Saturday, December 13, 2008

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease currently affects about 4 million Americans and is the 8th leading cause of death, accounting for about 50,000 deaths per year in the U.S. The chance of having Alzheimer’s disease doubles every 4 to 5 years after the age of sixty. Although the risk at age 60 is low (1%), by the age of 75 this reaches almost 10%, and by age 85 between a third and half of Americans have some form of dementia (of which about 75% are the Alzheimer’s type of dementia). Estimates place the risk at about two-thirds of Americans age 90 and above.

This is particularly disturbing news for all of us, since the average American lifespan has been steadily increasing – most women will live to be over 80, and men now average over 75, which means that more than one in ten of us will develop Alzheimer’s disease in our lifetimes.

Despite the many millions of dollars being spent on Alzheimer’s research, the treatment options remain extremely disappointing. Even with earlier, more sensitive diagnostic tests, no effective therapy to has been shown to halt or reverse the disease. The four FDA-approved drugs on the market for Alzheimer’s disease (Aricept®, Exelon®, Reminyl® and the seldom-prescribed Cognex®), only marginally improve function in less than half of patients.

Because of recent research we have gained substantial insight into how, when and why Alzheimer’s disease develops. This provides tremendous ability to identify people at risk and to PREVENT Alzheimer’s from occurring. Particularly when the brain is concerned, once injury and damage has occurred it is quite difficult to reverse that damage. But we now have greater insights into what causes that injury and how to avoid it.

Last July (2002) in Stockholm, the 8th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders was the largest-ever gathering of researchers studying Alzheimer’s. The research results that were presented were very consistent and compelling. Researchers consistently found that the same risk factors for cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) were also risks for Alzheimer’s. The same factors that lead to atherosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”) also sharply increased the risk of Alzheimer’s. This is great news, since we already have effective means of identifying people at risk, measuring, preventing and reversing the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Thankfully, the same measures that protect us from heart attack and stroke are also protective from Alzheimer’s. Here is a listing of the steps we feel are most important to prevent Alzheimer’s from developing:


Keep blood pressure under control – The older prevailing wisdom of keeping blood pressure at 140/90 or below is no longer felt to be ideal. We now feel that lower blood pressure readings, even for older Americans should be targeted. Blood pressure should be no higher than 130/80. There are many means of controlling blood pressure other than medications. Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding salt and salty foods, exercising regularly, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated (animal) fat, and supplementing with calcium, magnesium and potassium-rich foods or vitamins can all help to control blood pressure.

BABY FOOD RECIPES

BABY FOOD RECIPES - CHICKEN HEARTS APPLE
Baby food recipes

Material:
250 grams of chicken liver
2 apples, peeled, seeded, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and cut into pieces
3 pieces potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 tablespoons green peas

Directions:
1. Cook all ingredients until cooked.
2. Drain and puree (or chopped finely for children ages 8 months and up)

BABY FOOD RECIPES - FISH APPLE
Baby food recipes

Material:
2 pieces of fish fillets
2 apples, peeled, cut into pieces

Directions:
1. Boil the ingredients until cooked. Drain and puree.

Note:
For children 8 months, the food should not be crushed but only finely chopped. It is good to stimulate the growth of teeth and to train the muscles of the mouth and gums to bite.

BABY FOOD RECIPES - CARAPPEAR
Baby food recipes

Material:
2 stalks carrots, peeled, cut into pieces
2 apples, peeled, cut into pieces
2 pieces of pear, peeled and cut into pieces

Directions:
1. Kl Boil carrots for 10 minutes, then amsukkan apple and pear. Cook until soft.
2. Drain and puree (or chopped finely for children ages 8 months and up)

BABY FOOD RECIPES - steamed fish
Baby food recipes

Material:
1 snapper fillet (or other fish species, according to taste)

Directions:
1. Steam the fish until cooked and then mashed.
2. Can be mixed with pureed vegetables (carrots, broccoli, etc.).

BABY FOOD RECIPES - Broccoli POTATO
Baby food recipes

Material:
7 broccoli florets, discarding the stem
2 potatoes, peeled, cut into pieces
Chicken broth / meat taste (only boiled water chicken / meat, without salt or other seasonings)

Directions:
1. Steam the broccoli and potatoes until cooked.
2. Blend the two ingredients with the processor / blender.
3. Give the broth to taste.

BABY FOOD RECIPES - VEGETABLE INTERFERENCE
Baby food recipes

Material:
1 carrot, peeled, cut into pieces
1 piece of potato, peeled, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons green peas (can be replaced other green vegetables, eg broccoli,
zuchini, celery, etc.)
Chicken broth / meat taste (only boiled water chicken / meat, without garammaupun other seasonings)

Directions:
1. Boiled / steamed until cooked all the ingredients and puree.
2. Give the chicken broth / meat taste.

BABY FOOD RECIPES - CHICKEN SOUP
Baby food recipes

Material:
1 piece of chicken thighs, remove skin, cut meat into pieces (bones were not removed)
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 potatoes, peeled, cut into pieces
1 stick carrot, peeled, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons green peas
500 ml water

Directions:
1. Cook all ingredients until cooked.
2. Discard the chicken bones, then puree all ingredients

BABY FOOD RECIPES - puree CARROT
Baby food recipes

Material:
2 medium carrots, peeled
Boiled water to taste

Directions:
1. Steam the carrots until tender then puree. Add water as needed.
2. Presentation: Give the carrot puree as single or mixed foods
with pulp POTATO / SWEET POTATOES porridge.

BABY FOOD RECIPES - pea puree
Baby food recipes

Material:
250 grams of fresh or frozen peas

Directions:
1. Boil peas until cooked and then mashed.
2. Strain the rough skin so do not take part inedible.
3. Presentation: Give peas puree as a single food or
mixed with porridge POTATO / SWEET POTATOES porridge.