Grain Brain

Family history of Alzheimers? Read this!

This book shares much information with "Wheat Belly" by Wm. Davis and "What Makes us Fat" and "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taub, but Dr. Perlmutter focuses more on the effects of a high carb, low fat diet on the brain. Conditions like diabetes are discussed thoroughly but in the context of explaining how these diseases impact the brain.

This book was timely for me. I adopted a wheat free/ low carb eating plan in April of 2012 after reading "Wheat Belly" and my "set point" weight dropped by 16 lbs in just a few weeks. This was despite the fact that I already had what most would consider a healthy diet. But, because I cook for family members who have not adopted these eating habits, I became lazy about preparing separate foods and saw my weight creep up a few pounds and some of the other health improvements falter in the last few weeks. This book was an excellent refresher course for grain free and low carb eating as well as a jarring wakeup call about the ways eating habits change our brains. Alzheimer's has a frighteningly high frequency among women in my family, so I am encouraged to learn that I have at least some control about the future health of my brain. Dr. Perlmutter's advice differs in a few ways from Dr. Davis. Dr. Perlmutter recommends fasting and recognizes a correlation between low calorie consumption with greater brain health. This book also says it's okay to cheat now and then. Most of the other books caution readers against cheating, likening carb consumption to dependence on addictive drugs. This is the case I have found to be true. Cold turkey for "carbaholics" is easer than relying on will power and moderation.

I like that this audio book is accompanied by a PDF featuring some the statistics, recipes, etc.

If you have read other books on this topic, I recommend reading this book as well because it focuses heavily on the neurological impact of gluten and carbs. On the other hand, if you have not read "Wheat Belly" and "What Makes us Fat", I recommend these in addition to "Grain Brain" as these books go into more detail about the evolution of the grains we eat today and the illogical processes that resulted in much of the dangerous "conventional wisdom" that many health professionals view as holy writ today.

Narrator does a nice job.

186 of 197 people found this review helpful

Please ignore those who have not read the book!

Any additional comments?

This is an important work. Please ignore those who say "skeptical" without reading it. For example one reviewer claims he is confused as to why Dairy is not recommended. Well, it is. He also cites a book about cholesterol being healthy, which is a fact the book concurs with. I would not be surprised if that review was someone just working for the competing "diet book."
As someone who read the book and followed the food recommendations I can attest they are life altering. I am below my high school weight and my mind is sharper than it has been in years.
The book explains, with medical research to back it, why common foods are harmful not only for your body generally but to your brain specifically. The sad truth is there are monied interests wanting us to keep eating grains, carbs and "low fat" processed goods and that is the only reason these harmful foods are even around.
Can't live without "carbs," Wrong. I can barely live with the fact I have been eating carbs all this time.
If you are scanning reviews, please read this book and listen to the science. You will be convinced and if you follow the food ideas you will be transformed.
The more people that do the sooner the carb industry can become extinct.

181 of 195 people found this review helpful

For me this book changed my life

I listened to this audio, it made a lot of sense & I took action immediately.
Now Gluten free for 2 weeks, I have lost around 5 kilos, my allergies hay fever has disappeared, my eyes have cleared up, no more black rings & I feel fantastic.

I thought it was going to be hard to give up normal bread and cookies but I haven't missed them in the slightest. When you get the benefits that flow on by not eating Gluten, There is no looking back, no cravings, no side effects. WIN WIN WIN !!!

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Eye Opening

An incredible book based on a lifestyle change unlike any other out there. It goes against traditional dietary concepts that once applied to your daily living, your health,body and brain take on a whole new positive outcome. I've been in this program for quit a while and I got rid of all my neuro medication and other pills for physical pains. I am at the healthiest I've ever been. And my waist line went down 3 sizes. I'm a slim 31 men's waist at 49. My abs are beginning to show. That's the bonus. But the best of all is the brain. My days now are with a take-charge attitude. I'm at my best most of the time. And the energy is crazy. I highly recommend and dare you to make the change. It's worth it for your health.

51 of 57 people found this review helpful

Great info - a bit repetativr

I really enjoyed the information. The doctor seems to know what he's talking about and he is very specific with the support for what he is saying. I'm not a doctor or medical researcher though and I would've preferred more of a "bottom line" approach where he would have given his advice rather than spending a lot of time on theory and proofs. Once I decided to believe the doctor because he was credible I just didn't need all of the additional details. That being said I think he was very thorough and the book is extremely valuable. I'm going to follow the diet advice which is probably the highest compliment I could give to the author.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Do you love your Brain or your Bread?

