The Caring Corner®
Dietary Suggestions to Avoid Alzheimer’s Disease
Azheimer’s is becoming a disease of drastic proportions. We have written about the Alzheimer’s Diet in the past. I came across some well-designed, holistic health guidelines produced by the Sanoviv Medical Institute established by Dr. Myron Wentz, the founder of USANA. Here are some recommendations on diet. At a high level, it should be noted that Alzheimer’s Diesease, as with many aging conditions, result from inflammatory processes in the body. We can limit inflammation in our bodies, in part through the avoidance of high glycemic foods (i.e., sugars), the intake of fiber and healthy oils that lower the glycemic index of foods we do consume, and the intake of foods which are noted to have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Enjoy plenty of fruits and vegetables. Emphasize more vegetables than fruits due to the sugar content of the latter. All veggies are great, especially those that have dark or bright colors, like red cabbage, carrots and dark leafy greens. For fruits, prefer berries and other low sugar fruits.
- Be sure to wash all vegetables and fruits prior to use.
- Try to eat only high-quality, organic animal protein. Suggestions are grass-fed beef, wild game, hormone and antibiotic free chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish and organic eggs.
- Eliminate commercially processed meats (deli meats, bacon, hot dogs, sausage) if the label indicates that they are free of nitrates/nitrites.
- Keep grain consumption as low as possible. When you do eat grain, avoid gluten. Grains that are gluten-free include corn, rice, quinoa, millet and buckwheat. Potatoes are also gluten-free and could be enjoyed when one desires a starch.
- Avoid dairy products that use hormones in the production of milk. Look for rhBST-free dairy products.
- Keep consumption of alcohol and caffeine low. NOTE: this is in contrast to other recommendations, backed by research, suggesting that red wine and coffee provide powerful anti-oxidant benefits and fight the onset of Alzheimer’s.
- Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup (found in many sodas, juices, energy drinks).
- Eliminate trans fats, often found in deep-fried foods and margarine. Use healthy fats such as olive oil, avocados, nuts and nut butters, and cold-pressed or expeller-pressed plant oils, particularly organic coconut oil.
- Avoid all sorts of food additives, dyes, preservatives, pesticides and artificial sweeteners. Consider the use of safe natural sweeteners like xylitol and stevia.
- Drink lots of water, at least 8 glasses per day. Avoid the use of waters treated with fluoride or chlorine.
