Grain Brain: The Book That Changed My Life

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had the biggest sweet tooth. People would often joke about which was sweeter — my personality or my appetite. It was kind of them to say, but in sheer factuality, if we were to weigh the two, a pint of ice-cream would invariably outweigh a charming smile. At one point, I believe my love for sugar was so bad, my father would call me a “smart cookie” — and if that doesn’t prove to you my love for sweets I honestly don’t know what could. 

Anywho, I was unfathomably in love with sweets, pasta, and warm-toasted French bread. That is, until I came across the book, Grain Brain, by David Pearlmutter, a bond-certified neurologist. Grain Brain reveals the shocking truths about wheat, carbs, and sugar and the effects they have on the brain. Pearlmutter debunks common misconceptions about food with scientific facts. He recommends a high-fat, low-carb diet instead of the traditional low fat, high carb diet. This author not only killed my sweet tooth, but killed the notion I had in my head that all gluten-free people were psychos (how could you not want a warm chocolate chip cookie?). 

Turns out I was simply ignorant, as is much of the population, to the horrors behind gluten. Gluten is an inflammatory ingredient that can irritate the nervous system — no matter if you have celiac disease or not. The problem with inflammation is that it speeds up the onset of neurodegenerative and chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, etc. Though what’s worse about inflammation is that it could be happening in your brain right now — without you even knowing it. When a bone is broken, the skin noticeably inflames, but when you eat a gluten-filled juicy donut, your brain doesn’t noticeably inflame. Its workings are hidden within the darkness of your skull. Hence why people can go months without knowing they have a tumor in their brain. 

This all sounds significantly dismal, but what Pearlmutter explains is that these brain diseases and disorders can be prevented with the choices you make in your daily life. It all begins with your diet. You may think nothing is wrong with your diet, but…

Here’s the issue: our bodies have not genetically caught up with the technologies and foods of modern day life. Our ill-adaptiveness to this environment is what’s causing all these internal issues. Thousands of years ago our ancestors were not ingesting corn syrup solids and Cinnamon Toast Crunch! They also weren’t struggling with an increased population of people with ADHD, depression, epilepsy, etc. Coincidence? Food is an epigenetic modulator. This means it can change our DNA for the better or the worse. The food you eat matters. The little things matter. 

The small things you do — they add up in the end — and depending on what you choose, your life will drastically change because of it. 

I know my life has  since I read the book Grain Brain, and furthermore since I (shockingly) became gluten-free. My energy levels have increased, my thoughts are clearer, I can focus more on school or tasks at hand, and my mood has significantly bettered. I feel more comfortable in my skin and bountifully more confident knowing that I’m consuming foods that optimize my brain and body. From the girl who grew up with the largest sweet tooth, trust me when I say becoming gluten-free will profoundly change your life. 

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