Diet may increase risk for Alzheimer’s
A new study, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, looked at the relationship between the eating habits of folks in Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, India, Mongolia, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and the United States, and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. It uncovered how mind-numbing the typical Western diet is.
In the U.S., one in nine people 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease. But the study found that switching to a traditional Mediterranean diet (olive oil, meats as side dishes and not every day, lots of fresh vegetables, fruits and fish) cuts your risk of AD in half. And traditional, meatsparing diets in India, Japan and Nigeria are associated with an additional 50 percent reduction in AD risk.
To protect your brain: Eat 5-9 servings of produce daily; opt for 2-3 servings of fish (salmon is super) weekly; and eliminate red meats, added sugars and syrups, and processed grains from your diet. HOW HOUSEPLANTS CAN CLEAR THE AIR
According to a paper presented at the recent American Chemical Society national meeting, there are houseplants that safely can clear the air of undesirables, particularly VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are a big source of pollutants in homes and offices.
VOCs are released from actively used and stored paints, cleaning and disinfecting products, cosmetics, pesticides, copiers and printers, permanent markers, glues, fuels, dry-cleaned clothing and more. They can trigger eye, nose and throat irritation, asthma, allergies, headaches, dizziness, nausea, liver and kidney damage, and are suspected or known to cause cancer.
When researchers tested the VOC-vanquishing powers of houseplants, they found jade, spider, bromeliad, dracaena and Caribbean tree cactus plants scrubbed the air of VOCs as (or more) effectively than air filters. They all reduced air levels of acetone, with the dracaena filtering out 94 percent! The jade plant was best against toluene. Bromeliads cleared out more than 80 percent of six of the eight VOCs tested. So move over, Audrey II! Head researcher Vadoud Niri recommends an indoor garden that includes all five plants to make sure you clear the air most effectively. Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.