List Of Essential Foods And Remedies For Alzheimer's

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 02:10

List of essential foods and remedies for Alzheimer's

One of the most common and well-known types of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. This disease is typical for elderly people. But this is not a verdict. According to studies, active intellectual activity (reading, crosswords, logic tasks, board games), communication, and regular consumption of certain foods and vitamins can prevent the development of the disease.

Content:

• Ginkgo biloba in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
• Gericium (mushroom) accelerates the growth of neurons
• Folic acid (vitamin B9) keeps the brain youthful
• Omega-3 (fish oil) for dementia and Alzheimer's disease
• Vitamin E inhibits the development of Alzheimer's disease
• Other essential minerals and vitamins

Ginkgo biloba in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

The very first symptoms of the disease in many usually do not cause fear, they are attributed to age or are considered a temporary result of the experienced experience. But the first signals of a developing serious illness appear 5–8 years before the final diagnosis.

Most often, this manifests itself in a slight difficulty, if necessary, to recall any facts that the patient has learned recently. A person does not remember new information well, may forget the meanings of some words known to him (sometimes the most ordinary). The patient may have problems with concentration and abstract thinking. Gradually, there is a progressive decrease in memory, speech impairment and motor abilities, up to complete helplessness.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely recover from this disease. But in the early stages of the disease, there is a high degree of probability to slow down this process. Regular use of ginkgo biloba courses can help prevent a decrease in brain activity.

Ginkgo biloba contains important biologically active substances that help stabilize processes in the brain cells and increase the elasticity of blood vessels. As a result, blood microcirculation in tissues and organs improves, and the brain is enriched with oxygen. As a result of improving the quality of blood flow, increasing the ability of tissues to absorb oxygen and increasing the amount of nutrients in the body, normalization of brain activity occurs.

Gericium (mushroom) accelerates the growth of neurons

The main risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is considered to be respectable age. With each passing year after reaching the age of 65, the risk of the disease almost doubles. Another feature is that the disease is difficult to treat with drugs. It is easier to try to prevent or stop this disease at the earliest stages of development than to cure it.

One of the remedies recommended for this purpose is the gericium mushroom. It contains polysaccharides, phenols and other beneficial substances. They stimulate the immune system, have an antitumor effect, and help with chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

The substances contained in Hericium stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), in other words Hericium restores the nervous tissue of the brain and restores the work of neurons.

Gericium, as a medicine, is sold in special pharmacies (natural or mushroom) in the form of powder, extract or tablets.

Find out more: Gericium against pancreatic cancer

Folic acid (vitamin B9) keeps the brain youthful

Another important element in the struggle for a clear mind and memory is the regular intake of vitamin B ₉, which is known to many as folic acid. The use of this drug slows down the aging of the brain, contributes to the preservation of memory, thinking, orientation, speech and other cognitive functions of the body.

This is evidenced by new studies to determine the degree of influence of a daily dosage of folic acid in the amount of 800 mcg on the protection of brain activity. So, scientists from Johns Hopkins University argue that such a daily dose of vitamin does not pose any danger to the body.

And scientists from the University of the Netherlands conducted their own research. They examined a group of people in the age range from 50 to 70 years old. Some subjects took 800 mcg of folic acid every day, while others took a placebo. After 3 years, it turned out that people from the first group have better memory and a higher processing speed than the group of patients taking placebo. Moreover, the subjects from the first group performed tests that determine the level of memory at the same level as people who are five and a half years younger than them. And their computation speed was the same as that of people younger than the subjects by almost two years.

So far, there is no reliable evidence that daily folate intake at a dosage of 800 mcg can prevent Alzheimer's disease. But scientists believe, based on the example of the studies carried out, that with the help of regular intake of this vitamin, people can slow down the development of various pathologies that lead to this serious disease.

TOP foods in terms of folic acid content

On average, the optimal dosage of folic acid for an adult is considered to be from 400 to 800 mcg per day. This amount of vitamin B9 helps maintain health and helps prevent heart disease.

Folic acid is sold in regular pharmacies as an independent preparation, as well as as part of vitamin complexes. But you can find this useful vitamin not only in pharmacies, but also in ordinary food products. For example, just half a cup of lentils contains about 180 mcg of folate. One cup of chopped avocado will enrich your body by 90 mcg, and the same amount of steamed green asparagus will add 79 mcg.

