Hyvin
A Natural Health and Wellness Blog

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released last week The State of Aging and Health in America 2007. The picture isn’t pretty. 80 percent of Americans 65 and older suffer from one chronic disease that could lead to premature death and disability (diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc.), and a full half of seniors are burdened by two chronic illnesses.

Of course, the social ramifications of these statistics are horrendous. And then there are the financial consequences. The Reuters Health report of the research cited researchers as saying: “The cost of caring for aging Americans will add 25 percent to the nation’s health care bill by 2030 unless people act now to stay healthy”. An addition we can scarcely afford.

I’m glad to see that researchers are emphasizing healthier lifestyles and prevention as key in dealing with this situation, looking specifically at physical inactivity, poor nutrition, obesity and smoking. They seem like a good place to begin. There have been many studies linking these lifestyle choices to ill health, and more are being released all the time. Consider research in the February 2007 Journal of the American Geriatrics Society concluding that “Nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease who participate in a moderate exercise program have a significantly slower deterioration than those who receive routine medical care.” (Reuters Health)

These age-related declines are NOT inevitable! But we DO have to be responsible for our own health and wellness. That means making informed decisions about regular exercise, supplementation and healthy eating. Doctors do not make us well. We can often, though, impact our wellness by the choices we make. Yes, it takes time, effort and self-discipline. But isn’t it totally worth it?

Also in the Feb. 2007 edition of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is a study which found that women between the ages of 72 and 85 with completely intact mental function were less likely to have health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure (Reuters Health).

I certainly want to do all I can to live out my senior years with maximum function, both mental and physical, don’t you?

Add a B to the alphabet line-up of nutrients that can help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. (see earlier post about C and E) Recently reported in the Archives of Neurology is a study identifying folate, one of the B nutrients, as being linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s. Researchers looked at folate (also called folic acid) both eaten in food (whole grains, leafy green vegetables) and taken in supplement form.

There is something particular to note about folate (or folic acid). As one of the B nutrients, it occurs with the other B’s that make up the complex but is a hard one to absorb because it tends to get bound up with the others in the matrix. Look for a supplement with a guaranteed delivery system.

New research suggests that Vitamin C and Vitamin E supplements help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s because of their ability to reduce inflammation.

For a group of elderly people at a high risk of Alzheimer’s because of a certain genetic makeup, the greatest benefit was found when they took ibuprofen in addition to these two supplements (the ibuprofen apparently reduced one of the causes of inflammation). I was glad to see that, according to the Reuters Health report on the study, researchers did acknowledge that ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers.

At least the Vitamins C and E have side benefits, not side effects. I am certainly interested in knowing what I can do, that is otherwise safe and good for me, to reduce the risk of this health challenge!