This ONE Action Keeps Brain Function at its Peak…

Posted by: Dr. Mercola
October 03 2009
Researchers have found that individuals with a high daily intake of vegetables and fruits also demonstrate higher cognitive performance. Please notice that vegetables are mentioned first because they are FAR more important than fruits.

Subjects with a high intake (about 400 grams per day) of fruits and vegetables had higher antioxidant levels, lower indicators of free radical-induced damage, and better cognitive performance.

The findings were independent of age, gender, body mass index, and level of education. Further studies are planned that will include larger subject cohorts, patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and patients with mild cognitive impairment.
This latest study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease confirms previous studies on vegetable intake and dementia. Here, healthy subjects between the ages of 45 and 102 underwent cognitive testing while their blood was checked for antioxidant micronutrients and biomarkers of oxidative stress. Their daily fruit and vegetable intake was also assessed.

The subjects in the high fruit and veggie intake group scored significantly higher on the cognitive tests, and they also had higher antioxidant levels and lower biomarkers for oxidative stress than those in the low intake group.

Cognitive test scores were positively correlated with blood levels of α-tocopherol and lycopene, and negatively correlated with F2α isoprostanes (potent vasoconstrictors) and protein carbonyls – a byproduct of oxidation that causes cell damage.

The results were independent of age, gender, body mass index, education, total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and albumin.

The researchers concluded that “modification of nutritional habits aimed at increasing intake of fruits and vegetables should be encouraged to lower prevalence of cognitive impairment in later life.”

The Key to Brain Health

I’m pleased that they focused their recommendation on fruits and vegetables as opposed to the antioxidants themselves, as previous studies have shown that while antioxidants from food have a beneficial impact on your brain and can prevent cognitive decline, supplements do not appear to offer the same benefits.

It seems your brain is too smart to settle for second best, and the key for brain health is FOOD based, and can likely not be duplicated by supplements alone.

For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2002, found that diets rich in vitamin E – another antioxidant — may delay the onset of memory-robbing Alzheimer’s disease.

During normal cell processes, compounds called free radicals are released, which can be harmful to your body tissues and lead to so-called oxidative damage or stress. Experts have linked oxidative stress to many illnesses, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Since antioxidants can neutralize free radicals, quite a bit of research has focused on these nutrients and it’s believed they can help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. However, they keep finding that this benefit only becomes apparent when the nutrients are consumed in food.

In the JAMA study, those with the highest intake of vitamin E from food appeared to be the least likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Even smokers who consumed the most antioxidant nutrients appeared to cut their Alzheimer’s risk.

Is Alzheimer’s a Form of Diabetes?

Interestingly, in more recent years Alzheimer’s disease is increasingly being referred to as a third form of diabetes.

Along with your pancreas, your brain also produces insulin. Insulin and insulin receptors in your brain are crucial for memory and learning, and it’s known that these components are lower in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

In your brain, insulin binds to an insulin receptor at a synapse, which triggers a mechanism that allows nerve cells to survive, and memories to form. A recent study in the journal Neurology discovered that a toxic protein in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients — called ADDL — removes insulin receptors from nerve cells, and renders those neurons insulin resistant.

It has been suggested that ADDLs accumulate at the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease and thereby block memory function. There is even a test that measures ADDL in your spinal fluid that claims to detect Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages.

People with diabetes also have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin D May Also Play a Role

Another factor that can further strengthen the hypothesis that Alzheimer’s is a form of diabetes is that vitamin D, just like insulin, also appears to play a role in both diseases.

It has already been established that type 1 diabetes can be prevented with sufficient vitamin D levels.

For example, in one study, babies who received at least 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily were nearly 80 percent less likely to develop type 1 diabetes over the next three decades compared with infants who had lower intakes of the vitamin.

Type 1 diabetes is considered to be an autoimmune disease, and vitamin D has been shown to be an important ingredient to enable the optimal function of your immune system and in preventing too aggressive attacks against your body’s own tissues.

