BOOK REVIEW: The Coconut Oil and Low-Carb... - Cure Parkinson's

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BOOK REVIEW: The Coconut Oil and Low-Carb Solution for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Other Diseases by Mary T. Newport (MD) (2015)

fwes profile image
fwes
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This book needed to be written. Fortunately it has been written by a gentle expert, who has the patience and integrity to distinguish fact from opinion by providing references to scientific publications to support every claim.

Subtitled “A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Diet and a High-Energy Food to Protect and Nourish the Brain”, this book fulfills that role with clarity and practicality. It provides well-thought and well-presented lay-discussions of the known science regarding nourishment and healing of damaged brains and practical guidance for implementation in daily life. Importantly, it also provides a guide to recent thinking regarding the practice and efficacy of ketogenic therapy for damaged brains. It contains succinct introductions and references to numerous scientific publications which have appeared since the 2011 publication of “The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living: An Expert Guide to Making the Life-Saving Benefits of Carbohydrate Restriction Sustainable and Enjoyable” by Jeff Volek and Stephen Phinney.

Fresh ideas are presented and supported by scientific evidence. Dr. Newport is fellowship trained in Neonatology, the care of sick and premature newborns, and not in Neurology. This provides her with the advantage of a nonconventional viewpoint, but with the disadvantage of not belonging to the club. Neurological practice usually emphasizes drug treatments and surgeries to provide relief from the onerous symptoms of brain disorders, and less frequently considers nutritional issues. An emphasis of neonatal care is nutritional issues and their role in the proper development of the brains of premature infants. Ketones and Coconut Oil have an important role. Aware that her nutritional emphasis is a departure, Dr. Newport has gone to great lengths to consult with scientific experts from around the world in her quest for scientific support. Findings from these consultations are discussed and well-documented.

Enough background, let’s look at the contents of this book. This book is divided into three parts and each part contains several chapters. Part One: A Dietary Plan… is designed to introduce the reader to the high-energy/low-carb approach. Readable discussions and numerous recipes illustrate the principles, the facts, and the intuition of a low-carb life. Part Two discusses disorders that may respond to ketogenic therapy. These discussions include lay-level arguments for why some researchers believe there is hope. Part Three presents an introduction to the science. Doctor Newport attempts to find a middle ground between a superficial discussion and overwhelming scientific detail. This kind of presentation will rarely satisfy everyone and perhaps will satisfy no one. I think she has found a defendable middle ground. Throughout the book, there are ample references to satisfy those who want more detail.

Part One: Chapter 1 provides a high level discussion of why we should be interested in ketones and how they are provided by coconut oil and MCT oil. In these discussions Doctor Newport presents the pros and cons of simply adding these oils to your diet and the limitations on what benefits can be expected from that approach. Chapter 2 discusses how a low-carb diet can be expected to provide a substantial increase in benefits and begins a discussion of the practicalities of accepting the change of lifestyle, which is involved in undertaking a low-carb diet. Chapters 3 and 4 lapse into an informal question-and-answer format to provide additional information and answer many concerns and questions that have been raised about coconut oil and MCT oil. Part One concludes with a listing of simple, flavorful recipes, which emphasize the ingestion of coconut oil and MCT oil.

Part Two has chapters for each of the four primary neurological diseases: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Multiple Sclerosis. Each chapter presents a discussion of why there is reason to believe that the disease is related to a deficiency in the ability of the brain to accept glucose-based nutrition, and how ketones have a potential to overcome this deficiency. Included are discussions of difficulties in obtaining ketone levels, which researchers believe are required for a full benefit. These difficulties appear to be more political than scientific. Although this could be taken as an appeal for political action, Doctor Newport does not make the pointed appeal characterized by Michael J Fox.

Part Three discusses the notion of Diabetes of the Brain, and how it is related to the neurodegenerative diseases. Ketone therapy is presented not as a cure for diabetes of the brain but rather an alternative nutritional path to serve the needs of the brain. The discussion continues: difficulties in achieving adequate ketone levels in the bloodstream; some practical scientific solutions, which could overcome these difficulties; and political roadblocks.

The second and third appendices provide additional depth of understanding with regard Alzheimer’s disease, which have come from Doctor Newport’s heroic efforts to find benefits for her husband Steve.

