Posts

9 Key Strategies to Prevent Dementia and early Alzheimer’s Disease

, , , , ,

Fear of “Oldtimer’s”?

Last week when I was hanging out with Sarah Chun, my cool 83 years young mom, she confided in me that the #1 fear she has right now is that she may be losing her mind- she used the word Alzheimer’s!

Wait, she actually she pronounced it “Oldtimer’s” with a Korean accent, but I knew exactly what she was talking about!

Now my mother is in good health- she eats well, laughs daily watching her Korean drama shows and gets her exercise by dancing around to K-Pop. But she does have her forgetful moments of not remembering little things here and there which frustrates her terribly. Anyone who has a parent over 75 years old understands these little mishaps.

I reassured and calmed her down, told her that yes, she does have some memory issues-  but definitely not Alzheimer’s disease (AD), what is now called Type 3 Diabetes!

Having me as a daughter has some awesome perks- for years I have been advising her what she can do to stay young and rev up her brainpower but this time, she was ready to listen and follow through.

Her fears of losing her mind are the same as all of our fears, so I decided to post an article on the recommendations I gave to my mother that can help you or your family members as well.

I created a personalized step-by-step lifestyle program for her:

  • Increased her protein intake and replaced her white rice (Korean staple) for sweet potatoes, brown rice and quinoa,
  • Scheduled her night ritual so she can sleep longer and deeper hours,
  • Added some of the same brain boosting supplements I take daily to improve her memory and cognitive function
  • Eliminated all inflammatory causing foods such as sugar, dairy, gluten and yeast
  • Recommended a neck massage weekly to increase blood flow to her brain and open up her lymphatic system.

I expressed to her that we will get her mind and brain sparking in no time and that she will be with us fully functioning for a very long time. I reminded her that her own mother lived 104 years!

Then a few days ago, CNN came out with this very interesting article about reversing dementia, AD and improving the brain. What perfect timing!

The article was based on Dr. Dale Bredesen’s recent study (from my alma mater), at UCLA’s Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and it went over much of the same information I gave to my mother.

I added my own recommendations to Dr. Dale’s study and created the:

 9 Key Strategies to Prevent Dementia and early Alzheimer’s Disease:

  1. Reduce simple carbohydrates, starchy vegetables and gluten grains to reduce “leaky brain” and brain inflammation
  1. Take a daily dose of Vitamin D to modulate and improve immunity
  1. Increase your circulation and sweating mechanism by exercising vigorously, dry brushing, sitting in an infrared sauna, and hot & cold baths or showers. This will reduce toxins from deposited into the brain and cleansing them out of the body.
  1. Add polyphenols to your supplement regimen. These super antioxidants will stop oxidation and damage to DNA and nerve tissue that can lead to premature aging and brain deterioration. My favorites polyphenols include EGCg (decaffeinated), Resveratrol, and power greens!
  1. Reverse dementia and rejuvenate the brain by taking these phospholipids and essential fatty acid supplements for life: GPC (glycerophosphocholine), Phosphatidyl Serine and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Also eat more healthy fats at every meal (olive, avocado, ghee, walnut, coconut)!
  1. Wait to go to sleep at least 3 hours after dinner and fast (no food, water is fine) for 12 hours between dinner and your next meal- this may help breakdown the amyloid beta proteins that build up in the brain found in Alzheimer patients. D
  1. Eat more probiotics, prebiotics (fibrous veggies), and fermented foods like kimchi (my fav!), pickles and organic miso to improving gut health, which reduces the risk of dementia.
  1. Get 7 to 8 hours of deep uninterrupted sleep to reduce stress and inflammation and to rejuvenate the body and spirit.
  1. Reduce toxic metal exposure to mercury and aluminum, both neurotoxins that can contribute to brain deterioration. Minimize eating mercury-laden fish such as tuna and swordfish, and stop using aluminum-based products.

What I love about Dr. Dale is that his study was all about fighting dementia and Alzheimer’s by making healthy everyday lifestyle choices rather than testing some type of new drug or vaccine. He even knew about “leaky gut” and mercury toxicity- love this guy!

We all have the power to change our brain by changing our lifestyle- the way we eat, sleep and take care of our environment. A lot of the same strategies I talk about in my best selling book The 7-Day Allergy Makeover!

