Natural Health & Wellness Center "Beyond Holistic"

Natural Health & Wellness Center "Beyond Holistic"
NH&WC "Beyond Holistic" LLC

Natural Health - Wellness Center' Beyond Holistic' LLC

Natural Health - Wellness Center' Beyond Holistic' LLC
http://www.naturalhealth-wellness.com/

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Alzheimer's Disease Update

Annie Sawyer, Ph. D.


Alzheimer's is a progressive and unfortunately, yet irreversible degenerative disease which symptoms tend to grow worse over time. It is named on the name of the German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. It is also known under the term Senile Dementia and it is the most common degenerative disease of the advanced age. Of course its symptoms progress at different time and rates and in different patterns as the disease is a variable one (its appearance and progression of symptoms vary from one person to the other). With its progression physical problems may include loss of strength and balance, problems with the speech, breathing and swallowing, diminishing bladder and bowel control resulting eventually in terminal death.
The main pathogenesis of Alzheimer is the general failure of brain cells- the neurons. Two abnormal formations (structures) - plaques and tangles are blamed as prime suspects in damaging the human brain neurons. While plaques build between neurons and contain deposits of a protein called beta-amyloid- tangles are twisted fibers inside the dying neurons. Above all their formation is mainly localized in the hippocampus- the zone of the human brain correlated with learning and memory. Mainly the main damage is due to the interruption among neurons leading to miss-communication and progressive loss of that main human privilege. Those pathologic formations are engaging the outer layer of the human brain and involve abstract thinking, short term memory loss, rapid changes in mood, behavior and correct judgment, fundamental changes in personality, loss of initiative, memory and finely speech and breathing.
One of the leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s is the advanced age. As usual people above 65 may suffer progressively of this disease. Generally both sexes are equally vulnerable to the disease with light prevalence of women. SAD may develop as a result of a variety of other factors, as for example the amount of stress during once life, serious head injury, level of elevated aluminum toxicity (one of the most controversial and still under research hypotheses) and many others.
According to my experience, Alzheimer disease is the other figure in the puzzle of the insulin resistance, unbalanced blood sugar as it is frequently if not always following diseases as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes 2. We all know that insulin resistance appears or increases with advanced age. That can be explained easily: 1) Muscle mass declines with aging. Since muscles are the major site of insulin action- thus less muscle- less total metabolism of glucose. 2) Fat as a percent also increases with advanced age and the adipose tissue is the main producer of hormones (including cytokines- the inflammatory ones). If we measure older people body fat we will see that they all have increased percent body fat independently if they are obese, overweight or not . As a conclusion aging leads to loss of efficiency of the insulin pathways and its recognition from the reduced number of mitochondria in the human body.
Panic attacks usually involve an extreme apprehension that catastrophe is near and are often accompanied by shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, and sweating. They may or may not accompany Alzheimer’s disease as an independent entity, despite are not commonly described. On the other hand, they would likely be difficult to differentiate from other anxiety-related behaviors that Alzheimer's patients can have in the later stages of the disease. One must remember that during the later stages of Alzheimer's, there are a host of behavioral symptoms that a patient may manifest. These include anxiety, wandering, yelling, arguing, accusatory actions, paranoia, agitation, and others.
The exact Alzheimer’s etiopathogenesis is still under research as most of the available studies have failed to provide conclusive evidence of the exact cause and mechanism of appearance of the disease of the advanced generation.
Classic symptoms and signs of a typical Alzheimer's are:
· Gradual loss of short-term and then a long-term memory;
· Need daily reminders to do things like small chores, grocery shop, eat, take nutritional supplements;
· Forget appointments, family occasions, or holidays
· Feel “blue,” or cry more often than in the past
· Have trouble doing calculations, managing finances, or balancing the checkbook
· Show a loss of interest in activities (hobbies, reading, attending social activities)
· Need help preparing a meal, dressing, bathing, or using the bathroom?
· Get lost while driving or drive unsafely
· Have trouble finding the right words, finishing sentences, or naming people or things.
· Seem to repeat things or ask the same questions over and over
· Seem more forgetful, or have trouble with short term memory
· Confusion and daily difficulties with activities of daily living.
· Anxiety, suspiciousness, and agitation;
· Difficulty recognizing family and friends;
· Loss of appetite; weight loss;
· Loss of bladder and bowel control;
· Problems finding the right word with consequent loss of speech
· Repetitive speaking and repetitive actions;
· Serious sleep disturbances;
· General and finally total dependence on caregiver;
· Constantly irritable, agitated, suspicious, or hear or believe things that are not real;
· Wandering and/or pacing.
In modern medicine there is no single clinical test that can be used to identify Alzheimer's disease early or later on in life. A comprehensive patient evaluation includes a complete health history, physical examination, neurological and mental status assessments, and other tests, including blood and urine analysis, EKG or an imaging exam, such as CT or MRI. Despite no successful conventional treatment is yet available to fully cope with the Alzheimer's disease, there are several pharmaceutical drugs that may help delay the progression of symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease. There also drugs that may help control behavioral symptoms, such as sleeplessness, agitation, wandering, anxiety, and depression. Treating these behavioral symptoms often makes people with Alzheimer's more comfortable and makes their care easier.
Evaluating and correcting the diet and to balance the nutrition has a primary role in prevention or healing Alzheimer disease. Nutritional imbalances are the precursors to the signs and symptoms by which we detect and label (diagnose) organ system disease. Improving our eating habits towards a balanced organic nutrition and preserve to the best of our possibility the environmental exterior inputs is fundamental in restoring health. It makes sense to restore the way how we eat, exercise, live, sleep and deal with the extreme stress of our century.