A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice is already 74 mcg, and a whole large orange is 55 mcg of vitamin B ₉. Greens are no less useful - just half a cup a day gives the body 50–90 mcg of natural folic acid. Another type of juice that contains a large amount of vitamin is tomato juice. A glass of this juice is 48 mcg of folic acid.

Other available foods high in folate are shown in the table:

Vitamin B9 content in 100 g / mcg
Peanut	240
Beef liver, chicken	240
Pork liver	225
Beans	90
Spinach	80
Walnut	77
Hazelnut	68
Broccoli	63
Salad	48
Ramson	40
Almond	40
Barley grits	40
White mushroom (boletus)	40
Horseradish	37
Leek	32
Champignon	thirty

Do not forget that any heat treatment of food (cooking, frying, stewing) significantly reduces the amount of vitamins in them, including folic acid. For example, roasting meat destroys 95% of its vitamin B ₉ ! And the usual boiling of chicken eggs reduces it by 50%.

Omega-3 (fish oil) for dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Fatty polyunsaturated acids Omega-3 have long been recognized by doctors as substances vital for the harmonious development of the body and maintaining health. These beneficial acids are not produced in the human body, but enter it only with certain foods. Omega-3s play a special role in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Employees of the American Tufts University conducted long-term studies: over nine years, about 900 elderly people were under the special supervision of scientists. It turned out that patients taking high dosages of a substance from the Omega-3 class are significantly less (almost 60 percent) susceptible to Alzheimer's disease and almost 50 percent to develop dementia, in contrast to subjects who did not receive the same amount of Omega-3. 3.

Conclusion: the high content of DHA is a protective barrier that prevents the formation of beta-amyloids, which are one of the reasons for the development of the disease.

In the process of conducting experiments on animals, it was found that DHA deficiency inexorably leads to a weakening of memory. DHA concentration inevitably decreases with age, therefore it is important to ensure regular intake of this substance. This will help avoid serious illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists have determined that for a high level of protective effect, about 180 mg of DHA must be supplied to the body every day. This is equivalent to two capsules of fish oil or three servings of fish (particularly salmon) a week.

Scientists recommend taking medications containing omega-3s and including a lot of sea fish in the diet. This will protect against a decrease in brain activity.

Find out more: What foods contain omega-3s?

Vitamin E inhibits the development of Alzheimer's disease

Vitamin E plays an important role in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. It is a natural immunomodulator and a powerful antioxidant. This vitamin is essential for the normal functioning of the body. It has been proven that daily intake of this vitamin inhibits the decline in brain activity in Alzheimer's disease.

Indian scientists have found that vitamin E slows the progression of the disease. Patients from 14 medical centers took part in large-scale studies. One group of subjects took vitamin E at a dosage of 2,000 IU, another took 20 mg of memantine (a drug used to treat dementia), a third a combination of memantine and vitamin E, and a fourth a placebo.

After the completion of the studies, it turned out that the first group of patients taking only vitamin E showed improvements compared to the group of subjects taking placebo. But the results of the second and third groups, in which patients took either a drug for dementia alone, or in combination with a vitamin, such improvements were not noted.

Research results have once again confirmed the importance of taking vitamin E not only for prevention, but also in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

TOP foods in terms of vitamin E content

On average, the recommended daily intake of vitamin E for adults is considered safe in the 200–400 IU range. But for some diseases, doctors may prescribe higher dosages to patients.

Vitamin E can be taken not only in tablet form, but also with food.

A variety of oils are rich in vitamin E. In order for the vitamin in oils to be preserved, it is necessary to consume them in a "live" form, without subjecting them to heat treatment:

Vitamin E content in 1 tablespoon / mg
Wheat germ oil	45
Soybean	24
Corn	20
Sunflower	12

Vitamin E can be found in a wide variety of foods, most of which are available all year round:

Vitamin B9 content in 100 g / mcg
Almond	24.6
Hazelnut	20.4
Peanut	10.1
Pistachios	6.0
Cashew nuts	5.7
Dried apricots	5.5
Sea buckthorn	5.0
Acne	5.0
Rosehip	3.8
Wheat	3.2
Walnut	2.6
Spinach	2.5
Squid	2.2
Viburnum	2.0
Sorrel	2.0
Salmon, pike perch	1.8
Prunes	1.8
Oatmeal	1.7
Barley grits	1.7

Also rich in vitamin E are sea fish, soy products, herbs, milk, chicken eggs, liver and meat.

