Grain Brain Explained: Why Your Brain Loves Fat

How Ditching Sugar and Embracing Fats Is the Best Thing You Can Do for Your Brain

Do you ever feel foggy, moody, or forgetful—even though you’re eating “healthy”? You’re not alone. According to Dr. David Perlmutter, neurologist and author of Grain Brain, the real culprit may be what’s on your plate. And spoiler alert: it’s not fat—it’s sugar and carbs.

At RemissionRx, we take brain health seriously because neurodegeneration doesn’t start in old age—it starts decades earlier. Let’s break down what Grain Brain reveals and how you can nourish your brain before symptoms ever start.

The Surprising Truth: Carbs Can Harm Your Brain

Dr. Perlmutter makes a bold claim: excess carbohydrates and processed grains are a primary driver of neurological issues like:

• Brain fog

• Anxiety and depression

• ADHD

• Dementia and Alzheimer’s (aka Type 3 diabetes)

How? Through inflammation, insulin resistance, and damage to the gut-brain connection. High-carb diets spike blood sugar, which damages blood vessels and brain tissue over time. Chronic inflammation becomes a fire in the brain—and memory, mood, and clarity suffer.

Your Brain’s True Best Friend: Fat

Contrary to outdated advice, your brain needs fat to thrive. Healthy fats provide the raw materials for brain cells, stabilise blood sugar, and reduce inflammation.

The fats we love at RemissionRx:

• Omega-3s (wild-caught salmon, seeds, walnuts)

• Extra virgin olive oil

• Avocados

• Grass-fed butter

• MCT oil and coconut oil

By switching from a carb-heavy diet to a fat-fuelled one (aka a mostly Paleo-Keto approach), you support neuroprotection, mental clarity, and energy that lasts all day.

Grain Brain in Action at RemissionRx

Our plans are designed with the Grain Brain philosophy at heart:

• We cut sugar and inflammatory grains (especially gluten)

• We focus on healthy fat intake and stable blood sugar

• We support the gut-brain axis with fermented and fibre-rich foods

• We use intermittent fasting to activate brain repair (autophagy)

We’ve seen clients regain their sharpness, stabilise moods, and even reverse early memory issues—all by changing what’s on their plate.

You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to protect your brain. Whether you’re navigating brain fog or want to stay sharp into your 90s, Grain Brain shows us that food is your brain’s greatest defence—or its greatest threat. At RemissionRx, we help you make the shift, one nourishing meal at a time.

Want to fuel your brain for clarity and longevity? Book a discovery call or download our Brain Health Starter Guide.