Issue No: 130, Date: 1 st Sep 2016

Transcription

1 Hemp seeds are a complete protein which means they provide all 9 essential amino acids. They also contain the essential fatty acids omega 6 and omega 3, and are a good source of soluble and insoluble fiber. These are also a great source of vitamins A, B1, B2, D and E, of which vitamins A and E help promote a healthy complexion. Vitamin A has also been shown to inhibit the production of DNA in cancerous cells. B vitamins help the body metabolize fats and protein; promote healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver; help the nervous system function properly; and are necessary for proper brain function. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium and phosphorus in the body, and also plays an important role in maintaining proper bone structure.

2 Chia seeds have really become popular in recent years, but for good reason for sure! A single serving of chia seeds has 18% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) for calcium and 27% of your daily RDI for phosphorus, which promote bone health. A single serving also has a whopping 33% of your RDI for fiber, which promotes healthy digestion. Furthermore, chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, with nearly five grams in a one-ounce serving. Sesame seeds are packed with essential minerals such as manganese, copper, iron, phosphorus, zinc and calcium. Manganese, phosphorous and calcium help promote bone health. Iron in necessary for the production of red blood cells and to carry oxygen through the bloodstream. Zinc promotes bone health and prevents osteoporosis. Sesame seed oil reduces hypertension and eases stress. Antioxidants fight free radicals, promoting youthfulness and strengthening the immune system. Just a quarter cup of sunflower seeds provides you with over ninety percent of your RDI for vitamin E, the body s primary fat-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin E neutralizes free radicals and has significant anti-inflammatory effects. Sunflower seeds are also a good source of selenium, which has been shown to induce DNA repair and synthesis in damaged cells, to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, and to induce their apoptosis, the self-destruction mechanism the body naturally produces to eliminate worn out or abnormal cells. Sunflower seeds are also rich in magnesium, which is necessary for strong bones and helps lower blood pressure, decreases muscle tension, migraine headaches, soreness, and fatigue. Pumpkin seeds are a fantastic source of protein, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, copper, B vitamins, vitamin K and vitamin E. They also contain L-tryptophan, which promotes healthy sleeping patterns and lowers depression. High zinc levels make them a natural protector against osteoporosis. They are also the most alkaline-forming seed. According to studies, pumpkin seeds prevent calcium oxalate kidney stone formation, and significantly reduce inflammation. Flax seeds are dark brown seeds that are excellent sources of omega-3s. Just one tablespoon of flaxseed surpasses the RDI of omega-3s, which help reduce the inflammation that leads to conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, and osteoporosis. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a kind of omega-3 that is found in flaxseeds that helps promote bone health. Flaxseed may lower blood pressure. They are also a great source of fiber: with one tablespoon containing three grams of fiber. This high fiber content helps promote digestive health. Lignans in flaxseed also promote regular digestion, and are thought to have a role in breast cancer prevention.

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4 The changes that take place in the brain begin at the microscopic level long before the first signs of memory loss. The brain is made of 100 billion nerve cells (neurons), the function of which is to connect one nerve cell to many others and thus forms a communication networks. In addition to nerve cells, the brain includes cells specialized to support and nourish other cells. A group of nerve cells have special jobs to perform. Some are involved in thinking, learning and memory. Others help us to see, hear, smell and tell our muscles when to move. These cells operate like tiny factories, receiving, supplying, and generating energy, constructing equipment and getting rid of waste. Cells also process and store information and communicate with other cells. Keeping everything running requires coordination as well as large amounts of fuel and oxygen. It is believed that in Alzheimer s disease, parts of a cell s factory are prevented from running well. The area of trouble-shooting is still not known. But just like a real factory, backups and breakdowns in one system cause problems in other areas. The same can be implied in Alzheimer s as well. Further, this damage spreads to other cells which lose their ability to do their assigned jobs and, eventually this leads to cell death.

5 Causes and Risk Factors The fact that in Alzheimer s disease there is a failure of nerve cells functioning is well known but, why this happens is still an unknown story. However, the experts have identified certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing Alzheimer s. Age The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer s disease is increasing age. Most individuals with the illness are 65 and older. Family history Another risk factor is family history. Research has shown that those who have a parent, brother or sister with Alzheimer s are more likely to develop the disease than individuals who do not. The risk increases if more than one family member has the illness. Familial Alzheimer s and Genetics Two categories of genes influence whether a person develops a disease: risk genes and deterministic genes. Risk genes increase the likelihood of developing a disease but do not guarantee it will happen. Deterministic genes directly cause a disease, guaranteeing that anyone who inherits one will develop a disorder. According to the researchers, several genes that are transmitted can increase the risk of Alzheimer s. Their number inherited from parents determines its development. It s a fact that everyone inherits a copy of some form of these genes from each parent. Those who inherit one copy, have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer s and those who inherit two copies, are even at a higher risk, but in both the cases, the certainty of getting it remains inconclusive. The diagnosis of Alzheimer s disease is life-changing for both the diagnosed individual and those close to him or her. While there is currently no cure, treatments are available that may help relieve some symptoms. Consider these points while caring for the affected person: How to provide increasing levels of care as the disease progresses. How s the individual and family members will cope with changes in the person s ability to drive, cook and perform other daily activities. How to ensure a safe environment?

6 SYMPTOMS There are some common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, but it is important to remember that everyone is unique. Two people with Alzheimer's are unlikely to experience the condition in exactly the same way. The earliest symptoms are memory lapses. In particular, they may have difficulty recalling recent events and learning new information. Memory for life events that happened a long time ago is often unaffected in the early stages of the disease. The person may: lose items (e.g. keys, glasses) around the house struggle to find the right word in a conversation or forget someone's name forget about recent conversations or events get lost in a familiar place or on a familiar journey Forget appointments or anniversaries. Although memory difficulties are usually the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's, someone with the disease will also have or go on to develop problems with other aspects of thinking, reasoning, perception or communication. They might have difficulties with: Language struggling to follow a conversation or repeating themselves Visuo-spatial skills problems judging distance or seeing objects in three dimensions; navigating stairs or parking the car become much harder Concentrating, planning or organizing difficulties making decisions, solving problems or carrying out a sequence of tasks (e.g. cooking a meal) Orientation becoming confused or losing track of the day or date. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but there is a lot that can be done to enable someone to live well with the condition. This will involve drug and non-drug care, support and activities. The person should have a chance to talk to a professional about their diagnosis. This could be a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, occupational therapist. Information on the support that is available and where to go for further advice is vital in helping someone to stay physically and mentally well. The drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease can temporarily alleviate some symptoms or slow down their progression in some people. A person in the mild or moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease or mixed dementia will often be given drug treatment which may help with memory problems, improve concentration and motivation, and help with aspects of daily living such as cooking, shopping or hobbies. If someone is depressed or anxious, talking therapies (such as cognitive behavioral therapy) or drug treatments (such as antidepressants) may also be tried. Counseling may help the person adjust to the diagnosis. It is beneficial for a person with Alzheimer's to keep up with activities that they enjoy. Many people benefit from exercising their mind with reading or puzzles. Over time, changes in the person's behavior such as agitation or aggression become more likely. These behaviors are often a sign that the person is in distress. This could be from a medical condition such as pain; because they misunderstood something or someone; or perhaps because they are frustrated or under-stimulated. A person in the earlier stages of Alzheimer's will often have changes in their mood. They may become anxious, irritable or depressed. Many people become withdrawn and lose interest in activities and hobbies.

7 A continuous effort for Individualized approach, and also for the underlying cause, should be looked for. It is observed that the general non-drug approaches often helps more in such diseases. These include social interaction, music, reminiscence exercise or other activities that are meaningful for the person. Content is sourced from public domain & is provided by H3U for educational & informational purposes. It should not be considered as a substitute to medical advice. H3U makes every effort to ensure accuracy or completeness of editorial content, However we do not take responsibility for any errors, omission & also do not take responsibility to ensure that data, information of material is kept up to date. The views expressed in these articles are not necessarily those of H3U. Reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or otherwise, for reason other than educational & for informational purposes are strictly prohibited without prior written permission of H3U. Corporate Office Vipul MedCare Pvt Ltd. 534, Udyog Vihar, Phase V, Gurgaon, Haryana Phone: , Fax: , info@vipulmedcare.com