Video Script Template

Here’s why ketones are awesome for brain function.

We know that the brain can run on both sugar and ketones for energy. Which is actually important to point out because I hear a lot of people say “your brain needs sugar”. No it needs energy and we can get energy from sugar or ketones.

What makes ketones particularly interesting as a fuel source for the brain though is best be explained by the Push-Pull brain energy concept presented by Dr. Stephen Cunnane.

Cunnane and others have found that the brain uptake of ketones is proportional to its concentration in our blood. Said another way, the higher our blood ketones go, the more ketones are taken in and used by the brain.

This is actually much different from glucose or sugar. Instead of energy to the brain increasing as our blood sugar increases, the brain only takes in the amount of glucose needed to meet the current demands of the brain.

This is demonstrated in the Push-Pull concept where glucose is pulled into the brain based on the demand of the brain but ketones are pushed in based on how much is available.

So you may be wondering what all this means. It means that through increasing our blood ketone levels, we can increase the fuel that is available for our brain which can improve cognitive function, mental health, and overall brain health. In fact, research also shows us that when both sugar and ketones are available for energy, the brain will actually preferentially choose ketones

which has led researchers to conclude that ketones are actually the preferred fuel source of the brain.

The practical takeaway here is that if you are looking to improve brain health and function, getting yourself in ketosis is going to be a lot more effective than trying to get energy from a bowl of ice cream. And this especially applies to individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease which is characterized by insufficient brain energy.