In the 3 minutes it will take you to read this article, 2 Americans will have developed Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s affects over 5 million Americans, impairing their cognitive function. Evidence is now mounting linking cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer’s as a risk factor for its development. 60 million Americans suffer from cardiovascular disease in some form or other. The common catalysts for these two diseases include inflammation, oxidative stress, and oxygen deficiency due to poor blood flow. Serious problems occur when the blood does not flow properly, and cardiovascular disease impairs blood flow denying the organs, like the brain, of the oxygen that is vital to their function. Preventive and nutritional remedies, rather than prescriptive remedies are proving to be most effective in treating these twin issues. For example, antioxidants help to reduce oxidative stress; ginkgo biloba helps with memory; and omega-3’s help regulate blood pressure and help with brain function. The evidence is accumulating regarding the benefits of nutritional strategies to combat blood flow issues. If the arteries are clogged, the blood won’t flow and the culprit for impaired arteries is most often the fatty foods on mom and dad’s plate.
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/jun2007_report_alzheimers_01.htm
