Alzheimer’s affects more than 4 million Americans and countless millions of other individuals around the world. According to some studies in the U.S. about 3% of people aged 65 to 74 have Alzheimer’s and as many as half the population over 85 are affected. This suggests that if we are fortunate enough to live into our 80′s or 90′s our individual risk is quite high.

I now know what Alzheimer’s is like and it is frightening. My father, who passed away recently from complications of cardiovascular disease, had the beginnings of dementia and what may have been Alzheimer’s. In his last months, he lost much of the functioning of his short term memory and seemed to no longer be able to distinguish the difference between night and day.

My father was aware of the changes he was experiencing and it brought him great sadness. In some ways, when he passed, we found comfort in knowing he would no longer have to suffer the frustrations he experienced with a mind that refused to cooperate. My father’s two younger siblings, both sisters, also seem to have Alzheimer’s.

I have concerns about my risk for following the same path. And I am concerned for my many siblings (there are seven of us). As such I keep up as much as I can with the research on Alzheimer’s treatment and prevention.

I am encouraged by some of the recent research with curcumin. Curcumin is an active component in both curry powder spice and turmeric. It has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties both of which may be important in reducing the risk for Alzheimer’s.  Some more recent and very encouraging research with curcumin suggests that it might also function as a treatment for Alzheimer’s!

Curcumin has been found to inhibit the accumulation of beta amyloid plaques which interfere with the healthy functioning of the brain in a manner similar to the destructive accumulation of cholesterol plaques in our veins and arteries. In addition, it seems that curcumin may also have the ability to actually break up existing plaques and as such would be far more effective than the current treatments.

Curcumin has been used for thousands of years as an anti-inflammatory agent with traditional Indian medical practices. And curried dishes have long been a dietary staple. Is it no coincidence that India has some of the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s of any country in the world?

To read more:

Curry may help body clear itself of Alzheimer’s plaques | Science Blog

technorati tags:curcumin, Alzheimer’s, diet, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, health, healthy, eating, risk

Intuitive eaters don’t diet. These are people who eat based on internal cues for hunger and fullness. Intuitive eaters tend to eat a healthier diet and weigh less than those who diet. That’s the conclusion reached by Dr. Tracy Tylka, an assistant professor of pyschology at Ohio State University’s Marion campus. She conducted a number of studies on the concept of intuitive eating with female college students.

Dr. Tylka’s research suggests that women who feel better about their bodies are more likely to eat intuitively. The intuitive eaters reported having received more positive messages from parents and others regarding their bodies than those who were not eating intuitively. (Body acceptance tied to healthy eating)

Ahh! This may well be the key to the body obessession that all too many girls and women experience. We need to feel good about ourselves and positive comments from important others is fundamental for the well-being of children and young adults.

What about those of us who are older (40+)? We may once have been the children who did not receive positive messages from parents and significant others with respect to our bodies. Many of us remember how bad it felt to not only NOT receive positive feedback but to have received plenty of teasing and other negative feedback.

How are we today? For some of us, as we have matured and taken responsibility for our ourselves we may be much better. Or it may be worse. We have older bodies to contend with rather than young bodies. As we lose the battle with gravity and the wrinkles, scars, and fat deposits add up, it becomes harder to accept much less like our bodies.

I am NOT a psychologist but it seems to me that whatever we can do to appreciate who we are rather than focus too much energy on how we look would help a lot! At this point in our lives we may need to recognize that positive comments may never or only rarely come from others. We need to provide the positive feedback for ourselves.

The more we respect and honor our intelligence, talents, and skills, the more easily we can like ourselves. We also deserve to respect ourselves for the care and compassion we give to others. Yes, it is true, we matter from the inside out and not the other way around!

If we can focus on the need to be healthy from a nutritional or physiological point of view as well as an emotional one, we can in turn take better care of ourselves. Learning to listen to our needs is essential. Maybe then we can trust ourselves to know how to “eat intuitively.” This may or may not mean losing some extra pounds but we would certainly have something to gain with greater well-being by trying!

technorati tags:older, women, intuitive, eating, diet, body, perception, well, being, health, weight, loss

I recall reading that Britons may in fact have a healthier diet than Americans but not by a substantial margin. However, I can’t seem to find that reference to either diet or health.  But I did find a 2001 reference to the incidence of overweight and obesity in the combined countries of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom as compared with other regions in the world. (http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/full/9/suppl_4/S228)

The women as a group in these nations are only slightly better off than North American women (including the United States, Canada, and Cuba). However North American men seem to be significantly heavier than their European counterparts. I wonder why?

In any event, we (Americans) seem to be following the same trend  as Britons respect to food choices. Sales are up for both healthier or more wholesome foods but so are sales of higher calorie, more indulgent foods. When Britons choose to eat healthy they then feel they deserve a reward. That reward may be a glass of wine or some chocolate. Are Americans doing the same? I’m guilty. I go for a piece of chocolate when I can. How about you?



Guardian Unlimited Business | | We eat healthily – and our reward is chocolate, says survey

The statistics on overweight and obesity also have me questioning the concept that French women don’t get fat. Really? Mireille Guiliano authored a book by that title.  She argued that the French are able to eat potentially fattening food such as croissants and chocolate without getting fat because they take time to savor flavors and eat smaller portions. 

So does it work or not?  Do French women not get fat as she suggests? If so, I like the concept for the French way of eating… Place the emphasis on freshness, variety, balance, and ALWAYS pleasure… Now who can argue with that?

O.K. I’ve just now found a 2006 reference to overweight and obesity in France. In 2003, 30% of the adults were overweight and 11% obese (same standards as for Americans). So “some” French women DO get fat but not as many as here in the United States.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Abstract

Plus&list_uids=16493328&query_hl=8&itool=pubmed_docsum

Approximately 65 % of Americans are overweight and 31% obese. So what does that mean for the British (and Germans)?

This is my first post for my brand new blog: ChocolateVeggies!

Fruits and vegetables are by far the single best choice for half or more of our daily food but who can live without chocolate? Not me! Join me as I explore food choices for healthy eating and inspired, better living. My diet, meaning what I eat every day, always has room for improvement. What about yours?

I’m all in favor of making small changes, one at a time. Over time these small changes add up for a big and favorable impact on my health. I’m 51 and I need to pay attention to what I eat and how I live if I want to have a healthy old age. I wasn’t born with the kind of genes that might allow me the indulgence of doing whatever I please and still live long and well. It’s likely you weren’t either. So why take chances?

My genes include the possiblity for many different kinds of cancer (including breast cancer and bladder cancer), heart disease, strokes, anuerysms, and most recently, dementia/Alzheimers. I am concerned, concerned enough to take a more active role in preventive health care. I’ve always taken "good  care" of myself. I thought I was doing a good job. But I am learning every day that I can do better.

So join me as I re-examine my choices and make improvements. Whether you are in your 30′s, 40′s 50′s or beyond it is never too late to get started. If you need to lose weight, maintain weight loss, or simply choose a healthier diet, you will find encouragement and guidelines here. Welcome! Here’s to National Nutrition Month!