One of the causes of brain aging is the decreased ability to metabolize glucose for brain conversion; to put it simpler...our cells can’t process as many sugars and carbohydrates (this includes complex carbs, whole grains, and natural sweeteners like honey).
In the past a candy bar was a rare treat, but now, we start the day with a bowl of cereal (Grapenuts = 23 tsp of sugar), which sets us up for sugar cravings at 3pm...hence the candy bar cravings! The daily blood sugar fluctuations cause impairment of glucose metabolism and combined with cell damage leads to dementia.
If you grew up on cereal for breakfast, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and butter noodles for dinner, this creates an adulthood of insulin sensitivity that can lead to carbohydrate sensitivity and early biological aging. High carbohydrate foods literally age brains at early ages. This is because carbs and sugar increase inflammation and damage cells occur on the inside of the body and brain. Okay, maybe you can't relate to brain issues yet, so here... this inflammation decreases our skin's elasticity and collagen production which increases aging skin and premature wrinkles. (Above chart is from Here)
NESTLE 100 Grand Ingredients = Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Nonfat Milk, Lactose, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Vanillin-an Artificial Flavor)Corn Syrup, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Nonfat Milk, Crisped Rice (Rice Flour, Sugar, Salt, Barley, Malt, traces of Wheat Gluten)Coconut Oil, Butter, Mono- and Diglycerides, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Artificial and Natural Flavor.
So let's enjoy a treat like this to satisfy those sweet tastes-buds!
*Please click on ingredients to discover where to find them.
Caramel Layer:
1 cup xylitol
6 TBS grass fed butter
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Crisp Layer:
2 TBS grass fed butter or coconut oil
1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
10 TBS heavy cream
1/4 cup erythritol (or xylitol)
1 tsp stevia glycerite (omit if using xylitol)
1/4 cup vanilla Jay Robb whey protein (or egg white)
1 1/2 cups Chocolate Whey Crisps
Caramel Layer: Before you begin, make sure you have everything ready to go - the cream and the butter next to the pan, ready to put in. If you don't work fast, the xylitol will burn. You may want to wear oven mitts; the caramelized sugar will be much hotter than boiling water. Heat xylitol on moderately high heat in a heavy-bottomed 2-quart or 3-quart saucepan. As it begins to melt, stir vigorously with a whisk or wooden spoon. As soon as it comes to a boil, stop stirring. You can swirl the pan a bit if you want, from this point on. As soon as all of the xylitol crystals have melted (the liquid should be dark amber in color), immediately add the butter to the pan. Whisk until the butter has melted. Once the butter has melted, take the pan off the heat. Count to three, then slowly add the cream to the pan and continue to whisk to incorporate. Note than when you add the butter and the cream, the mixture will foam up considerably. Whisk until caramel sauce is smooth. Let cool in the pan for a couple minutes, then pour into a glass mason jar and let sit to cool to room temperature. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Place 2 TBS of caramel in each slot of an ice cube tray (lined with foil or plastic wrap so you can remove it easily) and freeze.
Chocolate Crisp Layer: Place the butter and chopped chocolate in a double boiler (or in a heat safe dish over a pot of boiling water...see photo). Stir well until just melted (don't burn the chocolate!), add in the cream, sweetener and whey protein. Stir until smooth and thick. Then add the whey crisps.
Remove the caramels from the ice cube trays (twist the tray as if you had ice cubes in it). Dip each caramel into the chocolate to coat completely and then place on waxed paper. Cool until firm in the refrigerator, 1 to 2 hours. Makes 16 mini candybars.
NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per 1 mini candy bar)
Nestle 100 Grand = 180 calories, 29 carbs, 0 fiber, 1 g protein
"Healthified" 100 Grand = 165 calories, 3.6 effective carbs, 0 fiber, 6.3 g protein
Maria another great post.
ReplyDeleteHow many grams of carbs do you think a woman of our age and exercise level needs?
I would aim for 30-60 grams throughout a whole day. Everyone has different storage ability, but the average is 30-60 grams (in liver).
ReplyDeleteIf nothing else, I would do 45 minutes of strength training (heavy weights) every other day to stave off sarcopenia (where you lose 1 percent of your muscle per year). I have TONS of exercise information in my book: Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism.
I hope that helps!
30-60g is way too low, that damn near ketosis. Where did that recommendation come from?
ReplyDeleteI believe it's somewhere in the low 100s to support optimal brain functioning (supposing you aren't doing a keto diet)
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease have brains that are low in cholesterol and other fats compared to individuals without this disease. Also, those who run low cholesterol levels are found to be at increased risk of dementia.
ReplyDeleteWhat this got to do with carbohydrate, though? Carbohydrates raised blood sugar levels, and sugar (either in the form of glucose or fructose) can damage tissues through the formation of ‘advanced glycation end-products’ (AGEs). AGE damage can affect LDL cholesterol, and impair its uptake into the brain.
Individuals with type 2 diabetes (who tend to run raised blood sugar levels) have a 2- to 5-fold enhanced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s been suggested that the fundamental problem here is impaired cholesterol availability by the brain.
1. our brains need cholesterol
2. a high-carbohydrate diet is likely to stop our braining getting enough cholesterol
Their brains no longer can use glucose for energy and must use an additional source; ketones are a healthy alternative for these patients.
I hope that helps!
With Alzheimer’s disease, certain brain cells may have difficulty utilizing glucose (made from the carbohydrates we eat), the brain’s principal source of energy. Without fuel, these precious neurons may begin to die. There is an alternative energy source for brain cells—fats known as ketones. If deprived of carbohydrates, the body produces ketones naturally.
ReplyDeleteBut this is the hard way to do it—who wants to cut carbohydrates out of the diet completely? Another way to produce ketones is by consuming oils that have medium-chain triglycerides. When MCT oil is digested, the liver converts it into ketones. In the first few weeks of life, ketones provide about 25 percent of the energy newborn babies need to survive.
The general public does not have Alzheimers, and what constitutes a high carbohydrate diet? Certainly not ~150g.
ReplyDeleteYes, the body can use several forms of energy, and they don't have to be independent of one another.
Despite a lack of convincing research, I'm a fan of MCTs...thought I'm struggling to see the relevance of the new born comment.
Rodzilla - I think this video would help you.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCVo8HbDpXI
Thanks for your interest.
Sent you an E-mail.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I never found your email...
ReplyDeleteI get a ton everyday. Could you try to resend it?
Have a great day!;)
Really good article, it opend my eyes, many thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what I'm doing wrong with this recipe. I have tried to make this twice and the xylitol never boils for me. It will melt and then start smoking. I absolutely loved this article, and would like to make the recipe, but I can't seem to get it right. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteMissy- making caramel is tricky. Are you stirring constantly?
DeleteI am. I've made Caramel before and never had a problem. I don't know if it's because I was using a nonstick pan or not. I had the heat on medium and as soon as I put the xylitol in the pan, I stirred it with a wooden spoon. I have no idea where I went wrong.
Delete