In this interview at 2016 Integrative Healthcare Symposium NYC hypnotist Jeffrey talks with Dr. David Perlmutter to discuss the relationship between proper nutrition and the health of the brain. Dr. Perlmutter says that proper nutrition will not only directly affect the brain, but it will also promote brain health by creating healthy gut bacteria which indirectly plays a role in brain health. Dr. Perlmutter believes many people can benefit from digestive enzymes to improve their utilization of important nutrients.

Jeffrey and Dr. David Perlmutter also discuss the importance of DHA, an important component of Fish Oil, which can both generate new brain cells and improve communication between brain cells. Dr. Perlmutter often recommends supplementing with Fish Oil to get more DHA in a person’s nutrition.

Dr. Perlmutter stresses the importance of getting exercise to prevent the development of Alzheimer’s as you get older. In addition, he feels a lower carbohydrate diet is also helpful in avoiding Alzheimer’s. This is very important for everyone as they get older.

Both Jeffrey and Dr. Perlmutter agree that adequate, health-promoting sleep is essential for mental health, both physically, to avoid Alzheimer’s, and psychologically to promote a mentally healthy mind. Jeffrey is very active in helping children get the sleep they need as the founder of the Rockland Chapter of the Start School Later Program.

For his own diet he eats eggs and vegetables, wild fish and occasionally, grass-fed meat. Jeffrey says that he encourages his clients to eat a mostly paleolithic diet, noting that agriculture and the eating of grains and beans is a very recent development for mankind. Dr. Perlmutter asserts that actually there is no requirement for carbohydrates in the human diet because we can make sugar in the body from protein. He doesn’t believe we need to eat grains or glucose to fuel the brain. Humans only ate carbs seasonally, he explains, which put fat on the body to get through the scarcer food supply times. Today many people are eating carbs all year round and are thus putting on fat all year round. Jeffrey mentions that knowing how bad sugar is for your health, and desiring to be healthy, he has avoided eating sugar for the last 36 years. They both agree that sugar is not good and should be one of the first things you get out of your life.

Jeffrey also interviews Dr. Mark Hyman and he emphasizes that it is not just the number of calories that matter, but the quality of your diet that influences your health. Just eating less and exercising more is not going to promote health unless what you eat is health-promoting. Dietary composition controls how your body processes food, not just the number of calories consumed. The type of food you eat determines whether it will be stored or used for energy. He also notes they have shown that sugar is actually addictive.

The video then shows Jeffrey interviewing Dr. Hyman. Jeffrey asks Dr, Hyman about our present day diets. Dr. Hymn says that we have incorrectly been told to limit fats and consume more carbs, which has led to increasing obesity and diabetes. And, that actually, the healthy fats will help you lose weight, while carbs will promote weight gain. Fat helps you cut down insulin which creates weight gain while the carbs increase insulin. He also notes that fat cuts down your hunger so you don’t eat as much.

Jeffrey asks Dr, Hyman what he recommends people eat. He says he eats a Paleo diet with lots of vegetables and healthy fats, like avocados, and seeds and nuts, also virgin olive oil and coconut oil. He eats grass-fed meat, naturally raised chicken, and wild fish. He chooses low glycemic fruits while minimizing whole grains and beans.

Dr. Hyman believes if we had a healthy lifestyle with healthy food and healthy conditions like pure water and clean air, we wouldn’t need vitamins, but most people today do not live this health-promoting life. Overall, Dr. Hyman says eat whole food, healthy fats, get proper sleep and exercise and enjoy yourself.