Control Your Risk of Alzheimer’s
Will a good diet prevent Alzheimer’s? Probably not! Because our foods contain many products that allow Alzheimer’s to develop – or – they exacerbate conditions which make it worse. Sugar, processed white flour, processed oils and milk products have all been shown to be factors in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
How many of us each all or part of foods from those groups. You would be incensed if you really knew the quality of the oil you are using for cooking and eating. High quality oils, especially olive oil, are not as abundant or accessible as they were a few decades ago. Fresh fruit and vegetables provide a good basis for a healthy diet. Processed and fast foods contribute to poorer health and should be reduced or avoided. Be discriminate in your food selection.
Supplementation provides many benefits, but like many processed foods and oils, you might not be getting what you think you are getting. The quality and biological adaptability – the quickness and usefulness of the supplements you digest – are not always obvious.
When I shop for supplements, I read every label carefully before buying. I know that vitamin E is made up of eight different chemicals. Most stores offer you one option – alpha tocopherol. Gamma tocopherol is far better for your health, but it is extremely difficult to find. The same story applies to many other supplements.
You need vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K. Vitamin D3 is needed by your body and is much more effective than vitamin D2. Vitamin K is made up of vitamin K1 and vitamin K2, and vitamin K2 has two main components. A little research will help you decide what is best for you.
Vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B4 (adenine), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid) and B12 (cobalamin) are needed for good health and promote good brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Other good brain supplements include: omega 3 oil, quercetin, xanthones, lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, ubiquinol (newer form of Co-enzyme Q-10), ginkgo biloba, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, and glycerophosphocholine. Magnesium and manganese are also highly recommended to enhance brain health.
Not every chemical gets to your brain. There is a blood-brain barrier and it is extremely difficult for most chemicals to pass through it. You need to keep the right chemicals going in to stay in good health and you need to force the wrong chemicals out. Tryptophan is converted to serotonin in your body.
Serotonin can navigate through the blood-brain barrier. However, if you are deficient in certain B vitamins, all the tryptophan you take will be used to address the serotonin deficiency. Your brain has a lower priority in the big scheme of things. Aluminum has been found in the brains of people who died with Alzheimer’s. Mercury and fluoride are chemicals that you want to eliminate from your body.
Use it or lose it has been the slogan for years. Yes, you do need to use your brain – and that does not include watching television. Do crossword puzzles, play cards, play chess, and add additional breathing exercises to your daily regime.
Deep breathing exercises and physical exercise provide more blood flow to your brain and helps your brain actually regenerate new neurons. Look at the supplements you are taking and make sure that they are the correct ones. Remove sugar and processed foods and oils from your diet. Exercise more and keep your brain engaged.
You will feel better, look better and be able to live a much higher quality of life as you approach 100 years of age and beyond.