Monday, 28 November 2016

[www.keralites.net] 25 Ways You Can Prevent the Development of Alzheimer's

 

Alzheimer's strikes fear in all of us. The thought of losing your mind as you grow older is terrifying and made worse by the fact that, before now, there appeared to be little we could do to slow down or avoid Alzheimer's, which is the most common form of dementia.Today, research has found many factors that raise or diminish the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Following these tips, you could slash your chances of developing the disease:

1. Check out your ankle

Low blood flow in your foot is a clue to trouble in your brain and a simple test can reveal its cognitive state and your lihood of stroke and dementia. The theory is that the health of your blood vessels is similar throughout the body. The degree of clogged arteries and blood flow in the feet can suggest atherosclerosis in cerebral blood vessels. Ask your doctor for an ankle-brachial index (ABI) test which involves an ultrasound device and a blood pressure cuff that compares blood pressure in your ankle to that in your arm. To remedy any impairment of blood flow your GP may advise stepped-up exercise or a change in diet/medication.

2. Antioxidant-rich foods

Certain foods infuse your brain with antioxidants that can slow memory decline and help prevent Alzheimer's. All fruit and vegetables are good but at the top of the list are black raspberries, elderberries, raisins and blueberries.

3. Beware of bad fats

The type of fat you eat changes your brain's functioning for better or worse. Stay away from saturated fats which strangle brain cells causing them to become inefficient. Buy low fat or fat-free dairy products including milk, cheese and ice cream. Cut down on deep-fried foods.

4. Chocolate Treat

Cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, has sky-high concentrations of antioxidants called flavanols, which possess strong heart and brain-protecting properties. Drinking cocoa increases blood flow to the brain. Cocoa powder has twice as many flavanols as dark chocolate, which has twice a many as milk chocolate. White chocolate has zero.

5. Grow a bigger brain

Your brain starts to shrink when you reach 30 or 40 so it takes longer to learn. However scientists now believe you can increase the size of your brain through learning. Try studying, learning new things or broadening your circle of friends for stimulation.

6. The Estrogen Evidence

68 per cent of Alzheimer's patients are women, possibly because midway through life, they lose the protection that is provided by estrogen, which boosts memory. Unless your GP says otherwise, start taking estrogen immediately at the time of menopause – starting any later opens you up to the risk of dementia and stroke.

7. Raise good cholesterol

It's well known that having a high level of good-type HDL blood cholesterol protects you from heart disease, but it can also save your brain. Researchers claim it blocks sticky stuff that destroys brain cells and acts as an anti-inflammatory to lessen brain damage. Ways to ramp up good cholesterol include exercise, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol and losing weight.

8. Google something

Doing an internet search can stimulate aging brains even more than reading a book. And MRI scans show that savvy surfers have twice as many sparks of brain activity as novices. Go online to search for information, things to buy, or games to play. Although it's not known how much it will benefit your brain, it's better than passive pursuits.

9. The ApoE4 gene

One in four of you reading this has a specific genetic time bomb that makes you three to ten times more susceptible to developing late-onset Alzheimer's. The gene is called apolipoprotein E4. If you inherit a single variant of ApoE4 from one parent, your Alzheimer's risk triples. If you inherit a double dose from both parents, your risk rises by 10 times. Ask your doctor about a DNA test to reveal your ApoE4 genotype.

10. Say yes to coffee

Coffee is emerging as a tonic for the aging brain. It is anti-inflammatory, helps block the ill effects of cholesterol in the brain and cuts the risks of stroke, depression and diabetes, all promoters of dementia. It is also high in antioxidants and caffeine which stop neuronal death and lessen diabetes, high blood pressure, and strokes that bring on dementia. For most people, a moderate daily intake of coffee, two to four cups, won't hurt and may help.

Unexplained weight loss after age 60 or so may be a sign of Alzheimer's. A study showed that women with the disease started losing weight at least 10 years before dementia was diagnosed. Among women of equal weight, those who went on to develop dementia slowly became thinner over three decades and, when diagnosed, weighed an average 12lb less than women who were free of Alzheimer's. Talk to your doctor about unexplained weight loss after 60.

12. Drink wine

A daily glass of wine may help delay dementia. Research says that alcohol is an anti-inflammatory and raises good cholesterol which helps ward off dementia. High antioxidants in red wine give it additional anti-dementia clout. Such antioxidants act as artery relaxants, dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow which encourages cognitive functioning.

13. Know the early signs

Memory problems are not the first clue. You may notice a decline in depth perception, for example you reach to pick up a glass of water and miss it. Or you misjudge the distance in walking across a street. 