Diet and Lifestyle in Alzheimer disease:
An anti-hypoglycemic diet would consist of lean meat and lots of fresh vegetables. Another key is limiting sugars and starches.
1. Eating well balanced organic diet including: meat, vegetables, fruits, whole food
2. Your food should be homemade, nicely served, provoking your appetite.
3. Find enough time to eat slowly a good balanced diet- always protein (mainly lean meat), carbs (veggies and fruits, vegetable pasta or basmati rice) and fats (good fats), beans, lentils, peas (naturally balanced food).
4. Cooking with Coconut oil, or Olive oil, Flaxseed (on salads)
5. Using fresh organic spices- Turmeric, Basil, Mint, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Marjoram, Parsley, and Dill Weed. Spicing your foods will increase your appetite, but be careful in case of acid reflux or ulcer.
Note* Rosemary is one of the top ten herbs in your spice rack that does a lot more than flavor your chicken and roasted potatoes. It may actually help protect you from getting Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and heart disease. Aside from cooking, rosemary has a long folk use as a brain stimulant, a remedy for heart trouble, and as an antiseptic, or an insect repellent.
6. Aspartame, NutraSweet, Splenda and MSG are all called excitotoxins- and they are all in the diet soda beverages.
7. You can juice your proper juices or food. In fact you can start your breakfast with Wheat Protein, strawberry (or other fruits). You can juice carrots, celery and apple also.
8. Limit to its maximum the white sugar (including sugary foods or beverages, bars or torts). You can use Xylitol (or Stevia) instead.
9. Read labels- Food additives in your diet may be making you ill.
10. Dark chocolate- with 60%- 80% Cocoa- in moderation.
12. No ice creams, no donuts, and only whole wheat bread- 1-2 pieces per day.(Request a check up on the gluten allergy while visiting your MD).
13. Do not fry your food, only bake, steam or broil.
14. Select organic lean meat, fish (wild Alaskan salmon, halibut), turkey (without the skin) and chicken (without the skin). Do not consume shark, sword fish or tuna as it has too much mercury. Sardines in a can are a perfect choice.
15. Steam your veggies before consuming them. Eating them row can infect you with Salmonella, E. coli, or you might not digest them well.
16. Always consume proteins (meat, eggs, milk or yogurt) well balanced with vegetables, a good salad, and soups in order to help the right and daily elimination.
17. Make your breakfast a protein breakfast- for example a cup of organic raw milk or Whey protein shake with strawberry (1/2 of banana) and 1 egg inside. Do not eat more than 1 whole egg + 1-2 whites.
18. Sleep 7-8 h per night. 1 cup of row milk with ¼ of tea spoon of honey in it can help allot before sleeping. Here you can use Secretagogue Gold (perfect sleepy powder + all the trace minerals for the day).
19. Watch funny movies, and animations. Avoid depressive people or movies. Avoid socializing with depressed people. Try to laugh as frequently as you can.
20. Walk daily ½ h in the morning and ½ in the afternoon. Always use hat and glasses while walking.
21. Drink enough water in order to protect from dehydration, especially during the summer months.
22. You can drink relaxing or calming teas that are good for their antioxidant properties also (as green, white, black or fruit teas). They could help and calm down your GI, while preparing to sleep. Look for caffeine content on the label and purchase Decaf Teas only.
23. Do not take more than 1.5 mg Melatonin (before sleeping) as it can make you depressed, especially in your case.
24. List of hazardous food additives:
· Sodium nitrate
· Sodium Benzoate
· BHA and BHT
· Propyl gallate
· Trans fats
· Acesulfame-K
· Food dyes
· Olestra
· Potassium Bromate
Sources:
· Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality:
http://www.ahrq.gov/CLINIC/cpgsix.htm
· Alzheimer's Association:
http://www.alz.org/index.asp
· Mayo Clinic:
http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/alzheimers_center/
· National Institute on Aging/National Library of Medicine:
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/
If you would like to learn more on the above topic, to sign for on line or phone consultation, or to request an article written to suit your wellness business purposes, please call: (715) 392-7591; (218) 213-6167; or (218) 213-7087
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.
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