This post is intended as a news update on a nutritional insight generated by google AI and summarised at my request.
This implies the need for scepticism and double checking since we know AIs are unreliable.
However after checking the references involved in the synthesis of this post during a long and carefully phrased discussion, I am making a record of it here on my blog for posterity, as below.
This is intended as a personal news update! I value this output from googleAI because there is very little recognition in the media of the condition I have now, which appears to be ACE2 depletion due to recurring covid and the RAS imbalance it creates is unbelievably nasty, a kind of pseudo-diabetes type two. There is research on it but precious little advice for people trying to live with the condition. This AI output brought together information I was completely unaware of and turned it into practical advice.
Every little victory matters to me and I want to share it as a little ray of hope. This is not intended as a treatment or even a culinary recommendation, though it appeals to me because I programmed the discussion with my preferences to make sure it did. It is however an example of the way AIs can synthesise knowledge in a few seconds in ways which would previously have taken weeks if not years of study.
Below it I will share links to published science papers on which this output is based and wish to emphasise you have to drill down to the source material and check an AIs output to see if it is logical or hallucination but I think its true we should also treat published science with scepticism and a healthy questioning attitude.
Does it make sense? Is it consistent with previous discoveries? Is it biased by authors interests? These questions apply to source science papers as well as any AI output which comes from them.
I have been consulting google AI which recommended a strategic cheese plan for nerve nutrition, it is kind of funny but also helpful. Anyone who recommends I eat Emmental has my ear! 
can you summarise the discussion we have had about cheeses and my nutritional needs and the conclusions you came to so I can copy it to my notes for future reference please
To help manage Angiotensin II excess (due to ACE2 depletion), Insulin Resistance, ME/CFS, and Peripheral Neuropathy, our discussion has concluded with the following nutritional framework for 2026.
1. The Core Objective: RAS Balance & Nerve Protection
The Problem: Recurrent COVID infection depletes ACE2 receptors, leading to an "Angiotensin II (Ang II) storm." Excess Ang II causes vasoconstriction (reducing blood flow to nerves) and insulin resistance.
The Goal: Use diet to restore the ACE2/Ang (1-7) balance, avoid glucose-induced "nerve irritation," and provide specific amino acids (Aspartate and Serine) to repair nerves and rescue metabolic energy.
2. The Strategic Cheese Plan (3:2:1 Ratio)
For a daily portion (approx. 60g total), use this ratio to maximize benefits while keeping sodium low enough to protect ACE2:
Emmental (3 Parts / 30g):
Role: The lowest-sodium hard cheese (~48mg/oz).
Benefit: Highest in Aspartate, which helps rescue metabolic "crashes" in ME/CFS. Its low salt profile prevents further ACE2 downregulation.
Jarlsberg (2 Parts / 20g):
Role: Metabolic stabilizer.
Benefit: Specifically linked in 2025/2026 clinical data to lowering HbA1c and improving insulin sensitivity.
Brie (1 Part / 10g):
Role: Nerve support.
Benefit: Provides Vitamin B12 and Serine with relatively low sodium compared to aged cheeses.
3. Key Findings on Other Cheeses
Top Tier (Fresh/Mountain): Ricotta, Low-sodium Cottage Cheese, Gruyère, and Comté. These are excellent for protein density and low-to-moderate sodium.
Avoid/Limit: Halloumi and Feta (too high in sodium, suppresses ACE2); Port Salut (higher sodium/saturated fat than the 3:2:1 options).
4. Primary Amino Acid Sources (The "Nerve Rescue" Team)
Since cheese alone cannot meet all your serine needs, integrate these "nerve-safe" (low-carb) proteins:
Aspartate (For ME/CFS Energy): Found in Duck meat, Asparagus, and Emmental.
Serine (For Neuropathy): Found in Tempeh (highest plant source), Duck, and Eggs.
Why it matters: High serine levels prevent the body from making "toxic fats" (deoxysphingolipids) that cause the numbness in your toes.
5. Managing the "Eating vs. Exercise" Conflict
The Post-Meal Numbness: Caused by glucose spikes that the body cannot process due to insulin resistance. Solution: Prioritize lipids and proteins (like duck, tempeh, and the 3:2:1 cheese mix) which do not trigger these spikes.
The ME/Exercise Conflict: While exercise clears glucose and eases neuropathy, it can trigger Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). Solution: Focus on "metabolic rescue" via Aspartate-rich foods during rest periods to support cellular energy without the need for physical exertion.
6. Summary Recommendations for 2026
Cooking Fat: Use Duck Fat over refined seed oils for better stability and lower nerve irritation.
Salt Management: Strictly limit high-sodium foods to allow your ACE2 receptors to recover and lower Ang II levels.
Therapeutic Target: Focus on a "Low-Carb, High-Amino" diet to stabilize insulin and directly nourish the peripheral nerves in your feet.
I have made a note of that, it tickles my sense of humour to have a strategic cheese plan but at the same time I take your advice seriously and it will be very useful, thanks
I'm glad the "strategic cheese plan" brought a bit of humor to what is undoubtedly a very challenging health situation. There is something uniquely British about tackling a complex immunological storm with a carefully measured plate of Emmental and Jarlsberg!
In all seriousness, when you are dealing with the intersection of ME/CFS, recurrent viral impact, and neuropathy, the "small wins"—like finding a way to eat that doesn't trigger a "numbness spike"—are actually major victories for your quality of life.
By shifting the focus from "blood sugar management" to "ACE2 and Amino Acid support," you are effectively giving your nervous system the specific raw materials it needs to stop the damage and start the repair process.
If you ever find your symptoms shifting or if you manage to discuss these specific pathways (like the Angiotensin II/ACE2 balance) with an NHS specialist, feel free to reach back out. Best of luck with the new dietary strategy—and enjoy the duck and cheese!
Below are links to references in published scientific literature.
Evidence for ACE2 depletion in covid.
https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/69/9/1875/39428/SARS-CoV-2-Infections-and-ACE2-Clinical-Outcomes
SARS-CoV-2 Infections and ACE2: Clinical Outcomes Linked With Increased Morbidity and Mortality in Individuals With Diabetes
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8639866/
COVID-19 and Diabetes: A Comprehensive Review of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2, Mutual Effects and Pharmacotherapy
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9727799/
SARS-CoV-2 down-regulates ACE2 through lysosomal degradation
Metabolic observations of longcovid and ME patients.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40649860/
Systems Modeling Reveals Shared Metabolic Dysregulation and Potential Treatments in ME/CFS and Long COVID
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10830702/
Metabolomic and immune alterations in long COVID patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
