How do Ketosis Improve Brain Functions?

One of the conferences I attended was called “The Pharmacy in Your Kitchen” presented by Dr. Michael Lara, who is a neuropsychiatrist.

Dr. Lara explains that ADHD and Alzheimer’s are like diabetes of the brain cells. Because of insulin resistance, the brain cells are not able to use glucose efficiently for energy just like in diabetes where tissue cells are not able to use glucose. The alternative source of energy, fat, which bypasses the defects, seems to work very well in patients with ADHD and Alzheimer’s.

When fat is used as an alternative source of fuel, ketone bodies are made. The body’s cells may be able to use ketone bodies as an alternative fuel when glucose is unavailable. 

Ketone bodies do not normally circulate in the body unless it has been starving for a few days, or if one is on a very low-carb diet, such as ketogenic diet. 

In Alzheimer’s disease, the neurons in certain areas of the brain are unable to take in glucose due to insulin resistance, and slowly die off… if these cells had access to ketone bodies, they could potentially stay alive and continue to function.

You can create ketosis with a high fat or ketogenic breakfast. For our purpose of ADHD and focus, a cup of bulletproof coffee is what works best.

What is Bulletproof Coffee?

Bulletproof coffee is a drink consisting of brewed coffee, grass-fed unsalted butter and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) coconut oil to boost brain function and energy level. 

The idea is to drink bulletproof coffee as an alternative to breakfast as part of the intermittent fasting. 

The intermittent fasting diet is actually a MODIFIED ketogenic diet. You only have to fast 12-18 hours a day x2-3 times a week. If you eat your last meal at 7pm, wake up that next morning and eat your first carb-containing meal or drink bulletproof coffee, then start eating a small snack at say 10-11am, you’ll have fast 15 hours.

What’s the Benefit of Bulletproof Coffee?

The caffeine in the coffee help increases focus and concentration by increasing activity in the frontal cortex. The fats from coconut oil will push the body into ketosis along with the overnight fast, which results in ketone bodies that the brain cells would use instead of carbs.

Related article: How Caffeine Helps ADHD?

The fats from the coconut oil will promote ketosis and the ketones bodies provide a sustainable source of energy to feed the ADHD brain for better focus. 

Here’s the Best Vegan Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

This bulletproof coffee recipe aims to provide the maximum results in focus and concentration, but without the saturated fats from the butter, and it’s vegan-friendly. So, you can drink this bulletproof coffee every day. 

Add all the following ingredients into the blender:

• 1 cup brewed coffee of your choice

• 2 tbsp organic coconut oil

• Stevia as needed for sweetness

Mix, blend, and enjoy.

You can use stevia in your bulletproof coffee and still achieve or maintain ketosis because stevia does not actually have any carbs. If you don’t care about ketosis, then you can add natural sweeteners for taste.

What’s the Benefit of Coconut Oil in Bulletproof Coffee?

Coconut oil has become a household item because of its multipurpose uses. You can eat it and you can wear it.

Here we’re most interested in its nutritional benefits. What makes coconut oil special in this drink is its medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) fatty acid profile. Coconut oil is naturally rich in MCT oil. 

There are 3 types of MCT oil in coconut oil. The one we’re most interested in is caprylic acid because of its unique power in promoting ketosis.

By including coconut oil, which is a good source of caprylic acid, your body will enter ketosis faster and more ketones bodies are available for the brain cells.

World’s Strongest Coffee…

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