A KETOGENIC DIET MAKES YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY - wanna be a cryptomillionaire? start fueling your brain with ketone bodies

I'm just going to put this out there

The Ketogenic diet was originally developed to help children with epilepsy (nearly 100 years ago). The basic theory is that reducing sugars in the diet and allowing the brain to burn fat instead, works as an effective treatment to reduce seizures. It was effective. I think it would be really difficult for a child to sustain a keto diet. (It's pretty hardcore for an adult.) Anti-convulsive drugs came along and the diet became less well known or practiced.

Cupcakes on Broadway

The Low Carb Revolution

As the western world's health began to plummet has under obesity, cancers and diabetic conditions, an interest in low carbohydrate diets blossomed. Paleo, Atkins, Keto and the original Weightwatchers are all low carb. Atkins developed a high protein, high fat diet, similar to keto to help mortally obese people lose weight. It was a short term, drastic measure which worked. It's now been refined and is not really a diet as such, but more of a lifestyle choice. New Atkins, New You is a popular book which is full of case histories of former, obese people who continue on a low carb intake and has lots of recipes. (don't be fooled by coconut, almond pancakes though). They aren't really anything like wheatflour pancakes. I've always been a fan of edamame. We're now firmly best friends. There is a pasta equivalent made from 100% soyabean. It's 40% protein and less than 15% carbs. They taste like egg noodle and cook in 4 mins. you need half the amount as of spaghetti.

Edmame @ Wagamama

Medical Reasons

There are many reasons to go on a keto or low carb diet. I was asked by my doctor to cut out all sugars as a way to help my immune system. I also lost 30lbs in the process. I wasn't obese but I now look and feel like I did ten years ago, which is a bonus. My Physician who is a top specialist has been on atkins for over 12 years. He maintains a keto style 20-30 grms carb intake per day. He is fit as a fiddle and he has 5 kids. He doesn't go to the gym but he looks like he does and he is in his 50's. So what's all this got to do with the title ?

Thinking Patterns

It was really difficult at first. Week 1 no carbs. I was quite ill already. I then had a week of photo-phobic migraine. I literally couldn't get out of bed and could hardly eat anything. Apparently this is normal and the withdrawal from many years of being addicted to carbs. After that I was one a strict diet of meat, eggs, veg, nuts. Very simple and I was hungry all the time. I was literally eating jars of olives and bottles of olive oil, having bacon and eggs for breakfast and whole cabbages by the bagfull. I was eating superfood salads like I'd never imagined and actually enjoying it. I stopped missing potatoes, rice, bread, pasta, biscuits, pastry, sweet fruit, pizzas, Chinese and Indian takeaways. My thinking began to change. I also learned how to make cabbage as a replacement for pasta and rice and also how to make curry without onions. That's difficult. (onions were excluded for a different reason to do with digestion.) I relied on chewing a block of creamed coconut which stopped me from losing too much weight. It's full or lauric acid, which is a potent antiviral antibiotic (saturated fat). I may have eaten a lot of fat this year, but I am always hungry and my cholesterol is exactly where it should be.

clear like water

Living Like a Monk

I was also not allowed any artificial sweeteners or stimulants so no caffeine or alcohol. My world (and skin) became very clear. I had changed my relationship with food from fun to fuel. I had undergone ketosis. My brain was now being fueled by ketone bodies which my liver was making from the stores of fat which I had accumulated over the years. My ideas about life began to change with it. It also directly coincided with my interest in crypto.

Monk Reading Phuket, Thailand

9 Months later

I am a different person. I am living a different life. It happened at a good time for me. I see the rest of my life through a different lens. I can now eat a small amount of carbs each day and my body still primarily burns fuel. I do need to eat regularly. eating out is tricky and it's not all fun. I have found things which work for me which might not work for others. It's been conducted under medical supervision. I have had to take supplements in addition to my diet. I still think differently. My goals are different and my interests have moved from the romantic to the analytic. I still have poetry an music in my life. I still write them both but my relationship with them seems more objective. I'm not necessarily a better person, but it feels like my decision making is more consistent, authentic perhaps. I firmly believe the changes in my body have been reflected in my brain. I am faster, more agile mentally. The sugar fog has lifted. I have also had a bumper year with crypto. I have worked with crypto clients, become a BlockChain evangelist, Steemit advocate and let's just say I've developed a feel for altcoin projects and their objectives. (I've backed some serious winners.)

The Year Ahead

In 2018 if you want to be healthy and you have no medical conditions to consider, I would recommend you cutting down your carb intake to 50-74 grms per day. It will no doubt help with all age related conditions. Leave the carbs for the kids. Drink lots of water, eat tons of green veg and high quality protein and fats. Olive oil, coconut oil and nut oils are optimum.