Below you will find an easy to read transcript of Dr. John Salerno’s monthly podcast interview. You can click the video to listen to the podcast or simply read the easy to follow transcript below. Enjoy!
Ketogenic Diets for Dementia and Neurological Function – Podcast Interview with Dr. John Salerno from razorcast™ on Vimeo.
Podcast Interview:
RC: Hello everyone. This is Liz Harvey coming to you from our studios in New York City where we are dedicated to bringing you top quality advice from many of the leading expert professionals across the US. In today’s episode, we are speaking with Dr. John Salerno, founder of the Salerno Center for Complementary Medicine in Manhattan on East 52nd Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenue. Lauded as an international pioneer in the field of anti-aging, Dr. Salerno’s techniques have been proven to slow the aging process and encourage a healthy and vitality filled life for his patients through natural treatment. Dr. Salerno is well known for his vitamin IVs, weight loss treatments, and chelation therapy.
Today we’re going to talk about a very important topic, Ketogenic Diets for Dementia and Neurological Function. Hi, Dr. Salerno. How are you today?
Dr. John Salerno: Hi Liz. Thank you. I’m doing well. How are you?
RC: I’m doing great. Thanks for being here. Let’s jump in. What does a ketogenic diet consist of?
Dr. John Salerno: Yes, ketogenic diets consist of a very reduced amount of carbohydrates and a high portion of fat and protein such that the body will go into what we call ketosis. This is mentioned in my book, ‘Fight Fat with Fat.’ It’s a big topic for my practice, and a big part of it for weight loss, for treating all different types of inflammatory diseases, dementia, epilepsy, etc.
RC: How do these foods actually nourish the brain?
Dr. John Salerno: Well, it’s very interesting. Ketones are generally the preferential energy source for neurons, brain cells, such that it’s even more so important to brain cells that are injured or that need extra bolts of energy. Ketones are definitively more desired by brain cells.
RC: Can a ketogenic diet help prevent dementia or slow the effects of it?
Dr. John Salerno: Yes. For the same reasons, because in dementia neurons are wounded and/or dying. They’re losing energies. Ketones will tend to approach neurons and try to allow them to heal. We’re really very excited about the research that’s ongoing with these ketogenic diets in dementia and Alzheimer’s. It may be a way to at the very least slow the progress of Alzheimer’s and dementia in patients that follow a ketogenic diet.
RC: Are there different stages to a ketogenic diet?
Dr. John Salerno: Well, there’s different levels as to how much ketones the body will produce. Generally speaking, the least amount of carbohydrates, produces the most amount of ketones. We kind of cheat the system, so to speak. We’ll give our patients what we call MCT oils, which is medium chain triglyceride oils which is a form of saturated fats which will induce ketones even in the presence of some carbohydrates. There are ways and there are different levels of ketones that we can produce in patients, depending on what we want to accomplish.
RC: All right. Lastly, is this diet recommended for people of all ages to prepare them for the aging process?
Dr. John Salerno: Yes, absolutely. We’ve given it to children, particularly those that may have ADHD or ADD and/or epilepsy. We’ve given it to our 90 year old patients in order for them to slow the process of aging, particularly neurologically with the decreased memory and potential dementia symptoms. Yes, it needs to be monitored by physicians. We need to measure the amount of ketones. It’s generally well tolerated and quite safe.
RC: Thank you so much Dr. Salerno. We know you’re extremely busy. I just want to thank you for your time and your help today.
Dr. John Salerno: Oh, you’re welcome, Liz. Thank you.
RC: And for our listeners across the country, if you are interested in speaking with the doctor, please visit https://salernocenter.com or call 866-582-7454 to schedule an appointment. On behalf of our team, we want to thank you for listening. We look forward to bringing you more top quality content from our country’s leading experts.
