PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM DEMENTIA
Cassandra Hill
Master Life Coach| Keynote Speaker| Author Facilitating the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of Black women entrepreneurs while empowering them to achieve their business goals
According to the Alzheimer’s Association 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Every 66 seconds a person will develop Alzheimer’s. In 2017 the U.S. will spend an estimated $259 billion in providing care to people with dementia. Most of the funds roughly $175 billion will come from Medicare and Medicaid.
With the alarming numbers of people developing dementia we must take a proactive approach to prevent this disease. To reduce your risks of developing dementia three simple strategies:
· Healthy diet
· Mind stimulation
· Exercise
Healthy diet- Vegetables especially the green leafy ones should be our buddies. Incorporating kale, broccoli, and spinach along with other green veggies will provide your body key nutrients like vitamin c, iron, and fiber. Limit your intake of meat especially pork and consume fish or organic meat. Antioxidant drinks such as acai juice, green tea, or bai antioxidant will help your body rid itself of free radicals. Research has shown antioxidants play a significant role in preventing diseases like cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.
Mind stimulation- Keeping our brains stimulated in cognitively challenging activities is important. Simple things like discovering a new route to work or other common places will cause you to think outside the box. There are tons of games designed to engage our brains. Lumosity brain games, Fit brains, and Cognifit are designed to challenge your mind. Remember our minds are regenerated during sleep so consistently getting a good night’s rest is important.
Exercise- Exercise increases our heart rate thereby pumping more oxygen to the brain. Exercise helps the brain to grow new neuronal connections. Exercising in the morning will spike brain activity and prepare you for handling the day’s challenges. Aerobic exercise is excellent for your mind and body. Aerobic exercise improves brain function while acting as a first aid on damaged brain cells. Aerobic exercises include swimming, running, and kickboxing.
The end of dementia begins with you. Dementia is a devastating disease taking the lives of many people. The stress placed on caregivers is oftentimes overwhelming. Take care of yourself today and spare your loved ones the emotional distress.
Cassandra Hill, Credentialed Professional Gerontologist, Health & Wellness Consultant