High Intensity Health with Mike Mutzel, MS

 

Scientist and expert advocate in this space Dom D’Agastino articulates just how and why ketones affect the brain.

(The real horse power behind ketosis is its brain-based impacts.)

Though, this shouldn’t come as a surprise; the diet has been used as a last-chance therapy for epilepsy for the better part of 100 years.

 Check out the Show notes: http://highintensityhealth.com/205

Watch the interviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZSf5OC3aOQ&list=PL0ovt_TbvVmYvrI48Tzs1vhe4o2eUn8qU&index=1

He explains how these metabolites that are made by our liver have far-reaching effects on brain function and neurotransmitter metabolism.

Dom also discusses how ketones affect the immune system, cancer-cell metabolism and even heart health.

It’s a fascinating and very detailed discussion. I think you’ll get a lot out of it.

Key Takeaways:

01:38 One of Dr. D’Agostino’s early experiments lead to researchers developing and using ketones as a mitigation countermeasure to prevent oxygen toxicity seizures.
03:17 Nutritional ketosis has a stabilizing effect upon the brain.
03:54 The ketogenic diet and exogenous ketones impact many different mechanisms in synergy. Drugs impact one mechanism.
04:31 The cells of the hippocampus are selectively vulnerable to oxidative stress and energy deprivation, thus make effective study samples.
05:30 Acetyl acetate is neuroprotective, so the ketone esters developed by his lab are high in both acetyl acetate and beta hydroxybutyrate.
08:07 Clinically, the state of nutritional ketosis is defined as an elevation of blood beta hydroxybutyrate 0.5 and above or urine ketones, which measure acetyl acetate, is 15 mg/deciliter or above.
09:54 The more we subject our livers to oxidizing fats for fuel, the greater capacity we will have over time, unless we have a fatty oxidation disorder.
13:34 We may have the ability to robustly increase our capacity to make ketones, as well as break down and use ketones.
15:38 Ketone supplements, especially the ketone esters, have the capacity to be toxic if they are consumed in large quantities.
16:35 Dr. D’Agostino has tested 20 different types of ketones and ketone formulations.
17:22 Ketones have been found to be neuroprotective against high levels of oxygen, reactive oxygen species, glutamate and excitotoxicity.
21:18 The most potent anti-seizure effects found in animal models are from the elevation of both beta hydroxybutyrate and acetyl acetate.
23:52 Independent of their metabolic properties, ketone molecules have potent signaling properties.
29:38 Acetyl acetate does not have an enantiomer. Beta hydroxybutyrate does.
31:36 Exogenous ketones, when consumed as a bolus, can lower blood glucose levels via what appears to be a mechanism that is independent of insulin.
41:40 Ketones mitigate oxidative stress by enhancing mitochondrial energy production and reducing the leaking of electrons through the electron transport chain to molecular oxygen.
44:40 The activity of the enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase, is increased when you are in a state of nutritional ketosis and with exogenous ketones.
46:04 Exogenous ketones work through the adenosine A1 receptor. Adenosine is neuroprotective, has many different effects upon the heart and is a potent vasodilator.
46:40 Being in a state of moderate ketosis can augment brain blood flow by up to 30%.
47:18 Your brain stores more creatine when you are in ketosis. Creatine is neuroprotective, even against brain injury.
51:41 Ketosis brings the brain back to a state of balance: energetic balance, redox balance, and probably neurotransmitter balance. In ketosis, the energetic state of a cell can be preserved with less oxygen.
57:39 The ketogenic diet is being found to be effective therapy in a number of diseases..
01:03:32 Being in a state of ketosis, combined with a state of mild calorie restriction, quiets the brain and reduces anxiety behavior (in rodent models).. Parents report that placing their child on a ketogenic style diet improves behavior.
01:06:35 Exogenous ketones can attenuate some of the rebound effect from periodic hypoglycemia, which would activate your sympathetic nervous system.
01:11:26 A ketogenic diet approach can be used to maintain and build muscle.
01:15:10 Your mitochondrial function will be better preserved if you live in a state of or go in and out of a state nutritional ketosis and do intermittent fasting a few times a week.
01:17:02 Exercise is a huge hammer, as big as nutrition, in slowing aging.
01:22:11 The ketogenic diet works for weight loss, in part, through an appetite suppressing effect. Weight loss due to ketone supplementation is from the ketone effects upon brain energy metabolism.
01:31:45 Dr. D’Agostino’s single favorite exercise is the chin-up.
01:32:20 Dr. D’Agostino’s desert island supplement is coffee, which is full of polyphenols.

Direct download: 205_Dom_Eric_Mix.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:09pm PDT

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