Protect Yourself Against Alzheimer's Disease: Three Natural Substances

Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia (disease of the brain) which impairs normal brain function and affects vision, thought and movement. No one is exactly sure what causes Alzheimer's disease, some scientists think that oxidative stress may be the problem while others think a certain, the apolipoprotien E 4 allele is the cause. Whatever it is, the disease generally manifests itself around age 65 and the risk increases each year after this. People can reduce the risk of contracting Alzheimer's disease by living a healthy lifestyle, consisting of regular exercise and a diet consisting of large amounts of fruits and vegetables, high-fiber, low fat foods and exercising of the mind. The mind can be exercised with a simple crossword puzzle, a game, lively conversation or anything which involves deep thoughts.

1) B. vitamins help to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease

Vitamin B12 is pretty important in the creation of the neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine which function on to transmit chemical signals between your nerves and your brain. Thiamin is a B. vitamin derivative and hence no signals travel from your brain to different parts of the body.

Studies have shown that foods which are rich in B. vitamins help to protect your brain from Alzheimer's disease, sufferers generally show lower levels of folate and B12 (B vitamin derivatives) than are observed in patients without the disease. This vitamin has also been directly linked to the intelligence and memory in the general population. Foods rich in B. Vitamins include broccoli, beans, milk, eggs, red meats and dark leafy greens.

2) Antioxidants also help to fight Alzheimer's disease

Antioxidants seem to be the new buzzword in anything health related but research has proven that these substances protect your brain against free radicals and as such prevent cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. Free radical damage can cause memory loss and antioxidants have been shown to slow and even reverse this. Most fruits and vegetables are rich in many different types of antioxidants, these include: carotene and flavonoids. Hence as long as your diet consists of reasonable amounts of fruits and vegetables, you can help to prevent Alzheimer's disease.

3) Omega-3 is the best kept secret in brain health.

These are fat molecules which protect against heart disease and Alzheimer's disease by removing clumps of protein that accumulate in the brain called beta-amyloid plaque, which may cause inflammation of the brain's blood vessels. To increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, tuna, mackerel, salmon, walnuts, dark leafy greens and flaxseeds should be consumed in sizable portions at least three times per week.

References
1. Alzheimer's disease. Retrieved from www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alzheimersdisease.html
2. Eat and Heal. FC&A Medical Publishing3. The Big Book of Health Tips. FC&A Medical Publishing