In the same issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease is the study showing the benefits of vegetables on cognitive performance, there’s also a report discussing the potential for vitamin D to protect against dementia.

Observational studies have found that low vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk for:

Cardiovascular diseases

Type 1 diabetes

Depression

Dental caries

Osteoporosis

Periodontal disease

All of these conditions are either considered risk factors for dementia or have preceded incidence of dementia, so your vitamin D levels may indeed be one of the underlying causes of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s as well.

Laboratory studies also show that vitamin D offers neuroprotection, and that it plays a role in reducing inflammation in your body, which is an important aspect of protecting yourself against Alzheimer’s disease.

Guidelines to Prevent Both Alzheimer’s and Diabetes at the Same Time

Three of the most important strategies to prevent Alzheimer’s disease are actually identical to those recommended to prevent diabetes.

This may seem odd at first glance, but is easily understood when you grasp the fact that the single most important factor that can help prevent nearly every chronic disease known to man is to normalize your insulin and leptin levels.

These three steps form the foundation for normalizing your insulin and leptin levels:

Exercise — Exercise protects your brain just as it protects the rest of your body from diabetes. According to one study, the odds of developing Alzheimer’s were nearly quadrupled in people who were less active during their leisure time, between the ages of 20 and 60, compared with their peers.

Similar to a healthy diet, regular physical activity is one of those things that can significantly improve many aspects of your physical and emotional health. For the elderly, simple activities such as walking and light weight training would likely provide benefits. For those who are younger, more strenuous exercise may heighten the benefits.

Diet — Eating a nutritious diet of mostly organic, whole foods that are right for your nutritional type.

Omega 3 fats — A diet rich in omega-3 fats has been found to ward off both Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.

Keep in mind that most fish today are grossly contaminated, so despite the fact that they are a major source of healthy omega-3’s I do not recommend eating much fish these days, as the health hazards far outweigh the benefits. Your best alternative is to take an animal-based omega-3 supplement, such as krill oil.

Additional Strategies to Keep Your Mind Sharp

By 2050, it’s estimated that 1 out of 8 people will have Alzheimer’s disease…
This is NOT a natural state of affairs, as your brain is capable of remaining fully functional no matter how old you get. That is, as long as you take care of it.

So in addition to the three important tips above, here are a few more strategies to help you keep your mind sharp well into old age:

Optimize your vitamin D levels

Avoid and remove mercury from your body. Dental amalgam fillings are one of the major sources of mercury, however you should be healthy prior to having them removed. Once you have adjusted to a nutritious diet, you can follow the mercury detox protocol and then find a biological dentist who will know how to remove your amalgams in a safe manner that will not harm your health in the process.

Avoid aluminum, such as in antiperspirants, cookware, etc.

Avoid flu vaccinations as they contain both mercury and aluminum!

Eat wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content that are known to guard against Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.

Challenge your mind daily. Mental stimulation, such as traveling, learning to play an instrument or doing crossword puzzles, is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s. Researchers suspect that mental challenge helps to build up your brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

How to Stay Sharp as a Tack

Friday, October 02, 2009 by: Dr. Julian Whitaker

(NaturalNews) A few days ago a song got stuck in my head- the slow, haunting violin melody that set the mood in the movie Platoon. But I couldn’t recall who wrote it, and it bugged me. Later, when I wasn’t thinking about it, I suddenly remembered it was Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings.

We all have episodes like this. We forget names and misplace things. We lose our train of thought, and we walk into rooms with no recollection of why we went there in the first place. This is normal human behavior. Now, forgetting a close family member’s name, constantly repeating yourself, or getting lost in familiar places is another issue. Still, even run-of-the-mill memory lapses can be disconcerting, especially if you’re older. You may wonder, “Am I losing it? Is Alzheimer’s just around the corner?”