I can’t wait to have him on my Wellness for Life radio show. I will keep you posted once I secure him as an expert guest!

BTW- I have some really cool news coming out in a couple of weeks. Come back regularly to check to see what is coming up for 2015! Super exciting!

Click on the link below to read the entire CNN article:
https://drsusanne.com/reversedementia

/2 Comments/by

Why Resveratrol?


Resveratrol first turned the heads of scientists back in 1992 after learning that the French had a lower risk of heart disease despite their high-fat diets. Because it was discovered that the French drank red wine liberally, they turned to the ingredients in red wine, of which resveratrol was a major part. By and large scientists learned that resveratrol had wonderful anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. It efficiently inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells as well as activated a gene called sirtuin, also known as the “longevity” gene that inhibits many of the degenerative processes involved in aging.

To date many studies have been performed that have yielded knowledge on how resveratrol promotes longevity. For instance, resveratrol has extended the life of yeast, worms, fish, and mice. In addition to these anti-aging properties, resveratrol contains a group of powerful compounds called polyphenols, natural chemicals found in red grapes that have been known to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols protect the nerves, brain tissue, and act as preventative medicine against viral infections and cancer.

The most important thing to remember about resveratrol though is that it must have the active ingredient trans-resveratrol. Nowadays there are so many resveratrol products out there it is hard to determine which one is right for you. The resveratrol supplement I take is by Designs for Health and contains 200 mg of trans-resveratrol, which is a biologically active form of resveratrol that allows optimal absorption and assimilation into the body. I recommend one capsule per day as a maintenance dose and go up to twice a day with specific inflammatory or chronic conditions. Do not be fooled by cheap knock offs. Ultimately we all want to do the best for our bodies—take the time to find the supplement that’s right for you!

References:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/resveratrol/index.html#intro

http://luxuryholistics.3dcartstores.com/Resveratrol-Synergy_p_47.html

/1 Comment/by

Can Too Much Sugar Cause Wrinkles?

Research tells us that we the average American consumes half a pound of sugar every single day. We know it can lead to conditions like diabetes and obesity, and sometimes, the latter precedes the former. Unfortunately though, the risk of diabetes and other diseases is not enough to get us to stop. However, did you also know that sugar can affect the collagen and elasticity of your skin?

A complex group of compounds called “Advanced Glycation End Products” better known as AGE’s, are major contributors to the aging process. They are part of a chemical chain reaction that occurs when sugar and proteins bond improperly called “cross-linking”. When a sugar molecule like fructose bonds with a protein and no enzyme is present to control the reaction, AGE’s are formed. This can lead to damaged tissue within the skin and prevent the formation of skin-tightening agents like collagen.

AGE’s come from the foods we eat, especially those cooked without water at high temperatures. Water prevents these sugars and proteins from bonding, which is why it is always best to steam or boil raw vegetables and avoid browned or processed foods. Browning foods increases the level of AGE’s!

As a promising area of research, AGE’s have been associated with the vascular damage of diabetes, as too much sugar in the bloodstream can greatly hasten the reaction between sugars and proteins in the body. AGE’s are also known to be a primary cause of cellular aging, and has been implicated in diseases like Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and end-stage renal disease for its effects on body tissue. Fortunately, a peptide found in animal tissue and powerful antioxidant called carnosine has been known to offset this destructive reaction between sugars and proteins. Carnosine helps prevent cross-linking of collagen in skin. As skin age, cross-links form between adjacent collagen fibers causing the characteristic wrinkling and loss of elasticity. Carnosine is one of my favorite “anti-aging” nutrients; it is available in supplementation and has been used in many topical creams to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

In order to prevent the negative effects of AGE’s from creeping up on you, I suggest keeping the blood sugar low by reducing your sugar intake and eating raw, natural foods. Also, avoid well-done meats at high temperatures, such as grilled or BBQ meats, which have higher levels of AGE’s than do slower, cooked meats. Meat and poultry in soups and stews is a great way to prevent the AGE’s process. Making small changes in your diet every day can go a long way!

References:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/h0lyk91w88lj5j1q/fulltext.pdf

/by