Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain • Hacker News Board

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

#301

Post by cageface » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 1:49 AM UTC

eatmyshorts wrote: post #240

cageface wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dietary cholesterol is very directly correlated with blood cholesterol levels. You can feed someone cholesterol and directly watch their levels spike. But your body will clear it if you give it time which is why your fasting cholesterol may not show this if you have naturally low levels. But during that window if time that cholesterol is active in your blood it's not doing you any favors. This is why heart attacks ve…

That is what we used to think. But it's not true: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22037012 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8857917 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26109578 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7585286 Note that dietary cholesterol only correlates to blood cholesterol in about 40% of the population. And even within that group, "Even though dietary cholesterol modestly increases LDL in these…

You're talking about baseline or fasting cholesterol. You can do the experiment of feeding someone a high cholesterol meal, then immediately take a blood sample and see the spike in their blood. This has been confirmed many times.

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

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Post by PudgePacket » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 1:53 AM UTC

windexh8er wrote: post #269

_brnu wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually agree with most all of your posts. The one big difference, though, in my opinion, is that when adapted to a very low carbohydrate diet, it's actually easier for me to not eat. That's it. To me, it's the lone advantage. It's not about the palatability of the low-carb meals. It's that I just seem to be less hungry. I can skip a meal and it's no big deal. When I'm higher carb, missing a meal takes a way bigge…

When you state "very low carbohydrate diet" - what do you mean? Do you mean you're actively avoiding fruits and vegetables, oats, nuts, etc? Or are you avoiding processed foods and the carbs that go along with that? The "carbs are the devil" argument is a huge misconception with people. You mentioned that it's easier for you to not eat on a very low carbohydrate diet. My main eating regimen is two feeding periods tha…

It's a tricky subject because everyone uses different definitions of "low carb". I've seen positions from dietary bodies that define "low carb" as less than 40% of your total caloric intake from carbohydrates, which is still a massive proportion.

That is why "very low carb" was introduced, obviously still not ideal.

For _me_, I'd say I eat very low carb, I aim for max 10-20g of total carbs a day.

Yes people tend to get stuck on "carbs" as a single entity and demonise it, which helps nobody.

My perception is most people on low/very low carb diets avoid as much processed food as possible, then get their remaining carbs primarily from non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, etc.

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

#303

Post by JamesBarney » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 2:11 AM UTC

collyw wrote: post #30

ropiwqefjnpoa wrote: post #8

Sugar, not fat is the killer. Incredible how for decades bad research and the likes of Ancel Keys and Phil Sokolof put the health of millions at risk.

Is this definite and scientific consensus? Nutrition research seems to change as often as JavaScript framework of the month. I saw one Ted talk that essentially said "everyone is different and no rules apply to everyone".

The nutrition "research" you read on internet sites does. But don't confuse this with what nutrition researchers believe. What they believe does not change month to month but over years. And none of them believe things as simplistic as "sugar bad" or "fat bad".

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

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Post by lukifer » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 2:29 AM UTC

nickbauman wrote: post #293

lukifer wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is some correlation between the benefits of "time-restricted eating" and full-blown fasting (autophagy, etc), so it makes some sense to talk about them similarly. There are many benefits to full water fasts, even for 2-3 days (and it's much easier to do successfully if one is already in ketosis). See the work of Dr. Jason Fung: https://thefastingmethod.com/

While we're at it: "Intermittent fasting" versus ... fasting until you die? All fasting is intermittent. IF just doesn't communicate anything regardless. I think it's clear it's just a bad term. Time restricted eating actually describes something specific.

Haha, point. To the extent that the term still applies, "periodic fasting" would be more accurate; but then, that could just as easily refer to yearly fasting during Ramadan. Does one describe the action, or the absence of action? The norm, or the exception? I dunno, language is a funny thing. :)

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

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Post by dhimes » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 2:29 AM UTC

lanternslight wrote: post #135

dhimes wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an N of one, I present my situation: Since mid-January this year I have been fasting intemittently. I have zero calories before 5PM, and I am usually in bed by 10. I exercise most weeks between 4 and six days, but only two or so are "vigorous" for me. My workouts are mid-day. When I eat, I eat normally for me, which is lower carb and higher protein, but not (knowingly) keto or anything. I have lost about 10 pounds…

Reduce your protein and increase your fat intake. Ideally, 80-90% of your calories should be from fat. Excess protein is converted to glucose.

Will that cause a problem with cholesterol?

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

#306

Post by lhl » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 3:50 AM UTC

hoka-one-one wrote: post #298

lhl wrote: post #292

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd argue that weight loss isn't a confounding variable, as resolving dyslipidemia and MetS is actually one of the main points of the intervention. As for "masking the underlying issue" - let's face it, if you go back to regularly eating a terrible diet, yes, you'll become unhealthy again, but the same would go be true for any chronic insult. Personally, I'm a believer in metabolic flexibility and I do take time off…

I think a lot of people are aware of prolactin because a lot of overweight men have manboobs and don't want them. But up to you, at least you're testing liver and cholesterol -- not everyone can say that. I listed it first because if someone would only agree to test one thing and nothing else, I think it should be prolactin. Well the suggestion wasn't for me personally, it was for people doing keto. My contention is…

OK, so I haven't done much research on this particular issue, but lets say you have an issue with gynecomastia - this presents itself as a fairly obvious physical symptom. Does prolactin measurement change either your diagnosis or the intervention - eg, does it tell you anything you don't know beforehand or change how you would correct the issue?