Doing a jigsaw puzzle or reading a map may also be confusing. Losing your sense of smell can also be an early clue, as well as asking the same question repeatedly or misplacing belongings in odd places ( putting keys in the fridge). Be aware of memory problems as the earlier the signs are spotted, the more successful lifestyle changes and medications are ly to be.

14. A Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet, no matter where you live, can help save your brain from memory deterioration and dementia. Studies consistently find that what the Greeks and Italians eat is truly brain food. Following this diet – rich in green leafy vegetables, fish, fruits, nuts, legumes, olive oil and a little vino – can cut your chances of Alzheimer's by nearly half. Rather than depending on just one food or a few nutrients, it is a rich menu of many complex brain benefactors, including an array of antioxidants, which shield brain cells from oxidative damage.

15. Middle Age Obesity

Your brain cares if you are fat. A study showed obese people had 8% less brain tissue and overweight people had 4% less brain tissue than people of average weight, which according to some scientists hugely increases the risk of Alzheimer's. Moreover, brain shrinkage occurred in areas of the brain targeted by Alzheimer's, which are critical for planning, long-term memory, attention and executive functions, and control of movement.

Tackle signs of rising weight early, when you are young or middle-aged. Oddly, being obese after the age of 70 does not raise the risk of Alzheimer's but that doesn't mean you should neglect exercise as it is the best way of stimulating cognitive functioning and may delay the onset of Alzheimer's at any age.

A lack of sleep is toxic to brain cells. Sleep has surprising powers to protect your brain against memory loss and Alzheimer's. It is a wonder drug that helps manipulate levels of the dreaded brain toxin peptide beta-amyloid, a prime instigator of Alzheimer's, which according to one scientist puts you at accelerated risk. Research has also found that sleeping an average of five hours or less a night is linked to large increases in dangerous visceral abdominal fat, which can cause diabetes and obesity that can lead to Alzheimer's. Take naps and seek treatment for sleep disorders.

17. Have an extended social circle

Studying the brain of a highly sociable 90-year-old woman who died from Alzheimer's, researchers in Chicago found that having a large social network provided her with strong "cognitive reserve" that enabled her brain not to realize she had Alzheimer's. Why this happens is a mystery, but interacting with friends and family seems to make the brain more efficient. It finds alternative routes of communication to bypass broken connections left by Alzheimer's. So see friends and family often and expand your social network. The stronger the brain reserve you build through life, the more ly you are to stave off Alzheimer's symptoms.

18. Deal with stress

When you are under stress, your body pours out hormones called corticosteroids, which can save you in a crisis. But persistent stress reactions triggered by everyday events work frustration, traffic and financial worries can be dangerous. Over time, it can destroy brain cells and suppress the growth of new ones, actually shrinking your brain. Sudden traumatic events the death of a loved one or a life-changing event retirement can leave a hangover of severe psychological stress that precedes dementia. Be aware that chronic stress can increase older people's vulnerability to memory decline and dementia. Seek professional advice. Antidepressants, counseling, relaxation techniques and other forms of therapy may head off stress-related memory loss if treated early.

19. Take care of your teeth

Bad gums may poison your brain. People with tooth and gum disease tend to score lower in memory and cognition tests, according to US dental researchers who found that infection responsible for gum disease gives off inflammatory byproducts that travel to areas of the brain involved in memory loss.

Consequently, brushing, flossing and preventing gum disease may help keep your gums and teeth healthy but may also make your memory sharper. In another study, older people with the most severe gingivitis – inflamed gums – were two to three times more ly to show signs of impaired memory and cognition than those with the least.

20. Get enough Vitamin B12

As you age, blood levels of vitamin B12 go down and the chance of Alzheimer's goes up. Your ability to absorb it from foods diminishes in middle age, setting the stage for brain degeneration years later. Researchers at Oxford University found that a brain running low on B12 actually shrinks and a shortage can lead to brain atrophy by ripping away myelin, a fatty protective sheath around neurons. It can also trigger inflammation, another destroyer of brain cells. Take 500 to 1000mcg of vitamin B12 daily after the age of 40. If you or an older family member has unexplained memory loss, fatigue or signs of dementia, be sure to get tested for vitamin B12 deficiency by your GP.

