work but never shared the numbers. They said they felt great etc.. no st, the brain craves fats. You will feel better. You can triple your fish oil intake and experience some of that natural high for those daring.

Anyways some food for thought.

Re: Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

#42

Post by collyw »

devilmoon wrote: post #26

Something to consider when talking about anything wheat/gluten related is that SO many people nowadays are starting to show signs of gluten intolerance/allergy and this might be due to glyphosate rather than the gluten itself. I come from Italy and trust me when I tell you that everyone and their uncles eat a diet that is 99% gluten-based, however until a few years ago nobody ever had problems with it. I am starting…

What's the advice for avoiding it? Organic food (which I always thought was a fad)?

Re: Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

#43

Post by iamben »

devilmoon wrote: post #24
iamben wrote: post #2

I've been on a ketogenic diet for a year now and sleep has been the biggest thing. I was a light, restless sleeper and I noticed very quickly how how much better my sleep got. I'd fall asleep quicker and it feels (and tracks) deeper. I don't wake as much, sweat nearly as much when I sleep and wake up feeling far more rested. Sleep aside, I don't sweat nearly as much during the day and I've shaken almost most all the…

This sounds quite interesting to me, have you tried a FODMAP diet for your IBS symptoms before switching to keto? I've been going back and forth on FODMAPs for the last year and a half to try and pinpoint what it is that triggers my symptoms, however no matter how "cleanly" I eat I often end up getting symptoms from foods that are supposedly safe for me (or no symptoms at all from stuff that a few months ago would've…

I never tried a FODMAP diet - I guess at the time it just seemed _too_ restrictive. I suppose keto is just as restrictive, but it's like anything right? You're never going to be able to give up smoking until you're ready to give up smoking. I was just at a point in life where I could embrace something and it worked for me.

Based on how _I_ feel, I'd definitely recommend it. But I'm (definitely) not a doctor, and you're (most probably) not me(!), so I can't tell you whether it would work for you or not. That said, there are some fabulous communities, a lot of advice, data and science about keto though - have a read of some and if you think it fits, give it a go and see how you feel :-)

Re: Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

#44

Post by _up »

semerda wrote: post #41

So much keto talk here yet no one mentions blood markers or LDL (bad cholesterol). What ever happened to good'ol'data approach? It's pretty obvious that altering ones diet can have profound effects. But a scientific approach to diet is a far safer approach. Ever tried to lower your bad cholesterol? So a group of friends who are data obsessed tried keto after another group of friends raved on about it like it was a si…

The theory I heard is that sugar hardens the LDL and makes it dangerous. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-P2McPkgfg

Re: Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

#45

Post by blanche_ »

kitchenfloor wrote: post #23

Doing keto for several years on and off, longest time was two years. While being on keto is absolutely recommended, I haven't seen signifcant impact on sleep quality. Being on keto reduces your general anxiety. Or being on carbs makes you much more anxious and a doubting person. Maybe there is a small relation: Less anxiety leads to better sleep. In my case, I needed to fix my sleep with other things, keto didn't hel…

Maybe it is just higher fat content? I mean fat got a lot of bad rep and people may not be consuming enough healthy fats.

Re: Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

#47

Post by iamben »

peteretep wrote: post #36
pumanoir wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds super interesting. Can you provide a link or a quick list of the things that you eat for your diet. I’m currently having great difficulty sleeping due to IBS.

Do you drink? I gave up drinking for a few years for weight reasons, and my IBS fixed itself, and didn't come back when I started drinking again.

Beer certainly exacerbated my symptoms. Alcohol has become a much-less-often thing for me (mostly because you can't really have 'a quick pint'). I've benefitted most mentally here though, I think? You don't realise how often you have that post drinking booze-blues (even in the most minor way) until you don't have it very often.

Coincidentally, cleaner alcohol (vodka) seems to minimise the mental and physical hangovers far more than drinking beer.

Re: Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

#48

Post by JanSt »

semerda wrote: post #41

So much keto talk here yet no one mentions blood markers or LDL (bad cholesterol). What ever happened to good'ol'data approach? It's pretty obvious that altering ones diet can have profound effects. But a scientific approach to diet is a far safer approach. Ever tried to lower your bad cholesterol? So a group of friends who are data obsessed tried keto after another group of friends raved on about it like it was a si…

If you want to lower your LDL I'll advice you to eat nothing but white bread with slices of highly processed meat for a week. Will lower your HDL and increase Trigs too, but if LDL is your primary concern: Go for it.

Here is the thing: it's not as easy as LDL = BAD. For older people higher LDL is actually protective, for women there seems to be nearly no effect whatsoever. Don't be fooled by simple answers.

Re: Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

#49

Post by iamben »

bitL wrote: post #34
iamben wrote: post #2

I've been on a ketogenic diet for a year now and sleep has been the biggest thing. I was a light, restless sleeper and I noticed very quickly how how much better my sleep got. I'd fall asleep quicker and it feels (and tracks) deeper. I don't wake as much, sweat nearly as much when I sleep and wake up feeling far more rested. Sleep aside, I don't sweat nearly as much during the day and I've shaken almost most all the…

Maybe pre-diabetes? https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/diabetes-lack-of-sle...

Nah, I've had that checked multiple times.

Re: Turning the Puzzle Sideways: Sleep, Diet and the Brain-Gut Connection

#50

Post by bitL »

mapcars wrote: post #46

>Foods to Avoid >Fruit: All fruit, except small portions of berries like strawberries >Foods to Eat >Meat: Red meat, steak, ham, sausage, bacon, chicken and turkey Thank you but no, whoever made this diet doesn't know much about healthy food.

No fruit + plenty of meat => gout. But if you are in for the status, gout = "the king of diseases and the disease of kings" ;-)
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