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What You Eat Could Raise Your Risk of Alzheimer's

eating, omega-6 fatsEating the wrong diet could increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Scientists have found a link between the degenerative brain disease and raised levels of an omega-6 fatty acid.

Researchers compared the brains of mice bred with a condition that mimics Alzheimer's to those of normal mice. They found higher levels of the omega-6 fat called arachidonic acid in mice with memory loss and confused behavior.

The researchers believe that the substance interferes with the brain's nerve cells, causing over-stimulation, and that lowering levels would allow the cells to function normally.

Sources:

Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It has been known for quite some time that an excess of omega-6 fats is harmful. This report now linking them to Alzheimer’s is another reason to be cautious about consuming too many of them.

Omega-6 fats are found in high concentrations in factory-farmed animals as they are typically fed grains. Poultry, cereals, eggs and nuts are other sources, but the major source of omega-6 for most Americans is vegetable oil. Vegetable oils such as corn, canola, soybean and sunflower oils are largely composed of omega-6 fats.

Excessive consumption of these vegetable oils can lead to:

Asthma
Blindness
• Heart disease
Cancer

And it is difficult to avoid excessive intake if you eat processed foods, since these oils are present in nearly all of them. At the turn of the century, when heart attacks were rare, the average American consumed only one pound of vegetable oil per year. Today, the amount can exceed 75 pounds.

This seriously distorts the critical omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in your diet. Back at the end of World War II, omega-3 and omega-6 ratios were lopsided (1:2) in favor of omega-3s. Now, that ratio is 25:1 on the omega-6 side.

This is problematic not only because of the excessive omega-6, but also because of the lack of omega-3 -- one of the most important fats for your brain health.

The Importance of Omega-3 in Warding Off Alzheimer’s

Studies indicate eating a diet high in animal-based omega-3 fats (found in fish, fish oils and krill oil) may fend off Alzheimer’s.

Take one animal study that compared mice fed a diet rich in docosahexanoic acid, or DHA, a type of omega-3 fat, with mice fed a low-DHA diet. Within five months of the study, a 70 percent less buildup of amyloid protein -- which makes up the plaques in the brain famously attributed to Alzheimer’s -- was detected in mice that were fed a diet rich in DHA-fortified foods. These results coordinate with the team’s previous findings that DHA was responsible for protecting the brains of mice from synaptic damage, enabling them to perform better on memory tests.

DHA increases the production of LR11, a protein that destroys a protein that forms the “plaques” associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

LR11 is also found in low levels in Alzheimer’s patients, and since this protein helps prevent the toxic plaques that are thought to harm neurons in your brain, it is believed to be a factor in causing the disease.

Studies show that omega-3 fats also reduce the cell inflammation that triggers a decline in memory, and may even stem the chemicals that give rise to such inflammation in the first place.

But it is not enough to simply increase your intake of omega-3 fat. You need to also reduce your intake of omega-6, with the ultimate goal of evening out your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.

To get your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio closer to the ideal 1:1, simply cut back on most all vegetable oils (you’ll need to read labels if you eat processed foods) and get a regular supply of high-quality omega-3 fat, like that from krill oil, daily.

Tips for Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease

More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s, and by 2050 that could increase to between 11 million and 16 million people in the United States alone. Further, by 2010 there will be 500,000 new cases each year, and nearly 1 million new cases annually by 2050.
 
Here is another important fact that you need to understand:

“Neither dementia nor Alzheimer's are a normal part of aging.”

Your memory and brain functioning do not have to decline simply because you are getting older. This is especially true if you follow these guidelines, which will greatly increase your chances of avoiding dementia and Alzheimer's:

• Eat a nutritious diet with plenty of vegetables based on your nutritional type, and pay special attention to avoiding sugar.

• Eat plenty of high-quality omega-3 krill oil or fish oil. Avoid most fish (high in omega-3, but often contaminated with mercury)

• 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 following the diet described in Take Control of Your Health, you can follow the mercury detox protocol and then find a biological dentist to have your amalgams removed.

ONLY see a high-quality biologically trained dentist to remove your amalgams or your health could get ruined.

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

• Exercise for three to five hours per week. 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.

• Avoid flu vaccinations as they contain both mercury and aluminum!

• Wild blueberries, which have high anthocyanin and antioxidant content, 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.



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Comment on This Article Community Comments (29)
 
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

Not to minimize what you eat as being part of the problem for Alzheimers, I'm sure foods play an important role.

I tend to think the heavy metals found Vaccinations, Almalgam fillings, aluminum cookware, aluminum deoderants, Stainless steel cookware, and the various other metals in our mouths that make up the braces, Caps, Implants, etc.,  in your mouth are more of a threat.

These metals can cross the brain barrier, and all the metals you have in your mouth along with the acidic foods you eat create electrical disruptions to the electrical energy, and pulses that your brain uses to communicate with the rest of your being to keep it healthy.

