I will occasionally post information from Dr. Mirkin and others that I think will be helpful as supportive, supplemental or even at variance with the primal plan. The purpose is for inspiring discussion. For example, as we eat meat products, it is helpful to know pros and cons of each meat. Is it the same effect eating, beef, poultry or fish? From a carcinogen standpoint, is there a difference between grilled vs baked?
Consider this article (http://www.drmikin.com/) about the effect of certain foods as we age remembering that my mother's mother, my mother and my father's father all had Alzheimers:
Dear Dr. Mirkin: Can diet help to prevent senility and Alzheimer's disease?
Probably. A study from Columbia University in New York shows that those least likely to develop Alzheimer's disease eat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin B12 and folate, in foods such as nuts, fish, tomatoes, olive oil, poultry, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, fruits, and dark green leafy vegetables. They eat less red meat, organ meats and high-fat dairy products (Archives of Neurology, April 2010).Alzheimer's disease is associated with an overactive immunity called inflammation. Your immunity is good for you because it prevents germs from invading your body. However if your immunity is overactive, it uses the same chemicals that it uses to destroy invading bacteria to punch holes in your arteries and damage your brain (Nature Medicine, August 2009). The foods recommended in the Columbia study reduce inflammation, while red meat and high fat dairy products may increase inflammation. Being overweight also increases risk for Alzheimer's disease because full fat cells release hormones that cause inflammation (Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, May 2009).
See the red meat connection? Does this mean never eat red meat? Jesus ate lamb and he also ate broiled fish.
What does everyone think?
Papa John
Very interesting post! I didn't know about the connection of red meat to Alzheimer Disease. I hope that eating only organic, grass-fed red meat is hopefully helpful in lowering the risk of Alzheimer's. One article I read said that there was a connection between Mad Cow Disease and Alzheimer's. Also, we eat everything else listed in the article that apparently helps prevent it except for small amounts of organic, raw (or close to) dairy.
ReplyDeleteI think the Omega-3 to Omega-6 balance is pretty important in reducing inflammation from what I've read. That's one reason we go with grass-fed organic meats. They're all much MUCH higher in Omega-3's and relatively low in Omega-6's. That's all pretty new information to me, and we're working pretty hard to get the balance in better order.
ReplyDeleteI take fish oil, CO-Q10, acetyl-L-Carnetine and Alpha Lipoic acid everyday. I pick them up at wal-mart. They all have awesome anti-oxidant powers. I also read an article in readers digest...er...I mean playboy...yes, playboy sounds more masculine...that acetyl-L-carnetine and alpha lipoic acid is like the fountain of youth. The powers of enzyme CO-Q10 are still in the infancy of discovery, but I believe that time will show it to be medically amazing.
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