Personally, if we're talking about single markers, I think fasting insulin is the one I would pick because it does fulfill those criteria - it gives you a 10y+ lens before other markers do on diabetic pathophysiology (which now affects 80%+ of American adults) and also give you guidance on how to treat/how effective your interventions are. The negative is that there is no home test (yet, this is being worked on by some people), so it's not as good as something that can be measured more often/continously.

Everyone who gets an annual physical/bloodwork should be getting their liver numbers (at least AST/ALT, although in the US GGT is not standard) with their CMP, although most people (clinicians too) don't really understand what they mean. I like this presentation on liver markers btw: A/Prof. Ken Sikaris - "Fatty Liver & Chemical Pathology." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c_QYbCxC6g.

It's also important to get these sequentially to see what the actually progression is (the time frames are usually not captured since people tend to get these tests once a year at most).

A basic lipid panel is cheap and is somewhat useful for diagnosing gross dyslipidemia but it's worth noting that it's also much more mobile than most clinicians believe:

Grant, Azure D., and Gary I. Wolf. “Free-Living Humans Cross Cardiovascular Disease Risk Categories Due to Daily Rhythms in Cholesterol and Triglycerides.” Journal of Circadian Rhythms 17, no. 1 (April 24, 2019): 3. https://doi.org/10.5334/jcr.178.

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

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Post by sph » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 4:08 AM UTC

dnhz wrote: post #214

ryanSrich wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Full-on keto may not be worth it, but I would highly suggest removing most carbs from your diet (<= 30g per meal). You'll feel completely different within 5 days. This is especially noticeable after the age of 30. I have no scientific backing or research for this, but I've had a number of friends and family make this small change and every single one has not gone back. It's not even that difficult if you already have…

Yes you will feel like you have no energy during workouts. The primary fuel for muscles is glycogen. Cells use glucose by default. And fats are 9 cal/g, so they’re so easy to overeat. I don’t understand why limiting carbs makes any sense.

Fats are easy to overeat? I can easily eat 4000 kcal in carbs in one sitting, I’d be nauseous reaching the same amount with either proteins or fats or a combination of both.

In fact, since going low carb I have a new mental awareness when I’ve eaten enough: I eat until a switch flicks in my head mid chew and says “that is enough”. It’s mental, not that physical feeling of the stomach being full.

This is completely new to me.

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

#308

Post by rtkaratekid » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 4:18 AM UTC

com2kid wrote: post #277

_brnu wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually agree with most all of your posts. The one big difference, though, in my opinion, is that when adapted to a very low carbohydrate diet, it's actually easier for me to not eat. That's it. To me, it's the lone advantage. It's not about the palatability of the low-carb meals. It's that I just seem to be less hungry. I can skip a meal and it's no big deal. When I'm higher carb, missing a meal takes a way bigge…

I disagree a bit about the zone 4 thing. https://imgur.com/a/HvHcOFV I quit that workout because I got /bored/. I've done 4 hour MMA training sessions in Keto, no endurance issues at all, no HR strap though so no #s.

You’re correct here. The long, low intensity type work lends itself to ketosis well, but power and strength not quite as much. This is because of the metabolic availability of energy from the two pathways.

To throw my own anecdotes in, I’ve done more than a few 24-48 hour efforts (backpacking, mountaineering, cycling, climbing) with a range of dietary strategies and so far I’ve felt the best with bacon, hard boiled eggs (with some salt and pepper), and water.

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

#309

Post by 1_player » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 4:22 AM UTC

hoka-one-one wrote: post #148

Is it too much to ask that anyone promoting low-carb based on personal experience post bloodwork? I think it's pretty clear no one on here is well-versed in nutrition as we're all programmers, so maybe it'd be good to have some intellectual integrity. I'm interested in prolactin, thyroid, liver, cholesterol, CO2.

For what it’s worth I’ve had blood tests recently after 3 weeks zero carb (pure carnivore)

Everything in the norm, high cholesterol but low triglycerides, glucose (HbA1c) bang on in the middle of the normal scale. Blood pressure going down, heart rate quite high that resolved itself after a few days (due to fat adaptation)

Eating probably 10g of salt per day, lower now that my body went past the adaptation phase. (My BP medication has a diuretic in it, so I need more than other people I guess)

No more stuffy nose, not feeling hungry at all, eating below or at my TDEE.

Surprisingly Vit D3 in the norm, and I don’t get any sun at all.

No palpitations I had when doing keto, no bloating, perfect bowel movements every 2 or 3 days.

YMMV.

Re: Study: Low Carb Diet May Prevent, Reverse Age-Related Effects Within the Brain

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Post by rtkaratekid » Sat, Mar 07, 2020, 4:23 AM UTC

skizm wrote: post #102

throwaway_tech wrote: post #17

The title is terrible, it should read ketosis/ketones may prevent, reverse age-related effects within the brain. "Low carb" as the title currently reads does not necessarily result in ketosis and your body/brain running on ketones, which appears to be the scope of this study. There is more to dietary ketosis than low carb, just as an example carnivore or paleo diets are low carb, but those will generally not result i…

How does working out at a high intensity work when in a state of Ketosis? I lift weights and/or do HIIT 5x per week and occasionally add running on top of that. I've always been weary of going low carb or trying a keto diet because I feel like I just won't have the energy to continue my training regimen at its current intensity. The typical advice is to eat your allocated carbs 1-2 hours prior to your workout, howeve…

I’ve done it. I got extremely ripped and looked great, but actual performance suffered and I started feeling pretty terrible. I like how carbs solve those problems for me. However, if I’m doing 6+ hour efforts, I just eat fats and around hour 7 or 8 I’m still burning hot when I used to burn out when I was feeding with carbs.