There is plenty of evidence that  vinegar decreases risk factors that may lead to memory decline, namely high blood sugar, insulin resistance, diabetes, pre-diabetes and weight gain. Researchers in Phoenix, Arizona, have noted in studies of humans and animals that the acidic stuff packs potent glucose-lowering effects. Studies have also found it can curb appetite and food intake, helping prevent weight gain and obesity, which are associated with diabetes, accelerated dementia and memory loss. Pour on the vinegar – add it to salad dressings, eat it by the spoonful, even mix it into a glass of drinking water. Any type of vinegar works.

22. Have your eyes checked

If you preserve good or excellent vision as you age, your chances of developing dementia drop by an astonishing 63%. And if it's poor, just visiting an optician for an eye test and possible treatment at least once in later life cuts your dementia odds by about the same amount. Exactly how vision problems promote dementia is not clear but impaired vision makes it difficult to participate in mental and physical activities such as reading and exercising, as well as social activities, all believed to delay cognitive decline. Be aware that your eyes reflect and influence how your brain is functioning, especially as you age. Don't tolerate poor vision, as often it can be corrected.

23. Eat curry or take curcumin pills

Curry powder contains the yellow-orange spice turmeric, packed with curcumin, a component reported to stall memory decline. One study showed elderly Indians who ate even modest amounts of curry did better in cognitive tests. Curcumin works by blocking the build-up of Alzheimer's-inducing amyloid plaques (deposits found in the brains of sufferers) then nibbles away at existing plaque to slow cognitive decline.

It is recommended to eat two or three curries a week, and make it a yellow curry. Otherwise, sprinkle the spice on your food. Read more about the many benefits of Curcumin.

 

24. Diabetes control

Having type 2 diabetes makes you more vulnerable to Alzheimer's. Studies show it may double or triple your risk and the earlier diabetes takes hold, the higher the odds of dementia. Some experts refer to Alzheimer's as "diabetes of the brain". The two disorders have similar causes – obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high fat and high sugar diets, low physical activity as well as high blood sugar. In short, diabetes can deliver a double whammy to the brain, destroying neurons and increasing inflammation. Do everything possible to keep blood sugar levels low and stick to a low-saturated-fat diet and regular exercise.

25. Drink more tea

Evidence suggests that tea stalls the cognitive loss that precedes Alzheimer's and that the more tea you drink, the sharper your ageing memory is. Tea's secret is no mystery. The leaves are packed with compounds able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and block neuronal damage. 

One particular green tea antioxidant can block the toxicity of beta-amyloid, which kills brain cells. Make a point of drinking black and green tea. Don't add milk - it can reduce tea's antioxidant activity by 25%.

 

 


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Posted by: Cool Kis <cooolkis@gmail.com>
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[www.keralites.net] I Hope These Amazing Sacred Buildings Last for an Eternity

 

Sunny Thailand is known as 'the land of smiles', thanks to its beautiful beaches, terrific weather, and friendly locals. Yet, one of the most important parts of this proud Asian nation, is its adherence to the Eastern mystical religion Buddhism. This faith can be seen in some absolutely gorgeous temples, many of which are ancient, and many brand-spanking new, but all utterly beautiful.

 

Here are 10 of the most stunning Buddhist temples in Thailand.

 

Thailand temples, beautiful

 


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[www.keralites.net] Shake Hands!

 

Shake Hands!

In the moment of shaking the hand of another, not only are we participating in a universal greeting, but we are acknowledging we are all connected in the game of life together. For what is life but a series of meetings, a gentle sequence of connectings! The touch of hands is a reminder of our unity, the squeeze of a hand says we care, and the shaking of hands says we are celebrating being together. What are we saying when our touch is too cold, our squeeze too firm or too soft, or our shake too limp? Sometimes words are inadequate, or just too difficult. Which is why we can always say with our hand what is in our heart. If you are not ready to look directly into your heart, but you'd like an idea of what's there, be aware of your hand when you next put it forward for a shake!

Try this experiment today. Enter the office with a straight face (not too straight). As you meet others who have a similar kind of straightness on their face, force yourself to smile. Then watch the other person return the smile - perhaps not to the same extent or for so long, or absolutely immediately - but it will return. This is the absolute and often instant proof of the 'ripple and reflect effect'. You get back whatever you put out. We know this, but we forget, and then wonder why everyone seems to give us a straight face, even a grumpy face, on a regular basis. Now learn to make the smile more real, deeper, smilier! Where does a real smile begin? From the heart. Can you smile at will from the heart? Why not? You need to find out soon, because you will live an unsmiling life if you don't find out what is stopping your heart reaching your face! No one else is responsible - there's only you in there! So don't go blaming others if you are not radiating from head and heart. What's blocking it? Take your time. Look in, listen in and see. You'll be surprised. You'll probably laugh, and say "How silly!"