My Mother and her sisters all had Alzheimer's. We thought it was just "those crazy Italians". It was that side of the family that loved the pastas, breads, and pastry. There is also a great deal of depression "on that side of the family". Now I see why. This book has changed my kitchen, my breakfast, lunch and dinner plates. I have dropped 12 pounds so far and feel so much better. Depression and Alzheimer's takes your loved ones away bit by bit, and day by day, there is no cure AFTER you get it, but it is PREVENTABLE. Thank you Dr. Perlmutter for giving us hope and tools to avoid these slow and pervasive thieves called sugar and carbohydrates.

77 of 89 people found this review helpful

A Must Read Book For Brain Health

This book is the perfect companion to Dr Perlmutter's book Brain Maker, one of my favorite recent health titles. Grain Brain carefully and clearly presents the reasons why everyone needs to make drastic and life altering changes to the way we view food and illness. The cause and effect link that Dr Perlmutter proposes undoes long held beliefs in the health care world about the relationship between diet and disease. Important life altering information is presented which will propel most readers into permanent dietary change. If you are looking for a way to change the way you eat and feel Grain Brain is the perfect place to start. Excellent and fantastic information.

49 of 57 people found this review helpful

Too Good to be True?

I tend to take all of these things with a grain of salt (salt - is that healthy this week? Probably not)

I completely believe that “you are what you eat” but there are SO MANY different theories out there about doing it “the right way” that who do you ultimately believe? This doctor says A, another doctor swears by B, and yet another says C is the key to health and long life… so who’s the liar? (and are they all doctors?) Do you just go with whoever sounds the most credible and who presented their hypothesis in the most factual way? and if so, did you fact-check their research? How can you REALLY be sure it’s all correct? And of course… who funded them? Am I really getting both sides of the argument?

Regarding this book in particular, I can’t help but feel that he is selling fear and the miracle pill to solve everything. “Even if you have no symptoms, you can be at high risk… unless you do as I say” “Do you suffer from any of these symptoms? ____________ (insert endless list of ailments), well read on because I have the cure!” – there is an element of false hope in there somewhere. I’m not saying he is lying, or wrong, or anything like that – it’s just that the tone of his book seems a little foreboding and ominous. Perhaps he is just trying to express how serious the issue is, but to me it just left me feeling doomed.

Personally, I really believe that no one method will have the same impact or work in the same way in different people’s bodies. I think the answer is somewhere in the middle where the zillions of nutrition theories intersect; I don’t think there is such a thing as a “universal answer” aside from: put the fork down and go for a walk!

In conclusion I would say it’s an informative book, it’s all very interesting … but pass the salt.

103 of 122 people found this review helpful

Redundant - Too Much Grain Bashing and Rehashing

What would have made Grain Brain better?

There were a few good pages. For example, the specific blood tests that a patient could request from their doctor. There wasn't much science to the book. I wanted to know the ailment, what tests were selected and why, the doctor's interpretation of the test, what steps were followed, how the success was measured. Instead I heard a lot of grain bashing and rehashing.

What could David Perlmutter and Kristin Loberg have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I would have enjoyed a better narrative and less wordy drama. How is it possible for two to write so many books about the ills of grains?

Have you listened to any of Peter Ganim’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I like Peter Ganim's fiction work. He is very professional.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The title is catchy. Grain Brain. I like that.

Any additional comments?

The narrative was too emotional, and a bit didactic. Early on, there was a sentence that really annoyed me. "You've got to be living under a rock if you didn't know that . . ." I stuck it out for a couple of hours but eventually I just couldn't stand listening to it anymore.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

I am glad that I read this

I am impressed that Dr Perlmutter is a medical doctor who appreciates and is erudite in matters of nutrition. He is a member of several nutrition associations. His book is very pithy and offers actionable protocols. The main thrust is about blood sugar levels as a result of eating gluten, sugars and carbs. I am interested in health and nutrition, tolerate gluten fine and am able to eat whatever I want and stay thin. However, after reading this book and out of respect for Dr Perlmutter's body of work and experiences that he relates, I have decided to have as little gluten in my diet as possible. I don't eat much sugar or carbs to begin with however, I am not buying gluten free bread, crackers etc. It has been an easy transition. I've also cut back on fruit and fruit juice dramatically, preferring vegetables. I try to have about 1 serving of fruit each day. I am also adjusting my supplements according to his recommendations. I am going to add turmeric and resveratrol. Dr Perlmutter explains why statins are not good for you, the link between gluten and some brain diseases and why patients on a low-fat diet are at especially high risk. I found this to be a very interesting and compelling read.

38 of 45 people found this review helpful