Other essential minerals and vitamins

In the fight against Alzheimer's disease and for the prevention of this disease, it is necessary to use a whole complex of vitamins and minerals.

Magnesium

This mineral is needed to maintain the normal condition of the cardiovascular system. It also helps to lower cholesterol, cleanse the body of toxins, etc. The daily intake of magnesium for adults is 400–500 mg.

Magnesium is found in large quantities in nuts (cashews, pine nuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts) and buckwheat. Also, magnesium in sufficient quantities can be obtained by eating seaweed, oatmeal, peas, etc.

Selenium

Selenium, together with vitamin E, protects the body from free radicals. Selenium has antitumor properties, promotes normalization of immunity, helps the synthesis of thyroid hormones, improves cardiac activity, etc. The optimal amount of selenium intake per day is about 50–70 mcg.

Most of all selenium is found in turkey and duck liver. Selenium is present in smaller amounts in chicken, pork and beef liver. Selenium can also be found in eggs, corn, cereals (rice, barley, wheat), legumes (peas, beans, peanuts), nuts (pistachios, walnuts, almonds), etc.

Find out more: World-leading selenium foods

Vitamin A

Vitamin A performs many important functions in the body: it helps to increase immunity, normalize vision, participates in antioxidant protection, promotes resistance to infections, etc. It is enough for an adult to take 1.5-2 mg of vitamin A per day. The dosage can vary significantly depending on from age, gender and disease.

Chicken and beef liver contains high amounts of vitamin A. There is a lot of vitamin in wild garlic, viburnum berries, in butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, seaweed and other products.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C increases the body's level of resistance to any adverse external or internal influences. It helps to cope with stress, hypothermia or overheating of the body, with infectious or allergenic attacks, etc.

A healthy adult needs 70-100 mg of vitamin C per day. But the need for vitamin C increases dramatically, and the dosage increases significantly in case of colds and infectious diseases.

The record content of vitamin C in ordinary rose hips is 1000 mg per 100 g. There is a lot of vitamin in sweet pepper, black currant and sea buckthorn berries. Also rich in vitamin C are kiwi, honeysuckle berries, wild garlic, cabbage (Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower), viburnum berries, rowan berries, strawberries, citrus fruits, spinach and some other products.

B vitamins

B vitamins play an essential role in the metabolism at the cellular level. All vitamins that belong to this group (with the exception of vitamin B ₁₂) do not accumulate in the body. They need to be replenished daily with the help of tablets or by taking certain foods.

B1 is found most in pine nuts, pistachios, peanuts, pork, etc.

B2 - in pine nuts, almonds, liver, mushrooms, eggs, etc.

B3 (PP) is found most in pork and beef liver, porcini mushrooms, peas, champignons, peanuts and other foods.

B5 - peas, hazelnuts, cereals (buckwheat, oatmeal), cauliflower, offal, etc.

B6 is found in significant amounts in pine nuts and, in descending order, in beans, walnuts, sea buckthorn, fish (tuna, mackerel, sardines), etc.

B7 (H) is found in all foods, but most of all in liver, corn, chicken eggs, oatmeal, and peas.

B12 is not found in plant foods. A significant content of vitamin B ₁₂ is found in beef liver. Further in terms of vitamin content are: pork and chicken liver, fish (mackerel, sardine), rabbit meat, beef. Also B _{12 is} found in egg yolk and fermented milk products.

Alzheimer's disease is a serious incurable disease that can be prevented or slowed down. For this, early diagnosis and the use of a whole range of measures are important, including taking the necessary vitamins, foods and special drugs from Alzheimer's.

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Author of the article: Sokov Andrey Vladimirovich | Neurologist

Education: In 2005 completed an internship at the IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and received a diploma in Neurology. In 2009, completed postgraduate studies in the specialty "Nervous diseases".