Alzheimer's disease is an epidemic in this country. While it would certainly be a good and useful development if a means were created to identify the disease in its early stages, before the effects become severe, it's much better by far to keep yourself from getting it in the first place.

It really is tragic when you lose your mind, not so much for you, as you will be clueless that this is occurring, but you will cause enormous hardship to those you love most and who will need to care for you because you can't care for yourself.

This is tragic because it simply doesn't have to happen. There are simple effective solutions you can take now that will radically reduce, if not virtually eliminate, your risk of ever developing this illness. To this end, I would recommend the following steps:

Five Guidelines to Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

1. Eat a Nutritious Diet. One of the most important things you can do to prevent dementia -- and a just about any other chronic disease -- is to follow the diet described in my Total Health Program. The central premise is to eliminate processed foods in your diet and replace them with fresh vegetables, which are high in folate.

   Additionally, you will also need to get your fat balance right. In line with that principle I advise consuming a high-quality fish or cod liver oil so you can meet the optimal amount of omega-3 fats needed to achieve good health and fight Alzheimer's. It is important to find a fish or cod liver oil that is independently tested by a lab and found to conform to the highest purity guidelines. This will ensure that the oil is free of mercury and other toxins. One such brand, which I have found to be of superior quality, is Carlson's fish and cod liver oil. You can find Carlson's and other good brands at your local health food store. If you don't have a local health food store, for your convenience we also carry these in our store.

2. Exercise. We all know that exercise is good for our cardiovascular system, but studies have found that exercise can also protect the brain, thereby warding off Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. 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.

3. Minimize Heavy Metals Exposure. Even trace amounts of mercury or aluminum have the potential to cause the type of damage to nerves that is characteristic of the damage found in Alzheimer's disease. 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 following the diet described in my Total Health Program, you can follow the mercury detox protocol and then find a biological dentist to possibly have your amalgams removed.

   Although nearly any dentist is technically qualified to replace your amalgam fillings, far less than 95 percent have any clue on how to do it properly so your risk of mercury exposure is minimized. Please avoid the mistake I have seen THOUSANDS of patients make and have your fillings replaced by a non-qualified dentist.

   I made this mistake myself nearly 20 years ago. Do it right the first time and save yourself the expense and grief. If you don't personally know a qualified biological dentist, many people find one by contacting several of the health food stores in their area and asking the employees who they know. This is typically an excellent resource as they are usually networked quite well in the local health community.

   Other sources of mercury include most seafood, thimerosal-containing vaccinations and flu shots, which contain both mercury and aluminum. Aluminum has been widely associated with Alzheimer's disease. Your main sources of exposure are likely through drinking water and antiperspirants.

   Aluminum cookware may also be a source of exposure. Although aluminum pots are probably less problematic than the sources mentioned above, I personally would not use aluminum cookware.

4. Challenge Your Mind. 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 the brain, making it less susceptible to the lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease.

5. Finally, try Wild Blueberry IQ, an all-natural, whole fruit softgel made from wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content that are known to guard against Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases.

As I said above, following these preventative steps is really a proactive way to take control of your mental and physical health and protect yourself from Alzheimer's disease.

If you use these simple, natural and inexpensive methods, you will vastly increase your chances of keeping a sound, alert, well-functioning brain for your entire life.