Keeping Your Brain Sharp Naturally
More Americans than ever before are suffering from cognitive memory disorders.
New research published by the Alzheimer’s Association reveals that the disease has reached epidemic proportions with a staggering 5.4 million Americans living with the condition.
By 2050, this figure is expected to rise to 16 million.
A new case of Alzheimer’s every 68 seconds
One in eight Americans aged over 65 now has Alzheimer’s and every 68 seconds, another American will develop the disease, says the Association. Alzheimer’s has now become the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.
Sometimes it’s easy to ignore statistics because unless they directly touch our lives, we tend to dismiss them.
For me personally, Alzheimer’s is something incredibly close to my heart – and close to home. At Christmas time, a family member who had been suffering with the disease for a few years sadly passed away. To see his decline from an articulate, healthy, busy, independent person into a former shadow of himself was heart-breaking. Not only does Alzheimer’s affect the sufferer, it impacts on family members and loved ones close to them, bringing life-changing consequences for all.
The picture may seem a bleak one but it is not all gloom and doom fortunately. New research shows that we can help our brains with just a few simple and natural steps.
There are measures we can take which will reduce our likelihood of getting Alzheimer’s.
Puzzle it out
Keeping the brain busy and exercised is essential and this can be achieved by learning new skills, a new language perhaps or mastering a crafts like painting or sewing. Maybe try and tackle the crossword in our daily newspaper or test your brain with a Sudoku puzzle now and again!
Lack of exercise to the brain has actually been linked to brain shrinkage (atrophy) so it really pays to try and take part in as many mentally-stimulating activities as possible.
A team of researchers at the University of Edinburgh kept detailed logs of more than 600 volunteers aged over 70, recording their daily mental, physical and social habits. The results showed that those who engaged in physical activities demonstrated the last brain shrinkage.
So as Agatha Christie’s famous detective, Hercule Poirot might have said: Keep those little grey cells ticking over. It’s a no-brainer after all.
Brain food on a plate
A healthy diet is paramount for a healthy brain and although we are often told to avoid fat, it’s important to know that there are good fats as well as bad. Good fats are essential in staving off Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
A Mediterranean diet with olive oil is perfect. You can also try and incorporate raw nuts, avocados, organic eggs and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Make sure you also consume whole foods and oily fish. – brilliant for brain health. Coconut oil has also proved beneficial.
Banish that stress
We know that stress is the number one cause of any illness or disease and Alzheimer’s and dementia is no exception so it pays to ensure that you try and keep your stress levels in check wherever possible. When you feel stressed your adrenal and pituitary glands go into “fight or flight” mode, pumping adrenal, cortisol and dopamine into your bloodstream – all of which can have undesirable effects on your general health.
One of the best ways of banishing stress is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or tapping. This has been proven to alleviate cortisol-induced stress. You’d be surprised how easy it is to learn too.
Soak up some sunshine
Scientists have discovered an association between Vitamin D intake and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
A study involving women aged over 75, looked at Vitamin D supplement intake as well as exposure to natural sunlight. The average daily Vitamin D intake was 334±172 IU/day. The presence of Alzheimer’s and other dementias were assessed seven years after the women had been enrolled for the study, and those in the highest fifth of Vitamin D intake had only a 25 per cent incidence rate of Alzheimer’s compared to those with low Vitamin D intake. Those in the highest fifth of sun exposure had reduced their chances of getting Alzheimer’s by 50 per cent.
Finding a natural cure
Here at Natural Cures we have produced a detailed natural cure for dealing with Alzheimer’s so if you are not already a member, why not join today and read for yourself how alternative therapies such as ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and homeopathy are beneficial, and how meditation, yoga and detox all have a role to play.
We have looked into the best supplements and vitamins, as well as herbal remedies, diet and relaxation.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic to prove the Alzheimer’s Society wrong with their chilling prediction of 16 million American sufferers in the next four decades? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to prevent this terrible disease happening to ourselves and those we love and care about? We should all make it our mission to stop Alzheimer’s in its deadly tracks. Because of the way in which Alzheimer’s claimed my uncle, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see others beat the disease and other types of dementia.
Maybe you have an up-lifting story in which natural remedies and complementary therapies are helping someone you love? Share it with us here at NaturalCures.com
Remember to always consult a licensed healthcare practitioner before embarking on any treatment, it’s your health and it’s IMPORTANT. www.naturalcures.com/disclaimer