HEALTHY LIVING

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Natural Remediesto CombatMemoryLossFight the wasting effects of Alzheimer's with healthyfoods and mental-health-boosting supplements.::

FEW AILMENTS ARE AS

frightening as memoryloss and Alzheimer'sdisease. For most of the

5million Americans diagnosed withit, Alzheimer's causes advancingmemory loss, thinking problems, andother maladies.

It is the sixth leading cause ofdeath in the United States, andthose numbers are rising, with casesprojected to more than triple by2050 as the nation's 77 million babyboomers grow older. Unfortunately,Big Pharrna has a disappointing

record of failures in attempting todevelop new drugs that can reverseAlzheimer's, despite billions ofresearch and investment dollars spentover the past three decades.

Today, doctors typically treat thedisorders with drugs that slow, butcannot halt, its progression. TheU.S. Food and Drug Administrationhas approved two types ofAlzheimer's medications - knownas cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept,Exelon, Razadyne) andmemantine(Namenda) - to help manage thecognitive symptoms (memory loss,

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1GRASS-FEDBEEF Cows thatare fed grains

instead of grass havemeat higher in omega-6 fats, which produceinflammation.

2 COCONUTOIL Rich inbeta-HBA -

and highly regardedas a brain "superfuel"- coconut oil is low incarbs and promotesmemory.

3 AVOCADOSNutrient dense,avocados

contain an amazing 20vitamins and minerals.And they haveanti-inflammatoryproperties too.

confusion, and problems withthinking) of patients.

But while Big Pharma continuesto pursue more effective anti-Alzheimer's drugs, research hasshown a handful of natural andalternative approaches are promisingways to manage, slow; and combat thesymptoms of memory loss.

Here's a primer.

THE ANTI-ALZHEIMER'S DIETNew nutritional research into thelinks between diet and memory losssuggests you may be able to maintainyour mental edge by boosting yournutrition.

A convincing body of scientificevidence has linked sugary, high-carb diets - not dietary fat - toAlzheimer's, as well as obesity,diabetes, heart disease, and certaincancers.

Dr. David Perlmutter, a board-certified neurologist and fellow of theAmerican College of Nutrition, haslong argued that sugary soft drinksand junk foods are behind millions of

Americans' physical ailments as wellas rising rates of Alzheimer's.

"One of the key ways to helpprevent [Alzheimer's] disease isthrough diet," says Perlmutter, whois author of the NO.1 New York Timesbest-seller Grain Brain, and, mostrecently, the best-selling book, BrainMaker.

Specifically, he recommendswhat he calls the "Anti-Alzheimer'sTrio" - grass-fed beef, avocados, andcoconut oil. All three foods are highin brain-healthy fats that help boostmemory and cognitive function,and reduce inflammation tied todementia.

"These items are all low incarbs and high in fat, helping toreduce some of that brain-bullyinginflammation - the root cause of somany ailments," he explains.

A number of other foods alsocontain ingredients that preventneurodegenerative disorders. Amongthem:» Blueberries» Blackberries»Apples»Cinnamon» Leafy greens» Extra-virgin olive oil»Salmon» Concord grape juice»Rosemary»Nuts» Yogurt

10 SUPPLEMENTS THATBOOST MENTAL HEALTHIn addition to memory-boostingfoods, a growing body of scientificresearch shows that a handful ofdietary supplements can keep yourbrain in top form.

"Natural supplements can helpour brains function better, faster,and more efficiently," says Dr. RaySahelian, author of Brain Boosters.

"There is no doubt that theyinfluence brain health, and in manycases are equivalent or superior topharmaceutical drugs."

Here are a handful of supplementsthat are worth trying:

1Ginkgo biloba The herb fromthis tree species has been used

in traditional Chinese medicine forthousands of years. Supplements,which use extracts from the leaves,boost mental functioning byincreasing circulation to the brain.

A study from the University ofMiami Miller School of Medicinefound that Ginkgo biloba improvedthe brain's speed in makingconnections in healthy older adultsby 68 percent. Researchers at theUniversity of California-Los Angelesexamined the effects of Gingko bilobain patients who complained of mildage-related memory loss and found itimproved verbal recall.,2AcetYI-L-carnitine (ALCor ALCAR)

Several clinical trials indicatethat ALC delays the onset of age-related cognitive decline, and canincrease cognitive function in theelderly. ALC can cross the blood-brain barrier where it helps producebrain chemicals, keeps mitochondria(the cell's energy powerhouses) fromdeteriorating, and helps regenerateneurons.

3A'Phalipoic acid Some studieshave found that this substance

can enhance the body's ability tosynthesize glutathione, the mainantioxidant found in cells.

A study published in the Journalof Neural Transmission foundthat alpha lipoic acid stabilizedcognitive function in a small group ofAlzheimer's disease patients.

40mega-3 fatty acids Researchersat Rhode Island Hospital found

that the brains of older adults whotook fish oil, which contains omega-jfatty acids, suffered significantly lesscognitive decline and brain shrinkagethan those who didn't take fish oil.

A recent study in the FASEBJournal - published by theFederation of American Societies forExperimental Biology - found thatfish oil reduced brain inflammation

and the buildup of amyloid plaque, ahallmark of Alzheimer's.

5curcumin This active componentof turmeric, a spice found in

many Indian dishes, is a potentanti-inflammatory and fights freeradicals that promote aging. A studyat the University of California- LosAngeles found curcumin may treatAlzheimer's by slowing the build-upof amyloid plaques in the brain.

6Pycnogeno' An extract ofFrench maritime pine bark, this

supplement can significantly improvememory, attention span, and theability to manage tasks, accordingto the latest research. A recent studyfound that individuals who tookpycnogenol, twice daily, experiencedimprovements in attention span,memory, ability to manage finances,interpersonal skills, and judgment.

7B3copaMonnieri leaf extractBacopa is a medicinal herb used in

traditional Indianayurvedic medicineto enhance cognition and boostmemory.

8PhOSPhatidYISerineThischemical helps maintain

cellular function, especially in thebrain, boosting neurons' ability tocommunicate with one another.It has been traditionally used tocomplement Alzheimer's treatment,and combat age-related decline inmental function and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

gOMAE This amino acid, foundnaturally in the brain, functions

as a building block for choline, whichallows the brain to manufacture theneurotransmitter acetylcholine. Thisbrain chemical enhances cellularsignaling in the brain and the nervoussystem and is used to treat a variety ofneurological conditions.

1OHuperzine A This purifiedextract from a plant called

Chinese club moss is also believedto help combat memory loss byincreasing levels of acetylcholine.Studies show that it can increasealertness and energy. D

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