relax

Making The Journey With The Right Realization

It's so easy to become caught up in my physical role - my name, physical personality and looks; the social setup or  family I've been born into, my friend circle, the school I went to, the person I married, the organization in which I work, the various material objects I own or possess. I forget my true identity, the spiritual being, and that it is me, the spirit or soul, who is experiencing life through this physical body and surrounding circumstances. The physical, human side is essential, but it's the spirit, the being, the energy, which makes the journey. The physical body is the vehicle through which the journey is made. The people who exist in my life are also energies making their journeys through their respective vehicles. Looking at myself and others, when I realize who is making the journey and I remember this and maintain this spiritual consciousness throughout the day, I'm able to access spiritual treasures of peace, of power, of love and joy and see the same in others. It is because of not remaining in this remembrance; I remember and identify with the vehicle and experience my false identity. That is why we find ourselves empty of these treasures today. As a result there is a tremendous increase in interest in meditation throughout the world. Unlike in the past when this interest was seen primarily in the East, today relaxation and meditation is a blooming industry in the Western countries.

The more I become trapped by a materialistic consciousness, and the more I lose contact with my inner self, the less freedom I experience. The search of happiness through the physical senses brings temporary, short-lived gains. My life lacks depth when the only things I know, realize and feel are related to the loads of information I receive from the physical sense organs, and I become disconnected from the spiritual dimension.

Relationship with the Unconditional Source

There is one point of being in the universe who is not conditioned by any need, want or desire. Since He does not want anything, everything belongs t0 Him, but not in the sense of owning and controlling. Rather, all things naturally are attracted to the Unconditional Source (God) simply because pure love is given freely to all who come close. They feel that He selflessly serves, sharing all that He is, all that He has. Like a radiant Magnet beyond the limits of time and matter, beyond give and take and beyond measurement and calculation, the Source attracts all because nothing is desired and all is given.

The love of the Unconditional Source is like spiritual sunlight. It is selfless, complete in itself: it always adds and never subtracts. What is unconditional is always cherished to the point of worship, which is why the entity God is respected and idolized in all parts of the world. Spiritual light from the Source reveals to us our forgotten realities, our hidden potential and our original goodness. It reveals our true selves. Then, if we wish, we can nourish and develop that awareness, but only if we maintain an open channel of communication with the Source. Otherwise, the current either short circuits, cuts, blocks, or discharges in other directions and, after a while, there is a blackout!

Message for the day

To see only problems is to become the one who only takes service.

Expression: When there is the practice of seeing only problems in all situations there is the inability to find solutions and act effectively. All the resources that could be used for the benefit of the self and others remain hidden. Such a person becomes dependent on others for finding solutions and a source of pity.

Experience: When I am caught up with problems and not able to see anything else, I am unable to experience progress. I find myself moving backward losing a lot of things I have. I would not be able to retain my self-confidence and would become dependent on others.

 

 


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[www.keralites.net] School Name: Life!

 

School Name: Life!

Class: 40th Standard (All students are above 40 years).

Attendance is taken by the  teacher

ANGER - Present sir

EGO - Present sir

STRUGGLE - Present sir

ENVY - Present sir

REGRET - Present sir

ANXIETY - Present sir

BOREDOM - Present sir

DESIRES - Present sir (in full volume)

KILLED DESIRES - Present sir

FRUSTRATION - Present sir

IRRITATION - Present sir

MONTHLY EMI - Present sir (in full volume)

OFFICE TENSION - Present sir

FUTURE TENSION - Present sir

TROUBLE - Present sir

HURDLES - Present sir

WORRIES - Present sir

PROBLEMS - Always Present sir

UNCERTAINTIES - Present sir

CRITICISM - Present sir

GREED - Present sir

ARROGANCE - Present sir

HALF KNOWLEDGE - Present sir

HAPPINESS - ??? (no sound)

HAPPINESS - ???

Now Class  leader report-

HAPPINESS - Absent sir

PEACE OF MIND - Absent sir

CONTENTMENT - Absent sir

FULL KNOWLEDGE - Absent sir

WISDOM -Always on the way,stopped by Ego

LOVE - Sleeping/Missing sir

HOPE - Leaving sir

PATIENCE - Lost sir

GENEROSITY - Lost sir

HONESTY - Lost sir

TRUST - Lost sir

LOYALTY - Lost sir

 

In life, there is nothing called  Sadness. Either Happiness Present or Happiness  Absent.   Life is very simple to live, but many find it difficult to be simple. MAKE IT SIMPLE!

 

 


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