What if you could avoid Alzheimers by cutting out dessert? The Daily Beast

by Barbara Torris

I had planned on writing about my beautiful grandchildren today...a trip to the park, playing on  the structures and walking through the woods. Then I saw an article in The Daily Beast about the connection between our diet and the way our mind deteriorates. Writer David Permutter, MD titled his article Why We Can and Must Focus on Preventing Alzheimer's.

Holy Moly Miss Molly! When it comes to taking care of our minds, we need to sit up a pay attention and sit up and pay attention I did. This man is talking a preventing Alzheimer's for goodnes sakes! I could only think if Alzheimer's could be prevented the whole face of aging would change. Here are some of the study outcomes they used a reference points

• It turns out that even if you do NOT have diabetes, eating a diet laced with sugar is not a good idea. An increase in blood sugar may damage our minds and  lead to dementia.
• A study done in England between 1979-2010 put increases in deaths related to brain brain issues in the United States at 66% for men and 92% for women.
• Gluten intolerance may be more of a neurological  disease than it is a digestive problem.
• "Mayo Clinic researchers...that risk for mild cognitive impairment, the harbinger for Alzheimer’s disease, or full -blown dementia is an astounding 42% lower in elderly folks who consume a diet higher in fat and lower in carbohydrates, as reported in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease." The Daily Beast

Did you get that? The people that write about Alzheimer's Disease is telling us that more fat and less carbohydrates could be a good thing. WOW!

I am going to be 72 years old soon and believe me the conversation turns to lost keys and forgotten appointments every time I am with my peers. I wonder sometimes if I am going to be an Alzheimer's patient is the conclusion my age group comes to when they forget or get a little lost. If this horrible disease could be prevented wouldn't we all jump on the band wagon? I would hope so.

Read this article written by David Perlmutter, author of the new book Grain Brain, not only for  information on what we can do to prevent dementia but also for the conclusion the author came to for why we are not being educated to prevent the disease and the only thing we ever hear about is a new medications. It is very interesting.

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Tom's Sighting pointed out this article: Sugar Makes You Stoopid (Sightings Over Sixty)

The Acai Berry and Me...no miracles here!!!

There are so many dietary supplements on the market today and we are bombarded with the idea that aging can somehow be reversed or stopped.  Products that promise a better night sleep or renewed energy have been around for years. I, for one, am a skeptic.  How about you?  Have you ever taken melatonin to get a good nights sleep after flying across the ocean?  Or how about that new wonder berry the acai (a sigh ee)?  I have tried both.  The melitonin did give me a few hours of rest but I thought it was a waste of my money.  As for the acai I am now taking a tablespoon of the juice in the morning.  I just wanted to share some of the information that has come out on legitimate websites about the berry and it's effects.  Wikipedia has good basic information.  They said:

Marketers of these products (company name deleted) make claims that açaí provides increased energy levels, improved sexual performance, improved digestion, detoxification, high fiber content, improved skin appearance, improved heartimproved sleep, and reduction of cholesterol levels. Quackwatch noted that "açai juice has only middling levels of antioxidants—less than that of Concord grape, blueberry, and black cherry juices, but more than cranberry, orange, and apple juices." Furthermore, the extent to which antioxidants^[2] According to the Washington, D.C. based Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) thousands of consumers have had trouble stopping recurrent charges on their credit cards when they cancel free trials of açai-based products. ^[3][4] health, by themselves promote health is a matter of some debate. No credible evidence suggests antioxidants promote weight loss.

However....(giggle) I do take a tablespoon of acai juice everyday.  Did I loose 15 pounds in the first week as claimed online?  Noooooooo!  Thank heavens for that! But I do think my digestion and lower intestinal track is working better than before.  Really I don't want to talk about bodily functions at all....ever.  So all I will say is this fruit juice is really tasty and if it has a positive effect on my plumbing then I am all for it!  If it has even one of the other benefits mentioned then it is win win for me.   I do not expect that to happen.  Ordinarily I would discuss taking something like this with my physician so I will mention it to him when I go in for a physical.  I am not diabetic nor do I have any other maladies that would be effected by fruit juice.  I just wanted to let you know that it did not make me sick, cause diarrhea or turn me purple.  All of those things are good in my world.

There are a lot of scams (see quackwatch) out there talking about rapid weight loss and feelings of exhilaration/high energy.  Most are very costly.  Some of those products are acai pills sold in conjunction with other supplements.  I don't think that we should mess with our bodies in a way that would cause us to drop several pounds a day or even "cleanse" our system in the way that they suggest.  I personally believe that too much can go wrong, especially when you are a senior citizen.  You should avoid the wild claims made by online scam artists.  Grocery stores with knowledgeable sales people that specialize in organic food and high quality supplements is a good source for this product and one I use frequently.  Please note that you should not expect anything miraculous...sorry!!!!

I just thought you would want to know.

Have a great day!

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Related Links

Oprah.com (acai super food)
Secrets of the Blue Zone (Oprah.com)

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