Being forgetful is not a matter of concern, but Alzheimer can make the condition critical. Experts recommend some changes in your diet and lifestyle for Alzheimer’s treatment, but its effectiveness is still debatable.Generally, we ignore the condition of mild forgetfulness thinking that it’s natural to miss or forget things. But a serious problem with your brain’s capacity to memorize or learn things could be a sign of Alzheimer that eventually affects your life and hampers your daily activities. Can Alzheimer’s disease be treated or can its onset be prevented by the changes in diet? Some researchers claim to have found the significant improvements towards Alzheimer’s disease prevention through dietary route, but any big breakthrough is still elusive.
Alzheimer’s stats:
Only in America, there are more than 5 million people suffering from this memory-robbing disease, while worldwide, about 44 million people have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Studies show, only one person out of 4 is successfully diagnosed with Alzheimer. The number of people above 65 and older in the US population with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to reach 5.8 million by 2020 and 8.4 million by 2030.
Causes of Alzheimer’s disease:
Experts believe there are different factors that can cause Alzheimer. These factors could be environmental, genetic, lifestyle-related, birth problem, hormonal disorder, emotional shock, intense medication, poor nutrition, cognitive decline etc. It’s difficult to identify one particular factor responsible for inviting this condition. Researchers working on Alzheimer’s treatment methods recommend a combination of remedies to take up.
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Diet for Alzheimer prevention:
The research studies on the relationship between diet and Alzheimer’s disease prevention are still on. There are some powerful elements that you have to focus on in order to support Alzheimer’s treatment. An effective and nutritious diet must include:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- B Vitamins
- Antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, beta carotene, and flavonoids)
- Mediterranean food products (seasonal fruits, green vegetables, beans, olive oil etc.)
- Low saturated fats
Nutrition tips to prevent Alzheimer:
Poor nutrition may make Alzheimer more critical and incur behavioral symptoms. There are some highly recommended nutrition tips that help you improve the condition of a dementia patient. The basic nutrition tips refer to:
Include a variety of foods in the diet
A healthy diet involves a range of food items from vegetables, whole grains, fruits and protein-rich edibles to low-fat dairy products. You need to take a variety of healthy foods to ensure the good functioning of your brain so that the risks of Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented.
Focus more on unsaturated fats and low cholesterol
All fats are not equal in effects. Those food products offering high saturated fats are not desired in the condition of dementia. Try to take unsaturated fats that do not require high metabolism to digest. Increase the intake of food products of unsaturated fat like almonds, avocados, peanut butter, vegetable oils, walnuts, hazelnuts, sardines, seeds, flax seeds, salmon, and macadamia nuts. These edible products can comfort your brain functioning.
Cut on refined sugars
Reduce the intake of processed foods and refined sugars, as they don’t offer sufficient calories, minerals, fiber and other elements required for healthy body functioning. Sugar coated products are not good for Alzheimer’s treatment or its mitigation. The severe stage of Alzheimer when you experience the loss of appetite, the intake of added sugar products can further deteriorate the condition.
Limit salt and high sodium products
The high intake of salt can affect your blood pressure, putting more pressure on the heart and brain. You should limit daily consumption of salt and try some alternatives like spices or herbs for the Alzheimer’s disease prevention.
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Change food habit to dispel Alzheimer’s impact:
Apart from changes in diet, you can reduce the effects of Alzheimer significantly by changing your food habit. For that, you have to make necessary changes in your lifestyle and follow certain tips, such as:
- Avoid distraction while eating
- Keep setting of dining table simple
- Distinguish food items present in the plate
- Check the food temperature
- Eat one or two foods at a time
- Don’t stick to food preferences
- Take your time to eat comfortably
- Eat together or share food
- Make a timetable to take foods
Minimize nutrition problems:
In any health conditions, you are not supposed to compromise with the food nutrition. If you are in the middle or late stages of dementia then it becomes more important to ensure the better nutrition to your body for Alzheimer’s disease prevention. In this regard, follow some tips like:
- Address a decreased food appetite
- Prepare foods that are easy to digest
- Keep an eye on seasonal fruits
- Try to cook your food
- Consult a doctor for food supplements
Until more research findings are available, it’s necessary to combine a good diet with physical and mental activity. Your social and family bond also plays a role in Alzheimer’streatment. Complete the full course of medications prescribed by your doctor. This approach just might help you to keep Alzheimer’s disease and other related conditions at bay.