A few days ago I got the latest newsletter from Dr. Whitaker. It tells of a 59 yr. old accountant who began having problems at work: disorganized, error prone, depressed. He was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer's and it rapidly progressed. His wife is an MD and she learned of a clinical trial that was going on and that half of the participants who took the medication in the pilot study showed remarkable improvements and the other half held steady compared to a placebo group that continued to decline. She did some searching and discovered that the drug's active ingredient was medium chain triglycerides (MCT's) natural fatty acids that are abundant in coconut oil.
Although he didn't qualify for the clinical trial his wife started him on coconut oil. After the very first dose, "a light switch came on." Over the next 2 months he became more alert and talkative, and his sense of humor slowly returned. His attentiion and ability to stay on task improved, and at a family reunion he remembered the names of relatives he couldn't recognize the year before. Today, a year and a half after beginning treatment, Steve volounteers in a hospital warehouse and enjoys his job and coworkers. His previously impaired gait has normalized and he is able to run, can read again with decent comprehension and his short-term memory is gradually getting better. He feels as if he "got his life back".
The reason for this is ketones. Medium chain triglycerides don't behave like the more common long chain fats. Thanks to their shorter chemical structure, they are easily absorbed and rapidly metabolized in the liver. And rather than being stored as fat, they are converted into ketones. Ketones are your body's alternative energy source.
Dr. Whitaker says that unrefined coconut oil has numerous benefits. It does not raise cholesterol or in any other way increase risk of heart disease. In fact it is cardioprotective and contains compounds that support the liver, improve immune function, and have antimicrobial properites. He is now recommending ketone therapy for all of his patients with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders. There is evidence to suggest that it may also be beneficial for individuals with Down syndrome, autism, and diabetes.
The most practical and economidal way of raising ketone levels is with the MCT/coconut oil combo. Mix the 2 oils in a jar and measure out the desired amount for each meal. (Take by the spoon, add to oatmeal, cook with it, etc.) Dr. Whitaker feels that ketone therapy also has a promising role in prevention. Poor glucose tolerance precedes symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders and contributes to their progreression. Why shouldn't healthy people--especially if they're older or have a family history of any of these diseases--take a few spoonfuls of these oils every day to help stave off future problems?
The recommended dose of MCT's for neurodegenerative disorders is 20 g per meal (7 teaspoons or a scant 2 1/2 tablespoons). Dr. Newport's (it was her husband mentioned in the above story) recipe is to combine 16 ounces of MCT oil plus 12 ounces of coconut oil, store at room temperature and use as needed. To avoid diarrhea, start with 1-2 teaspoons per meal and build up gradually--and be aware that some people will only be able to tolerate lower amounts. Because coconut oil contains no omega 3 essential fatty acids, a minimum of 2 g of fish oil should also be taken daily.
This is certainly not the whole article but I hope that I have given the most important points!! I ordered some MCT oil (NOW brand) and plan to start taking a few tbsps. a day as a preventative as there is Alzheimer's Disease in my family. I've used nothing but coconut oil and butter for the last several years and love it!
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