It’s a valid fear. More than 5 million Americans are living with this disease, and the older you are, the greater your risk. The upside is that there are a number of steps you can take to maintain and actually improve your memory. Let’s take a look at the latest research.

Shape Up

Australian researchers reported in a 2008 JAMA study that when people with mild memory problems exercised for 50 minutes three times a week, their cognitive function was enhanced. The exercise wasn’t strenuous- most people walked. But the results were significant and improvements endured for at least a year, even though the study lasted only 24 weeks.

Among its many benefits, exercise improves blood flow to the brain. This three-pound organ consumes about 20 percent of the oxygen and glucose you take in, and when poor circulation hampers their delivery, memory is obviously affected. Physical activity also helps control blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight. Hypertension is the number-one cause of “mini-strokes” that can lead to severe cognitive dysfunction. Diabetes before age 65 doubles the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. And abdominal obesity during midlife triples the risk of dementia at age 70!

Take a Look at Your Drug Regimen

A host of drugs can impair memory, and the usual suspects- sedatives, sleep aids, painkillers, and psychiatric meds- are just the tip of the iceberg.

Zantac and Tagamet, acid blockers for ulcers and GERD, have been found to cause memory decline in a third of older people who use them. Statin drugs prescribed for lowering cholesterol are linked with both acute temporary amnesia and long-term cognitive problems. Some antihistamines (Benadryl and Sudafed), antibiotics (Cipro and Keflex), antihypertensive medications (beta-blockers), and anticholinergics (used to treat asthma as well as urinary and gastrointestinal problems) are also implicated in cognitive dysfunction, especially in older people.

Talk to your doctor if you’re on any drugs. Safe alternatives are available for virtually all of them.

Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy ameliorates many aspects of aging, including memory loss. Cognitive problems are a well-recognized symptom of hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function. In fact, this condition can actually mimic Alzheimer’s. Because a significant percentage of older women and men have undiagnosed hypothyroidism, I encourage everyone over age 50 to have their thyroid hormone levels checked. Natural thyroid replacement can make a world of difference.

The research on estrogen and testosterone isn’t as clear cut. However, my clinical experience has been that men who use supplemental testosterone and women who use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy usually report improvements in alertness, concentration, and overall sense of well-being.

Surf the Web

The admonition to “use it or lose it” isn’t news. We’ve known for years that people who read, play musical instruments, do puzzles, and are otherwise involved in stimulating activities have a reduced risk of memory impairment. Mental exercise builds what scientists call “cognitive reserve.” By increasing the number and variety of neural connections and networks, the brain becomes more resilient to damage.

So what creates cognitive reserve? Higher education, challenging work and leisure activities- and searching the Internet. UCLA researchers discovered that people over age 55 who regularly “surfed the Web” had twice as much activity in the areas of the brain involved in complex reasoning and decision making while engaging in this activity.

Listen to Memory-Enhancing CDs

When I first came across CDs that claimed to enhance memory, the idea sounded too good to be true. But then I looked at the research. These CDs are based on a well-studied technology called brainwave entrainment that uses rhythmic stimulus such as sound or light to synchronize the brain’s electrical cycles. In one study, individuals who listened to these CDs for at least 70 minutes for 25 days in a row reported feeling more attentive and mentally clear- and their IQ test scores improved by an average of 18.9 percent!

I’ve tried several brain entrainment systems over the years, and many of them require special glasses and headphones. These CDs, however, are by far my favorite because they can be used anytime, anywhere. I’ve been playing them as background music in my office and car, and though I don’t know if I’m getting any smarter, I do feel more clear-headed and relaxed.

Eat, Drink, and Get Smart

There is a consensus that the best “brain foods” are those that address the underlying processes in age-related degeneration: inflammation and free-radical damage. That being said, the standard American diet of meat, potatoes, breads, sweets, and processed foods is a recipe for dementia. Saturated fat fuels inflammation. Potatoes, breads, and sweets precipitate insulin resistance and weight gain. And processed foods are devoid of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that nourish the brain.

