Is one of your New Year's resolutions to lose weight? Keep this in mind when you choose a diet plan: Diets high in protein may actually damage your brain.
In one study, meat consumption was associated with a 300 percent increased risk of dementia. This could be due to pesticides dissolved in the animal’s fat or the high proteins, which contain glutamate. High protein diets increase the risk of a number of diseases.
One of the leading experts in excitotoxicity found that eating a diet high in meats increased blood glutamate levels. The levels were 100 percent higher if the person had a neurodegenerative disease. Meats are naturally high in glutamate, especially beef and other red meats. The juices are especially high in glutamate, the amino acid that causes the excitotoxicity. (For tips on buying food, read my special report "How to Avoid Poisonous Foods.")
Because glutamine is converted into glutamate in the brain, I would advise against taking glutamine supplements. Studies have shown that high glutamine intake does indeed increase excitotoxicity, especially in people with a neurodegenerative disease. Some nutritionists advocate taking glutamine to repair the GI tract, but recent studies have shown it is not effective.
I also recommend avoiding protein drinks, protein bars, and other forms of concentrated proteins and isolated amino acid mixtures. Body builders are at risk because they consume these protein supplements in huge amounts. High protein diets also accelerate aging and damage the kidneys.
How can you protect your brain? I am convinced that one of the most powerful groups of naturally occurring nutrients is the flavonoids and other plant chemicals. Find more details on how to keep your brain healthy by reading my report "Save Your Brain."
In addition, I believe vegetable juice is the best way to protect the brain, as well as to prevent cancer and protect other organs. Rather than juicing, I recommend blenderizing whole vegetables to utilize all of the many phytochemicals in plants.
For more of Dr. Blaylock’s weekly tips, go here to view the archive.