Check out 5 Natural Remedies to Prevent Alzheimer’s! Posted by Home Instead Senior Care in Mountain View.
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon always makes things taste better, why not your brain? Cinnamon is full of antioxidant properties that keep cells safe from oxidative stress and dangerous free radicals. Antioxidants help fight such diseases as cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and Parkinson’s. A study in 2011 found that an extract from cinnamon bark, inhibited the formation of amyloid plaques in mice with Alzheimer’s. It helped to restore cognitive levels and correct movement problems in the animals.
Cinnamon also helps the hormone insulin work well, which reduces blood sugar levels. Keeping blood sugar low can help treat diabetes or even stop it before it starts.
2. Sage
Sage and wisdom pair well together and has been shown to help with memory and mood. A study in 2005 gave essential sage oil to healthy young volunteers and found that participants tended to remember things better and feel both more alert and calmer after taking sage.
Sage can also help those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Like most prescribed Alzheimer’s drugs, sage inhibits an enzyme called “acetylcholinesterase”, which will improve cognitive function.
Sage is also great for digestion, can help curb hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause.
You can add sage to dishes or make tea!
3. Rosemary
Students of Ancient Greece would wear rosemary in their hair when studying, and were on the right track because rosemary protects the brain from free-radical damage and therefore to lower the risks of stroke and Alzheimer’s.
Like any herb, feel free to use rosemary in moderation. But check with your doctor before rushing out to buy rosemary supplements. In large quantities, it’s been linked to seizures and inefficient iron absorption. Also please avoid serving a rosemary-heavy dish to a pregnant woman.
4. Nuts
Recent findings published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease report walnut consumption in a Mediterranean diet is associated with better memory scores and cognitive function. The results suggest that antioxidants present in walnuts and other Mediterranean dietary patterns may help counteract age-related cognitive decline and reduce the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
5. Fish
University of Pittsburgh conducted a study of fish linked with improving health, one of the results the research determined that people who ate fish weekly had large amounts of gray matter in areas of the brain that are related to Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment, a subtle but measurable memory disorder. Fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, to brain health. Scientists already know that eating these fish can protect the heart. It turns out that they also protect the brain. Fried fish, on the other hand, provides no such benefits.
Diet for Alzheimer
Many Alzheimers patients forget to take their meals on time or just lose interest in eating. Those who live along and take care of themselves also show a tendency of preparing an unhealthy combination of foods. Therefore, it is common for them to suffer from several different types of digestive problems.
It is important for family members and caregivers for Alzheimers patients to make sure that they eat regular meals throughout the day and on time. In addition to plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat and low fat dairy products, it is important for them to consume high calorie and healthy shakes or smoothies. While many milkshakes and protein powders are easily available at stores, it is best to prepare them at home. A lot of liquid is also very important for Alzheimers patients. However, coffee, aerated drinks or other caffeinated items should be strictly avoided at all times.
Before making any dietary changes to a diet, it is advisable to check with a doctor and get an approval. This is all the more important for those people suffering from preexisting medical conditions like Alzheimers disease.