Replace meat with salmon and other omega-3- rich fish that dampen inflammation. Eliminate starches and sweets, and eat more beans and other low-glycemic carbohydrates. And load up on protective nutrients by eating plenty of vegetables and a little fruit. If you’re looking for a food plan to follow, make it the Mediterranean diet, which, in addition to these items, includes modest amounts of olive oil and wine. A recent study revealed that older people who most closely adhered to a Mediterranean diet over four and a half years were 28 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment.

I also recommend drinking coffee. You probably know that coffee makes you more alert and improves short-term memory, but did you realize it also protects against Alzheimer’s? Scandinavian scientists recently found that people who drank three to five cups of coffee a day during middle age were 65 percent less likely to develop dementia!

Take Vitamin D…

Studies on the diverse benefits of vitamin D keep pouring in, and one of the latest focuses on cognitive function. Researchers tested the vitamin D blood levels of nearly 2,000 Brits over age 65. After adjusting for age, education, and other factors, they found that those with low levels of vitamin D were more than twice as likely to have cognitive problems.

Deficiencies in this vitamin are common among the general population, but they’re rampant in older people, who have a decreased ability to produce vitamin D in the skin. One of the most important things you can do to preserve your memory is to get your blood level of this vitamin tested and take supplements to bring it into the optimal range.

…And Other Supplements

Vitamin D isn’t the only nutrient that improves brain health. Vitamin B12 guards against age-related brain shrinkage and reduces risk of dementia. Vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) lowers levels of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s. Folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 keep toxic homocysteine in check. And you can’t protect against free-radical damage without antioxidants.

Fish oil is crucial because it provides DHA, a dominant fat in the brain, and EPA, a potent anti-inflammatory. Curcumin, an extract from turmeric, curbs inflammation, and vinpocetine, a periwinkle extract, improves cerebral blood flow. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS) are also important constituents of neuronal cell membranes, plus PC is a precursor to acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter.

Due to inefficient absorption and poor diet, the vast majority of older Americans are deficient in some or all of these nutrients. Simply correcting nutritional deficiencies can engender dramatic improvements in memory and general health. Therefore, I cannot over-emphasize the importance of a good nutritional supplement program when it comes to cognitive support.

Keep Your “Entries” Intact

Oscar Wilde once said, “Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us.” Keep your “entries” intact by taking these recommendations to heart, and enjoy optimal cognitive function for years to come.

Recommendations

The easiest way to meet the suggested supplement recommendations is to take a good daily multivitamin, two or more fish oil capsules, and a combination brain/memory formula. Look for these products in your health food store or call (800) 722-8008 to order my formula, Memory Essentials.

Talk to your doctor about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and vitamin D testing. For information on receiving these services at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, call (800) 488-1500.

To order iMusic’s memory-enhancing BrainAmp CDs, call (800) 722-8008.

References
Huang TL, et al. A comprehensive review of the psychological effects of brainwave entrainment. Altern Ther Health Med. 2008 Sep-Oct;14(5):38-50.
Lautenschlager NT, et al. Effect of physical activity on cognitive function in older adults at risk for Alzheimer disease: a radomized trial. JAMA. 2008;300(9):1027-1037.
Llewellyn DJ, et al. Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D concentration and cognitive impairment. J Geriatr Psych Neurol. 2009 Feb 4. E-pub ahead of print.
Scarmeas N, et al. Mediterranean diet and mild cognitive impairment. Arch Neurol. 2009 Feb;66(2):216-225.
Small GW, et al. Your brain on Google: patterns of cerebral activation during internet searching. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009 Feb;17(2):116-126.
Spira AP, et al. Sleep-disordered breathing and cognition in older women. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008 Jan;56(1):45-50.

