New studies are showing how important lifestyle choices are for preventing Alzheimer's. As demonstrated by several studies, people who were severely overweight, who avoided eating healthy green vegetables and who avoided exercising their brains were more prone to being diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
It's not surprising, actually: staying healthy means being both mentally and physically fit, and the two go hand in hand. A person who is truly healthy must exercise both their body and their mind on a regular basis.
As for diet and nutrition, the study supported the notion that eating spinach, broccoli and brussel sprouts is important to good brain health. Having high cholesterol and high blood pressure -- both caused primarily by making poor dietary choices -- greatly increased the risk of Alzheimer's.
Perhaps the most exciting part about this research is the news about brain exercises: those study subjects who engaged their brains in crossword puzzles, reading, social activities or who even playing bingo were at far lower risk of being diagosed with Alzheimer's. Note that watching television wasn't on this list. To be healthy, you have to engage your brain in something new on a daily basis, if possible.
I'm a big proponent of brain exercises, and it's one of the reasons I study comedy improvisation. Some other exercises that are fantastic for your brain include learning a foreign language (the Pimsleur audio CDs are the best I've found), trying to draw or write with the opposite hand that you're used to, brushing your teeth or performing other daily routines with the opposite hand, playing word association games with friends, or playing computer strategy games.
About the author: Mike Adams is a consumer health advocate and award-winning journalist with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, and he has published numerous courses on preparedness and survival, including financial preparedness, emergency food supplies, urban survival and tactical self-defense. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2010, Adams launched TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural health video site featuring videos on holistic health and green living. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NaturalNews email subscriptions. Adams volunteers his time to serve as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and martial arts training. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
Have comments on this article? Post them here:
people have commented on this article.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Email this article to a friend
