Rethinking Keto

[MBAnderson]

I’ve been pursuing a less restrictive Keto diet for a year, but now I’m taking a look at vegetarian or vegan.

As have many of you, I’ve read a lot of studies and watched a lot of interviews with doctors and nutritionist about the keto diet and have felt they make a good case. Lately, I’ve done the same with vegan and vegetarian diets and they sound just as reasonable with the advantage that there is, actually, a lot about meat that should cause us concern.

Because there are doctors, nutritionists, and scientists who can provide data supporting any diet and because I have no way to know with certainty which is best, I hedge my bet by not going all in on any one diet.

I’m thinking a hybrid between vegetarian and keto, meaning high-fat, low-carb, moderate protein and little or no meat.

(Apparently, 2 of these links don't work right. Click on the arrow that would normally start the video and then you'll see another arrow in the lower right-hand corner. If you click on that arrow it should bring you to the video or bring you to the video on YouTube, who knows. I'll try to fix them.)

Mic the Vegan on Parkinson’s

17 mins

youtube.com/watch?v=bSxdNJk...(Not working as expected?)

Vegan myths

youtube.com/watch?v=6s_6idd...(Not working as expected?)

The Keto Diet Debunked (the views expressed here are those solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect use of the station.)

youtube.com/watch?v=MzHLAqy...(Not working as expected?)

Dramatic Response of Parkinsonism to a Vegan Diet: Case Report

avensonline.org/wp-content/...

Does a vegan diet reduce risk for Parkinson's disease?

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/115...

Health Line; 16 Studies on Vegan Diets — Do They Really Work?

healthline.com/nutrition/ve...

TEDx Power Foods for the Brain; Dr. Neal Barnard

17 mins

youtube.com/watch?v=v_ONFix...(Not working as expected?)

Ensuring good nutritional status in patients with Parkinson's disease: challenges and solutions

dovepress.com/ensuring-good...

nutritionfacts.org/video/tr...

Pilot dietary study with normoproteic protein-redistributed plant-food diet and motor performance in patients with Parkinson's disease

tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10....

Nutrition conference panel discussion: Scientific Proven Benefits of a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet; 2:33

youtube.com/watch?v=KeKelRp...(Not working as expected?)

[JAS9]

Knowing who is right is tricky sometimes. I've been a vegetarian for several years, but went vegan (WFPB) about 9 months ago. It's a great way to go, and for most people, it works well. But being plant-based and a PWP can bring up some interesting challenges. Let me know if I can help in any way.

[MBAnderson in reply to JAS9]

Thank you, thank you. I'm sure as I start off in the next couple weeks, after I consume the meat we already have in our refrigerator, be asking for a lot of help.

I'm especially glad to hear you feel it works well for you.

[marcet in reply to MBAnderson]

It is very interesting. What typically would be your daily menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner ?

[MBAnderson in reply to marcet]

I haven't got that down pat yet. That's what I'll be studying over the next month. JAS9 would know all about it. As I learn how to do it, I'll post comments with references.

[marcet in reply to MBAnderson]

Thanks

[JAS9 in reply to MBAnderson]

I'll be glad to tell you what I eat, but the variety of food, and the differences in tastes and goals make it tricky. For example, I'm following a WFPB diet, which means that I avoid any highly processed food and all animal products. This means that I avoid all refined sugar and oils. I do this because I'm trying to reduce any artery clogging that I might have. I also am bringing my omega-6 to omega-3 ratio down to reduce inflammation. If these aren't over-riding concerns of yours, then you'll very likely consume more oil - and possibly more refined sugar - than I do. Here's a typical day:

Breakfast:

Several fruits which vary but include bananas, apples, blueberries, etc.

Oatmeal or granola cereal with dates and ground flax seed (for omega-3)

Green smoothy (about every other day), similar to this one: youtu.be/VDMOFa8iRqo(Not working as expected?)

