An excerpt from an article on diets and the human immune system – Both most recently becoming important in our medical culture since the onset of /or prevention of Covid- 19.

Benefits of a vegan versus ketogenic diet

Investigators recruited 20 individuals for the study, which included both men and women, individuals of different ethnicity and body size based on BMI calculationTrusted Source. During the first two weeks, the participants would eat only one type of diet, either vegan or ketogenic, and then switch to the other diet for an additional two weeks.

Both diets included non-starchy vegetables and minimum amounts of highly processed food.

However, that is about where the similarities ended.

A vegan diet is entirely plant-based, excluding all animal products, including meat, fish, milk, and eggs. It includes staples like legumes, rice, root vegetables, whole grains, soy products, fruits, and vegetables On the other hand, the ketogenic or “keto” diet, as it is popularly known, embraces meat and fat, generally derived from animal products.

The difference in the diets also extended to more than the makeup of specific foods.

Those on the vegan diet got the majority of their calories from carbohydrates and almost none from fat — 75% carbs and 10% fat. While the ketogenic was the complete opposite, deriving 75% of calories from fat and 10% from carbohydrates.

Although in both diets participants were able to eat freely, those on the vegan diet tended to eat fewer calories overall.

During the study, researchers collected and analyzed samples, including urine, blood, and stool, to look for biological changes caused by the diets. The samples were investigated using advanced fields of study, including:

• Proteomics: the study of proteins and their cellular activities
• Metabolomics: the study of metabolites and molecules resulting from metabolic functioning
• Transcriptomics: The study of all RNA molecules

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How does diet affect immunity?

Diet is known to affect the microbiome, which results in downstream effects on the immune system and disease risk. The significance of the NIH’s finding is that it helps to shine some light on the complex relationship between diet, microbiome, and immunity.

Despite knowing that diet affects the microbiome and that the microbiome affects immunity, the direct mechanisms between diet and immunity still aren’t clear.

“Microbiomes are organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) present throughout our body, with the largest composition in the GI tract (small and large intestines)…The co-existence of these microorganisms in the body helps produce immunity by exposing, conditioning, and training the body to numerous organisms since birth,” said Dr. Roopa NaikTrusted Source, MD, who spoke with Healthline about the study and has previously published on the impactTrusted Source of vegan diets on health.

Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, a Professor of Immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine, told Healthline that the NIH research indicates, “We’re coming full circle in terms of trying to understand how diet can impact immunity. It seems that both types of diets are able to help the host cope with viral infection.”

Healthline. Eating Vegan, Keto Diets May Help Improve Your Immune System in 2 weeks. Feb.2, 2024

Written by: Gigan Mammoser

Edited by: Jase Peeples

Fact Checked By: Amanda Ward.

The emphasis in Alzheimer’s disease is best placed with prevention of and eating of certain foods. The goal is to avoid foods that create inflammation in the body to help keep chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes (type 2) and many others from occurring. No one knows yet why cognitive risk is affected.

Blood Sugar ( research).
One hypothesis links to inflammation that accompany blood glucose disorders. Inflammation are reactions of the body to the presence of infectious agents, toxins, or irritants. Inflammation triggers the release of biologically active substances that promote oxidation and other possible harmful reactions.

First of all you should control your glucose intake. Most people with Alzheimer’s have higher than normal levels of blood glucose shown by a simple blood test called hemoglobin A1C. A hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test is a blood test that shows what your average blood sugar (glucose) level was over the past two to three months …by routine testing at the doctors’ office.

“In a study that tracked more than 2000 patients for about 7 years, those with a glucose reading of 115 mg/dL on average, had a 18% risk for dementia than those with levels of 100 mg/, or lower ranges..The higher the blood sugar levels, the greater the Alzheimer risk.

Alas, many people find it difficult to try (some in vain) to absolutely have to have some sugar and some friends of mine cannot walk by a candy shop, bakery, or other establishments with fancy desserts in the window. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!

First try to eliminate white foods: bread, rice and sugary cereals, and sugary juices.

Sugar is found in many kinds of foods, ketchup, fruit juices, salad dressing. and pasta sauces. You should not exceed 8 teaspoons a day. Actually to be more specific — 9 for MEN and 6 for WOMEN.

It may be safe to say: there’s added sugar in any kind of processed food .Look at the ingredient list on products. If you see any ingredient that has an _ose______ending like sucrose, that’s sugar and it may be stated on the label as such— choose something else. Sugar is often hidden from the consumer by different names.(to trick us).

SUGAR FACTS:

Added sugars make up about 15% of total sugar intake in the U.S.

A 12 ounce can of soft drink contains about 3 tablespoons of sugar (9 teaspoons). That’s a lot of sugar.

Rates of tooth decay increase in populations as sugar intakes increase.

Source:
Mark Bittman and David L. Katz, M.D. How to Eat: All Your Food and Diet Questions Answered. 2020,