From: hounddog23x@gmail.com   
      
   January 10, 2015   
      
   Can you sidestep Alzheimer's disease?   
      
   Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive damage to nerve cells and   
   their connections. The result is devastating and includes memory loss,   
   impaired thinking, difficulties with verbal communication, and even   
   personality changes. A person with    
   Alzheimer's disease may live anywhere from two to 20 years after diagnosis.   
   Those years are spent in an increasingly dependent state that exacts a   
   staggering emotional, physical, and economic toll on families.   
      
   A number of factors influence the likelihood that you will develop Alzheimer's   
   disease. Some of these you can't control, such as age, gender, and family   
   history. But there are things you can do to help lower your risk. As it turns   
   out, the mainstays of a    
   healthy lifestyle -- exercise, watching your weight, and eating right --   
   appear to lower Alzheimer's risk.   
      
   5 steps to lower Alzheimer's risk   
      
   While there are no surefire ways to prevent Alzheimer's, by following the five   
   steps below you may lower your risk for this disease -- and enhance your   
   overall health as well.   
      
   Maintain a healthy weight. Cut back on calories and increase physical activity   
   if you need to shed some pounds.   
   Check your waistline. To accurately measure your waistline, use a tape measure   
   around the narrowest portion of your waist (usually at the height of the navel   
   and lowest rib). A National Institutes of Health panel recommends waist   
   measurements of no more    
   than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.   
   Eat mindfully. Emphasize colorful, vitamin-packed vegetables and fruits; whole   
   grains; protein sources such as fish, lean poultry, tofu, and beans and other   
   legumes; plus healthy fats. Cut down on unnecessary calories from sweets,   
   sodas, refined grains    
   like white bread or white rice, unhealthy fats, fried and fast foods, and   
   mindless snacking. Keep a close eye on portion sizes, too.   
   Exercise regularly. This simple step does great things for your body. Regular   
   physical activity helps control weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and   
   cholesterol. Moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise (walking, swimming, biking,   
   rowing) can also help    
   chip away total body fat and abdominal fat over time. Aim for 2 1/2 to 5 hours   
   weekly of brisk walking (at 4 mph). Or try a vigorous exercise like jogging   
   (at 6 mph) for half that time.   
   Keep an eye on important health numbers. In addition to watching your weight   
   and waistline, ask your doctor whether your cholesterol, triglycerides, blood   
   pressure, and blood sugar are within healthy ranges. Exercise, weight loss if   
   needed, and    
   medications (if necessary) can help keep these numbers on target.   
   For more on ways to help prevent Alzheimer's as well as information on   
   diagnosing and treating it, buy A Guide to Coping with Alzheimer's Disease, a   
   Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.   
      
      
      
   http://www.health.harvard.edu/alzheimers-and-dementia/can-you-si   
   estep-alzheimers-disease   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)