If you stop and think about it, this is a body pollution that is present 24/7 365 days a year. The older you are, and the longer these metals have been in your mouth, the worse it is for your health system.

Now add that to all the other crap (hormones,GMo's, chemicals, etc.) that is put in our food, along with the environmental pollution and it isn't any wonder we are on a down hill run from birth to death.

As it was explained to me that makes sense is to draw a large circle on a paper, or blackboard (Your body). Then draw as many smaller circles as you can within the larger circle (trillions of cells). All the space between the circles is water (67% Approx). The water when you are born is relatively clean, but as you get older, all the metals, and muck you consume dirties up the water that is supposed to feed your cells with nutrients to make them vital, and grow. The dirtier it gets, the more disease you have, and the more cells that die, that can't keep you healthy.

This is why you have to do everything in your power to eliminate all the bad, and consume only the good. It's a war between you and the people who are bent on making you sick, so they can sell you more chemicals in the form of drugs, and therapies to kill you. First taking all your money in the process.

It is a full time war.


 
ET
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 7/2006
ET  
Replied

smannelli_203
Novice User Novice User Joined On 10/2007
smannelli_203  
 
Posted On Nov 09, 2008

Another factor, spirochete bacteria found in autopsied brains of Alzheimers' victims.  The identification of the spirochets being Borrelia species (Lyme is a member of Borrelia).  In some cases, Lyme has actually been identified as the spirochete found upon autopsy.

Seems like Mercola should know this, since he worked with D. Klinghardt, a physician in WA who treats patients with Lyme Disease.


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

Again I ask the question, is Alzheimer's Disease being used as a cover for Mad Cow?  There have been many rumors, which say that it is, but that the Beef Industry has been thus far able to keep this information somewhat quiet.  I do understand that the Beef Industry has been successful in changing the USDA rule, which at first prohibited downer animals from entering the Human food chain, and that Mad Cow screening has also been almost none.

I know there are more knowledgeable people than myself on this sight, and if anyone has more information on this subject please share it with us all.  


 
curious7
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 3/2007
curious7  
Replied

ggwagga
Novice User Novice User Joined On 11/2006
ggwagga  
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

BSE (Mad Cow Disease) is caused by the application of an organophosphate chemical "Phosmet" (sp?)along the back of cattle that are grazing copper deficient pasture and an overload of manganese. The late Mick Purdey proved this theory beyond any question of doubt. The link between BSE and CJD is extremely doubtful as many vegetarians have contracted CJD.

The smoke screen that there is a link between BSE and CJD is a hoax to protect the interests of the chemical companies.

All the more reason to consume organic produce and avoid the impact of toxic chemicals and GMOs.  



curious7
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 3/2007
curious7  
 
Posted On Nov 12, 2008

Ggwagga:

I read that the first signs of the disease we now know as Mad Cow, was discovered, in the South Pacific, amoung islanders who praticed "Cannibalism."  It was said the ingestion of the spinal cord and central nervous system parts of the body was the reason for this disease.  As to now with cattle, the commercially prepared feeds given to cattle, to increase the protein intake in these animals was do to the fact things like downer animals, road kill, deceased pet, all went into the mix to prepare these food pellets.  Thus changing an animal that is a vegan, into a cannibal, because the downer animals were sometimes of the same species, and no part of the animals was discarded.

Though the Cattle Industry denies this as well as the companies that produce the so called food pellets, this link has been proven.  So again what are they covering up?


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

The DAILY MAIL article points out that arachidonic acid is essential for healthy brain function. It also says, "... the study has not shown that cutting arachidonic acid in the diet will reduce the risk of dementia in humans, or if drugs designed to lower levels will work."

Two thoughts: (1) transgenic mice are not humans, so any results must be viewed with skepticism, and (2) once again, our proclivity for invoking drugs as magic bullets is showing. I mean, gee whiz, want to lower your omega-6s? Stop using vegetable oil. This is not exactly rocket science.


 
Islander
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 3/2007
Islander  
 
 
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

"At the turn of the [20th] century... the average American consumed only one pound of vegetable oil per year. Today, the amount can exceed 75 pounds."

    - Dr. Joseph Mercola

That is a stunning statistic!

It means we are getting bombarded with omega-6's to the tune of about 3 ounces a day compared to 1/40 of an ounce 100 years ago. The omega-6's are anabolic and pro-inflammatory. A little inflammation is good and necessary for life, but all of us know that too much is just TOO MUCH.

I should mention that Dr. Emanuel Revici had good success in treating Alzheimer's patients with a catabolic (omega-3) oil with the selenium methione, which is a safer form of selenium, a catabolic element. With his medicines, he could prescribe extraordinarily high doses of selenium without harm...500,000 times as high what is considered safe with no harmful side effects. (Don't try this at home...selenium will kill at much lower doses than that.) You can learn more about Dr. Revici in the book "The Doctor Who Cures Cancer."