Autism rates double in children as vaccines poison an entire generation

Tuesday, October 06, 2009 by: Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor Key concepts: Vaccines, Autism and Chemicals View on NaturalPedia: Vaccines, Autism and Chemicals

(NaturalNews) According to a U.S. government survey just published, rates of autism in children have doubled since 2003. Today, an estimated 1 in 91 children are being diagnosed with autism, making this the highest rate in any population in the history of human civilization. Meanwhile, the vaccination push in America continues, specifically targeting children with not just seasonal flu vaccines (which may contain thimerosal), but also the H1N1 swine flu vaccine.

It all begs the question: Is there a link between vaccinesand autism?

In defending vaccines, many doctors have blamed autismon a genetic cause. But if it’s genetic, why are rates skyrocketing so quickly? The gene pool obviously isn’t changing that dramatically. There’s no such thing as a “genetic epidemic.” If genes caused autism, the rate of autism diagnosis should be holding steady year after year. Clearly, something else is at work, causing the sharp increase in autism.

Autism is a neurological disorder. If you’re looking for the cause of autism, it only makes sense to look at causes involving environmental factors that expose children tochemicals linked to neurological disorders. Vaccines immediately come to mind, not only because they containthimerosal — a preservative made with methyl mercury that’s extremely toxic to the nervous system — but also because they contain chemical adjuvants like squalene, which directly cause inflammation of the nervous system.

So what happens when a nutrient-deficient child is exposed to more than one hundred vaccines injected with thimerosal, squalene and other chemicals? It’s not unreasonable to suspect that vaccines — which inject these chemicals directly into the body — might be one of the more obvious causes.

The pharmaceutical industry (which thrives on vaccines) claims there is absolutely no link between vaccines and autism. Well of course they do! The entire future of pharmaceutical profit-making depends on the continued propagandizing of the myth that chemical intervention improves human health. They’re no more likely to find fault with their own vaccines than a cigarette company is to admitcigarettes cause cancer.

“Asking the pharmaceutical industry to investigate the safety of vaccines is like asking Big Tobacco to investigate the safety of cigarettes.

What’s clear is that rates have autism have paralleled the rise in children’s vaccines. Each year we get more vaccines pushed onto children, and each year we see increases in autism. Given that many vaccines contain a neurotoxic heavy metal (mercury) and neurotoxic adjuvants, it only seems reasonable to start looking at vaccines as one of the important contributing factors (if not the main cause) of autism.

Other factors for autism

There are likely other factors involved, and their danger potentially gets multiplied in the presence of methyl mercury from vaccines. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), for example, is a neurotoxin, too, and kids today are eating more and more foods laced with MSG as flavor enhancers. (It’s found in canned soups, gravy mixes, salad dressings, snack dips, and virtually all “instant” microwaveable meals.) Look for “yeast extract” on food labels: It’s a covert source of MSG that manufacturers use to avoid having to place “MSG” on the ingredients label.

There’s also aspartame and diet sodas. Aspartame is a potent neurotoxin that could be making the nervous system especially vulnerable to damage from vaccines. Beyond chemical food ingredients, the human nervous system can also be compromised by pain drugs administered during childbirth, antidepressant drugs or diabetes drugs given to expectant mothers, or even the highly toxic chemicals commonly found in “baby care” products used in hospitals around the world.

Even before they’re born, most first-world babies are exposed to a toxic stew of synthetic chemicals. The chemical invasion of a vaccine injection might be the one final blow that sends the nervous system in a downward spiral of destruction.

The facts cannot be denied: Our children are being neurologically poisoned by chemicals, and vaccines are one of the most worrisome sources of chemical suspects. In my opinion, any parent subjecting their child to vaccines today is directly putting their child in harm’s way. They are risking their child’s life in order to comply with a highly unethical, profit-focused vaccine push that has but one objective: To sell more dangerous pharmaceutical chemicals to children who don’t need them.

There will be a day in the future, I’m sure, when injecting a child with a neurotic chemical will be considered a felony crime, punishable by years in prison. Until that day comes, this same criminal act is innocuously called “administering a vaccine.”

Sources for this story include:

ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMo…