CHAPTER 10

Alzheimer's Disease:
A Nutritional Approach

The facts are heart-breaking: over 4 million Americans suffer from I Alzheimer's disease, a slow death of the brain. Among people who live to 85, fully half will suffer from this devastating illness, which kills off neurons deep within the brain that regulate memory and cognition.

As Alzheimer's sufferers descend into a morass of confusion, depression and psychosis, the burden of caring for them falls on their loved ones. Seventy percent of Alzheimer's patients live with their families, placing a gigantic strain upon these caregivers who must cope with the gradual destruction of someone they love.

What can you do to protect yourself from this increasingly-common disease? How can you help someone who is already suffering from Alzheimer's to reverse their helpless downward slide?

The Nutrients You Need For Brain Health

As scientists investigate a variety of promising approaches, a new emphasis on brain health through nutrition has emerged. In The Brain Wellness Plan, Drs. Jay Lombard and Carl Germane suggest that you can begin now, "no matter what your age - to add the nutrients so essential to supporting brain health and a vital brain-immune connection."

In this new nutritional approach to brain health, chlorella may be destined to play a vital role. A Japanese study shows that chlorella can significantly improve symptoms of dementia. A group of patients suffering from cerebrovascular dementia or Alzheimer's was given chlorella extract and tablets. Thirty-two percent showed signs of alleviated dementia and 36% stopped developing further dementia. (25)

Alzheimer's and Heavy Metals: What's The Real Story?

Although we have much to learn about Alzheimer's, we can make some general observations about why chlorella can be effective in both its prevention and treatment.

Whatever its ultimate role in causing Alzheimer's, heavy metals such as aluminum and mercury are well-known neurotoxins, which disrupt more than 50 chemical reactions in your body. Limiting your exposure to heavy metals is a wise choice. So is removing them from your system with chlorella. Chlorella contains chlorophyll, which is well-documented as a supremely effective remover of heavy metal toxins from the body. As scientists debate the exact linkage of these toxins and Alzheimer's, you can help protect your brain by safely escorting them out of your system with chlorella.

B Well, B Brain Healthy

The B vitamins are key players in brain wellness, and an increasing number of studies have connected Alzheimer's to vitamin B deficiencies. Alzheimer's patients have shown seriously low levels of vitamin B-12 in their cerebrospinal fluid. Other tests have exposed the link between Alzheimer's and low levels of thiamine (vitamin B-l), including a study reported in Annals of Neurology in which Alzheimer's patients treated with B-l showed marked improvement. (39)

This correlation between the B vitamins and Alzheimer's is another important clue in understanding chlorella's beneficial impact on brain health. Chlorella contains an abundance of B vitamins, including thiamine (B-l), riboflavin (B-2), pyridoxine (B-6) and more vitamin B-12 than beef liver.

Fighting Free Radicals That Attack Your Brain

A recent Canadian study provided fascinating insight into the workings of Alzheimer's: samples of Alzheimer's brain tissue showed nearly 50 percent more free radicals than the control samples. 40 Free radicals are short-lived molecules which rampage through your body, attacking cell membranes and genetic codes, and unleashing the forces of aging.

The best way to fight free radicals is with antioxidants. These nutrients disarm the arsenal of free radicals, and prevent them from spreading cell damage in your brain. Chlorella contains potent antioxidants, such as carotenoids, that protect your brain from vicious attacks by free radical "terrorists."

One unfortunate effect of free radicals is that they inflame the brain, a condition associated with Alzheimer's. Essential fatty acids are excellent anti-inflammatory agents, reducing inflammation and preventing its recurrence. Chlorella offers the complete spectrum of essential fatty acids, promoting good brain health by fighting swelling of the brain and supporting optimum communication between nerve cells.

Here's Some Food for Thought

Along with all the nutrients already mentioned, chlorella contains a host of other ingredients recommended in The Brain Wellness Plan. It's a rich supplier of zinc, which is an essential element for brain functions, In fact, some scientists believe a deficiency of zinc causes Alzheimer's. And it teems with nucleic acids, which stimulate the immune system to protect you from free radicals.

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