Keto On the Brain

I haven't abandoned some of the strictures of the Esselstyn diet, but I have decided that it's not giving me enough of what I need.  Let me point out what my personal doctor said about going back on the Esselstyn diet: 

 "I reminded him that he looked pretty terrible when I first met him - tremulous, weak, low mm tone/density, more confused, hives all the time - and that he seems much better now so he needs to be quite cautious doing this."

Since June 1st , I’ve been cutting back on saturated fats, which I presume will result in lower cholesterol numbers. On June 1 st my hives were mild, I almost didn’t notice them; my cholesterol was 255 and my LDL was 172.

My cardiologist wanted to put me on a statin.

I've had them before, and I don't like them.

So I've been watching ketogenic diet experts discussing the details of how to do a keto diet.  One of these was Dr. Berg, and the other Dr. Stephen Phinney. 

They both had interesting things to say, especially about vegetables.  We should have healthy helpings of cooked vegetables.  Dr Berg recommended putting some fat with the vegetables to aid with the digestion of fat soluble vitamins.

I removed the grains from my vegetable soup but kept the beans, because I think they're very nutritious.  I'm always looking for a good source of fiber.

So for vegetables, I'm using my soup and just keeping the starch level down.  I don't want to be too fanatic about getting rid of carbs, since they tend to come with fiber.  But I did get rid of the white bread, I'm trying to eat the Ezekiel bread in modest amounts.

So my diet hasn't changed that much, I've simply removed starches and sweets and added more eggs and fish. I may have added saturated fats, but I still regard oils as off the list for the most part.  I'll tolerate oils low in omega sixes in small amounts.  I'm thinking olive oil and avocado oil. 

One of the key takeaways from the lectures I've watched, including from Dr. Sten Ekberg, a Holistic doctor, is the importance of intermittent fasting.  On a diet higher in fats and proteins, it's easier to do short fasts regularly.

Fasting helps a body lose fat.

Another key takeaway is that insulin is a key hormone, and inflammatory, so  if you can minimize the secretion of insulin, your body will  be healthier.

I've seen some improvement in weight, and I generally feel better, although I do have to say, I've been going to the gym too and I'm sure that helps.

So I'm feeling better on this diet, and I look forward to the day my wife will let me eat bacon.