Tag: nerves

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) 老人痴呆症

Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia, is a progressive form, incurable disease of the brain caused by the degeneration and eventual death of nerve cells in the brain. It affects memory, thinking and behaviour.

Memory impairment in one of the following areas will also be present: language, decision-making ability, judgement, attention, personality and other areas of mental function.
Possible signs and symptoms

During early stages, the symptoms of AD may be subtle and resemble signs that people mistakenly attribute to “natural ageing”. These include:

  • Repeating statements
  • Misplacing items
  • Getting lost on familiar routes
  • Personality changes
  • Losing interest in hobbies
  • Difficulty performing tasks
  • Having trouble finding names for familiar objects.

Possible causes

In addition to age and family history, risk factors for AD include: longstanding high blood pressure; history of head trauma; being female; and high levels of homocysteine – a bodily chemical that contributes to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, depression and possible AD.

To reduce AD risk, all persons should be encouraged to engage in activity which stimulates mental activity in all stages of their lives.

Applied nutrition

Supplement Benefit Suggested Dosage
Protein Basic building block and necessary party of living cells in the body. Produces collagen and promotes skin repair, smoothing and softness. 1 scoop, 2x daily
Co-enzyme Q10 Increase oxygenation of cells and increase generation of cellular energy 2 tabs, 2x daily
Iron + folic acid Aids controlling homocysteine levels 1 tab, 2x daily
Calcium + magnesium Sustains nerve integrity, calms the nerves. 2 tabs, 3x daily
Lecithin + vitamin E Needed to improve memory. Deficiencies of antioxidants expose the brain to oxidative damage. Helps to transport oxygen to the brain cells and protects them from free radical damage. 2 tabs, 2x daily
Multivitamin + minerals + phytonutrients Provides general nutritional supplementation. As indicated on packaging
B Complex Important for proper brain function and digestion. Deficiency can cause depression and mental difficulties in people with AD 2 tabs, 2x daily
Omega 3 These are the brain’s cellular building blocks 1 tab, 2x daily
Ginkgo biloba + ginseng Assists brain function and concentration. Builds memory. 2 tabs, 2x daily

Take honeybee products (honey, propolis) and increased intake of fruits and vegetables.

Calcium

Overview

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body. It is essential for the development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth, where about 99% of the body’s calcium is found. In smaller amounts, it is essential to the proper function of the heart, nerves, muscles, and other body systems. It is probably best known for helping prevent osteoporosis.

Your body needs several other nutrients in order for calcium to be absorbed and used properly, including magnesium, phosphorous, and especially vitamins D and K.

The best way to get calcium is through food, although most people fail to absorb sufficient calcium for optimal health.

Postmenopausal women, people who consume large amounts of caffeine, alcohol, or soda, and those who take corticosteroid medications may need extra calcium supplements. More serious calcium deficiency can be found in people who don’t absorb enough calcium, as can happen with Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and some intestinal surgeries.

Getting enough calcium may help prevent or treat the following conditions:

Osteoporosis

Your body needs calcium to help build and maintain healthy bones and strong teeth. People start to lose more bone than their bodies make in their 30s, and the process speeds up as they get older. Calcium, particularly in combination with vitamin D, helps prevent bone loss associated with menopause. It also helps prevent bone loss in older men. If you do not get enough calcium in your diet, your optimal health guide may recommend a supplement.

Hypoparathyroidism

People with this condition have underactive parathyroid glands. These four small glands sit on the four corners of the thyroid in the neck and produce a hormone that regulates calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin D levels in the body. People with this condition should follow a high-calcium, low-phosphorous diet .

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

One large, well-designed study showed that women who took only 1,200 mg of calcium per day reduced their symptoms of PMS by 50%, including headache, moodiness, food cravings, and bloating. The reduction of pain-related symptoms by calcium is well documented and has been experienced by many clients.

High Blood Pressure

People who do not get enough calcium may be at higher risk for hypertension or high blood pressure. Calcium increases the flexibility of blood vessels and can contribute to a reduction in blood pressure.  Calcium is also essential for the heart, as it contributes to muscle strength and flexibility.

 

High Cholesterol

Preliminary studies in animals and people suggest that calcium supplements, in the range of 1,500 – 2,000 mg per day, may help to lower cholesterol slightly. From these studies, it seems that calcium supplements, along with exercise and a healthy diet, may be better at keeping cholesterol at normal levels than at lowering already high cholesterol.

Rickets

Rickets is a condition of severely low calcium intake that causes softening and weakening of the bone in children. Although very rare in North America and Western Europe, where children drink a lot of milk, it still happens in many parts of the world. This condition can be caused by a vitamin D deficiency, vitamin K deficiency or inadequate intake of calcium.

Dietary Sources

The richest food sources of calcium include cheeses, such as parmesan, Romano, gruyere, cheddar, American, mozzarella, and feta; low-fat dairy products, such as milk and yogurt; tofu; and blackstrap molasses. Some other good sources of calcium include almonds, brewer’s yeast, bok choy, Brazil nuts, broccoli, cabbage, dried figs, kelp, dark leafy greens (such as dandelion, turnip, collard, mustard, kale, and Swiss chard), hazelnuts, oysters, sardines, and canned salmon.

Foods that are often fortified with calcium, such as juices, soy milk, rice milk, tofu and cereals, are also good sources of this mineral.

Supplemental Upper Limits

The Council for Responsible Nutrition recommends an upper limit of 1,500 mg supplemental calcium per day in addition to normal dietary calcium.

A number of hypotheses for adverse effects of excess calcium intake have been investigated over the years, including kidney stones (nephrolithiasis) (Johnson et al. 1979), hypercalcemia with renal insufficiency (milk-alkali syndrome) (Junor and Catto 1976; Orwoll 1982), and harmful calcium interactions with other minerals (Spencer et al. 1965; Clarkson et al. 1967; Schiller et al., 1989). The evidence regarding a link to an increased risk of kidney stones with high calcium intake from foods and supplements is inconsistent, with some studies associating higher calcium intakes with decreased risk of kidney stones (Curhan et al. 1993).

Source

University of Maryland Medical Center

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Overview

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that is important in carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. It is found in the body in three primary forms: pyridoxine (the common name given mainly to the alcohol form, or pyridoxol); pyridoxal (the aldehyde); and pyridoxamine (theamine).

Vitamin B6 helps the body make several neurotransmitters, chemicals that carry signals from one nerve cell to another. It is needed for normal brain development and function, and helps the body make the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which influence mood, and melatonin, which helps regulate the body clock.

Along with vitamins B12 and folic acid (B9), B6 helps control levels of homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is associated with heart disease. Your body needs B6 in order to absorb vitamin B12 and to make red blood cells and cells of the immune system.

It is rare to have a significant deficiency of B6, although studies indicate many people may be mildly deficient, especially children and the elderly. Certain medications can also cause low levels of B6 in the body. Symptoms of mild deficiency include muscle weakness, nervousness, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, and short-term memory loss.

Dietary Sources

Good food sources of vitamin B6 include chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, shrimp, beef liver, milk, cheese, lentils, beans, spinach, carrots, brown rice, bran, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and whole-grain flour.

Upper Limits

The Council for Responsible Nutrition recommends a safe upper limit of 100 mg / day due to the complete absence of adverse effects in credible, well-designed studies at 100 and 150 mg levels and only marginal evidence of adverse effects at 200 mg (Parry and Bredenson 1985; Brush 1988).

Sources

University of Maryland Medical Center
Council for Responsible Nutrition