Another option is high doses of proteolytic enzymes such as Vitalzym on an empty stomach for a couple of months. The brain snarls in Alzheimer's are comprised in part of sticky proteins. The proteolytic enzymes can dissolve sticky proteins.

I'd combine that with Phosphatidyl serine (PS) and DHA (or flavored cod liver oil) to help regenerate neurons. That combo has improved my memory...I'm almost up to normal. :-)

But the problem can't be truly fixed for long if we keep loading ourselves with 75 pounds of omega-3's every year.

The best to you.

Kelley Eidem

Together we can cure cancer - one person a time!


 
KelleyEidem
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 11/2007
KelleyEidem  
Replied

Dr Rik
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2006
Dr Rik  
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

The high intake of Omega 6 is related to high consumption of (deep) fried fa(s)t food and trans-fat ie margarine/Crisco. Dump the junk, problem solved. Oh, that might be too simple ? ;(



PlantLady
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
PlantLady  
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

KelleyEidem~

Your quote from Dr. Mercola, "At the turn of [20th] century...the average American consumed only one pound of vegetable oil per year. Today, the amount can exceed 75 pounds."

I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up, who were around at the turn of the 20th century, and they would tell me how things used to be: people couldn't afford very many food items that they didn't make themselves, at home. This means most homes used fats from the meats they cooked, including bacon (it didn't have nitrates or nitrites in it then) and the churning of their own butter.

My grandmother lived to be 92, but for the last 8 years of her life she had "dementia". My grandfather lived to be in his 80's, but spent the last 20 years of it with Alzheimers. Interestingly enough, he was one of 10 brothers, five of which moved to the Pacific NW, Columbia River region (1912-2008) while the other 5 remained in the mountains of Virginia on or near the family homestead (1200 acres). Of the 5 who relocated to the Pac. NW, every single one died from Alzheimer's (one brother was violent and had to be institutionalized), while the 5 remaining in Virginia DID NOT die from Alzheimer's. All 10 brothers were avid hunters and fishermen, but those remaining in Virginia were also farmers (incl. livestock) and, like the ancestor's, lived long and healthy lives.

What changed that the 5 brothers all died of Alzheimers (two also had cancer)? Lots of things...a loss of the "farm life" after WWII, the invention of margarine and vegetable oils (got away from recycling their meat fats coupled with no longer using/making butter), over-processed foods, new chemical pesticides (fruits orchards were prevalent here even in the early part of the century), Hanford Nuclear Reservation (that project alone killed thousands with its' inception, then thousands more later with toxic waste dumps into the Columbia River [Manhattan Project]), just to name a few! In short, toxin overload.



KelleyEidem
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 11/2007
KelleyEidem  
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

Plant Lady,

Your story really brings the message home, doesn't it!

Thanks for sharing it.

Kelley Eidem



Julieanne
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2007
Julieanne  
 
Posted On Nov 09, 2008

Kelly, I have mentioned before on this site how a hair analysis showed up mercury in my system. I was advised that selenium would balance out/neutralise mercury, so Dr Revici's treatment makes a connection with that.

But I only take a normal dose of selenium - 26mcg.



Cynthia L. Williams
Novice User Novice User Joined On 12/2007
Cynthia L. Williams  
 
Posted On Mar 24, 2009

Kelley - where can I purchase Vitalzym?  Also, what is phosphatidyl Serine?  My Mother and her sister ( my maternal aunt)  and other relatives have Alzheimer's - all in nursing homes (those who have not passed away yet)  I don't know how you can contact me - if it's only through email address please reply to this and I will send it to you.  thanks  (Now I hope I can find this article again to find your information!)  Cindy W.


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

Square Pusher I think it is entirely possible that arachidonic acid is found in grain fed animal meat and not grass fed, naturally pastured animal meat and mike4 your whole grain and veggie diet isn't helping you write very well.  You should take the Metabolic Typing test, find out what foods are most suitable for you body, eat right for your nutritional type and you may find yourself saying things like "whole grains and veggies ARE my choice."


 
Krispy Poodle
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 10/2006
Krispy Poodle  
Replied

Islander
Moderator User Moderator User Joined On 3/2007
Islander  
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2008

Krispy Poodle, if diet affects writing ability, yours could use a closer examination. Let's not pick nits until we know that we ourselves are nit-free.



HeatherM
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
HeatherM  
 
Posted On Nov 11, 2008

Krispy Poodle...right on! I realise why you got annoyed and nit picked Mike4. He disagrees with the basic Mercola principles and often just wants to argue. I think that is why he comes to this site. Also his writing was below par, and yours is fine.


 
 
 
 
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