Lunch

This varies greatly, but today I'm having a big bowl of black lentil chili (made once a week in an iPot), and some whole rye bread with almond butter and raisins on top,

Afternoon Snack

Today I'll probably just grab some bananas and a small handful of walnuts. Maybe an apple since they're in season. Other days, I might have guacamole and chips (made by cutting up a few whole grain corn tortillas and using an air fryer - to avoid oils and salt).

Supper

Again, this varies a lot but I usually try to get a lot of fiber and beans, because the slower digestion keeps me from getting hungry at night. If I don't think I've had enough calories that day, I'll also eat a sweet potato or "northern gold" potato, or steamed squash. Tonight I'll eat some black beans, raw cauliflower, bell pepper, and steamed squash.

Many plant-based diets are a lot heavier on processed food because people tend to like what they're used to and it's easier than preparing food like my wife and I do. So they'll eat faux soy burgers, bacon, and eggs etc. These are certainly healthier than animal products but contain oils, salt, and sometimes refined sugar.

My diet might seem like a lot of food, and it is, partly because of PD, but also veggies have a lot more fiber, which means fewer calories. Since I also avoid refined oil and sugar, I have to eat a lot to get enough calories. But I see that as a benefit; I've always hated counting calories, and now I never feel deprived. Honestly, I don't miss dairy or eggs or any of that, because I have so many things that I can eat! I hope this helps.

[pjokeefe in reply to JAS9]

Your diet sounds delicious with lots of variety and colour. My neurologist is encouraging me to go for a more Whole Foods Plant Diet and avoiding dairy as he believes that this is beneficial for people with PD.

[JAS9 in reply to MBAnderson]

Oh absolutely. You've already been doing some video watching, so you know the basics. Here's one more advantage to eating fewer animal products that you might not have heard about yet: youtu.be/dwJASNFy9XQ(Not working as expected?)

[munchybunch in reply to MBAnderson]

Pls keep us posted!

[Springfield78]

Have you read "The Plant Paradox" by Steven Gundry MD.? It makes a lot of sense and worth evaluating. Might or might not meet your needs. I have found it very helpful. Interested in your response.

[MBAnderson in reply to Springfield78]

I have read it. He says, effectively, "All lectins are bad and the source of all disease" which I felt at the time was extreme, so I did quite a bit of research and have concluded that some are bad, but many are not and some are important.

[JAS9 in reply to Springfield78]

Before anyone else spends money and a lot of time reading this book, please watch this 5-minute video: youtu.be/7NT4q_5dfLs(Not working as expected?)

Or this even shorter - but more informative video: youtu.be/_rm7YlrcDBo(Not working as expected?)

[MBAnderson in reply to JAS9]

Really good. Thanks. I suspected as much.

[Springfield78 in reply to JAS9]

Thank you! So much for us to learn! I appreciate your input!

[Gioc in reply to Springfield78]

Having worked as a farmer in greenhouses and in the ground and used every type of pesticide in the world, I can say something that every single apple could be different from another. Today it is no longer just a problem of how many pesticides it contains, but of organoleptic properties. The intensive cultivation media stress the soils and impoverish them, the agricultural products suffer harmful consequences. You can not see anything at all, the apples you buy seem good to you and do not compare them with other apples grown in optimal soil. When you make this comparison you will see the difference you understand the concept instantly. My advice is, any diet you follow, take season products possibly grown near your home because they are not stored for a period of time. Change as much as possible. Do not tell me the story of "biological" because these products are also grown in poor soils. Try to make the vegetable garden and you will already acquire an experience that can be seen at sight and taste good fruit and vegetables and will agree with me that the 90% of the fruits and vegetables we find in stores is very bad. It may seem like a foregone conclusion, but the difference between agricultural products can be abysmal even if we do not see it at first sight.

Gio

[JAS9 in reply to Gioc]

During WW2 in the US, they had "Victory Gardens". A lot of people had these, and back then the soils were still very good. Later, as I was growing up in Iowa, my mother still always had a small garden in our small-ish backyard. I had my own small garden that I was responsible for. Now I have a garden and the difference is tremendous. We buy some of our food from local farmers at the farmer's market during the summer, but some of them don't to care about the soil either.