I found this book to be very readable. The subject matter is heavy, and while the discussions cannot be described as enjoyable, they are informative and they engender some hope. There is good evidence that it is not false hope. I recommend this book to anyone who is afflicted, to anyone who has an afflicted love-one, and to anyone who plans to live long enough that there is risk that they might become afflicted.

Disclaimer: While writings of the reviewer from HealthUnlocked are quoted, with permission, in chapter 9 of this book, the reviewer has received, and will receive no compensation for the use of his words other than an advance copy of the book.

Personal note. I continue to function on minimal Parkinson's meds, with 8T coconut oil. Parkie has made some gains. I have found that the CO works best for me if I minimize carbs -- the message in this book.

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Joanne_Joyce profile image
Joanne_Joyce

Thanks for sharing this book, Wes. I am looking forward to reading it. Is it available on Amazon? The trend toward low-carb diets appears to have a lot of merit.

fwes profile image
fwes in reply toJoanne_Joyce

Yes, available on Amazon.

jeeves19 profile image
jeeves19 in reply tofwes

Hi. Was wondering how you're doing generally. Most of your posts on CO are from a couple of years ago, so I just thought I'd ask if the CO still works 2 years on? Thanks.

fwes profile image
fwes in reply tojeeves19

Please see the recent Mirapex post and my replies healthunlocked.com/parkinso....

I am learning a lot from the replies to that post. Until reading the replies I was not aware that my double vision and chronic fatigue were also Mirapex symptoms (possibly). It has been eight months since I stopped using Mirapex and these last two symptoms have abated in the past month.

We are having trouble distinguishing between Parkinson's symptoms and the consequences of Parkinson's medications. Not surprising. I believe the medical community is also having problems making this distinction.

As I stated in another reply I am currently on 8T coconut oil, Sinemet four times a day and one 1 mg Azilect. My personal experience is that when I get up in the morning and take just the Sinemet I have a slow start. My efficiency picks up significantly after the coconut oil with breakfast. I often take the coconut oil and Sinemet together.

I still like Carbs and when I overdo carbs it significantly impacts my condition. It's hard to be perfect!

I still tire much more easily than a couple of years ago (I am now seventy-six). How can you tell whether it is advancing PD, consequences of medication, or advancing age?

Getting stronger in the past few months and I'm optimistic.

jeeves19 profile image
jeeves19 in reply tofwes

I find I'm having trouble tolerating too much CO. Not sure that I could stomach the 8tablespoons as it seems to aggravate my acid reflux. Any suggestions? Thanks

fwes profile image
fwes in reply tojeeves19

The book gives guidance: start with 1t /meal. See if that is OK. Gradually work to higher doses. Gerd is not a typical problem; more often CO causes loose bowels until your system adjusts.

Thanks for let us know about it. Thanks for the review too. All the best.

moparkie715 profile image
moparkie715

hi fwes,

i realize you posted this 2 years ago, but u see very knowledgeable in this ares so i thought i would see if you have any advice fr me. I have been trying to eliminate processed foods and sugars for the past 3 weeks. No prepackaged foods, No grains, no pastas, no cereals, no oats.. BUT i do eat a lot of beans(for protein) and nut. My problem is in the mornings. For months i feel like i have a blood sugar crash (after or during my breakfast) and i don t know why? at first i thought it was from my sinemet- so i now take it later and still feel sick. I used to eat cereal- not any more, then i switched to plain yogurt w frozen organic berries - still have that blood sugar crash feeling. I thought it was perhaps the dairy so 2 days ago i switched to an apple with a Tbs almond butter and i added a tablespoon of coconut oil w my coffee. AND i still dont feel so great

I stop eating around 7-8pm and i eat breakfast between 8-9am. I know there is a relationship between sugars/carbs/ketones/glucose levels and the BRAIN.

I just dont really understand what i can and cannot eat. unfortunately i am a very picky eater but i am making a great effort to eat more veg and healthy foods. I think i may have lost some weight w cutting out grains and oat which is not good as i am 5'4" and 100lbs. So I am hoping my incorporation of coconut oil into my diet is 2 fold(feeds the body and the brain).

if u have any suggestion i would really appreciate it.

thank you.

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