Continue Alzheimer's awareness every month, day, until cure is found

Today is the last day of Alzheimer's Awareness Month, but as many families sadly know, the awareness needs to continue to find a cure.

Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that slowly robs people of their independence and eventually their lives. It knows no bounds. Anyone with a brain is at risk for Alzheimer's disease, so everyone with a brain should join the fight against it.

It is prediction that 15,000,000 people in the United States alone will have Alzheimer’s Disease by the year 2050. Dr. Mary Newport and her husband Steve are two of those brave souls who are fighting it.  Steve had an MRI in May 2008 showing a diffuse involutional change of the frontal and parietal lobes and moderate left-sided and severe right-sided amygdala and hippocampal atrophy with no ischemic change, which would support a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. For non-medical people, this means that he has shrunken areas of the brain.

Many days, often for several days in a row, Steve was in a fog – he couldn’t find a spoon or remember how to get water out of the refrigerator. Some days were not so bad, and Mary said he almost seemed like his former self, happy, with his unique sense of humor, creative, and full of ideas.

One day Mary would ask if a certain call came that she was expecting and he would say, “No.” Two days later he would remember the message from so-and-so from a couple of days earlier and what they said. Strange to have no short-term memory and yet the information was filed somewhere in his brain. Mary's gut feeling was that diet had something to do with the fluctuation, but what. She knew that he was locked up in there somewhere, if only there was a key to open up the areas of his brain that he didn’t have access to.

Mary found that key in coconut oil and started giving it to Steve everyday. Watch this video in her own words about the key role that coconut oil has served in improving many of his symptoms...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfux-5Z4COo

To learn more about how to fight this devastating disease and to buy Dr. Mary Newport's book, Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?, go to www.basichealthpub.com or www.amazon.com

Alzheimer's Association initiates global conversation about Alzheimer's crisis

June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month 

Alzheimer's is a fatal, progressive disease impacting at least 44 million people worldwide yet it is widely misunderstood. According to an Alzheimer's Association 12-country survey, 59 percent of people surveyed incorrectly believe that Alzheimer's disease is a typical part of aging, and 40 percent of people believe that Alzheimer's is not fatal. During the inaugural Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month this June, the Alzheimer's Association is initiating a global conversation about the Alzheimer's crisis and asking people around the world to use their brains to fight the disease.

The survey, conducted in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Japan, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, also found that 37 percent of people surveyed incorrectly believe that you have to have a family history to be at risk for Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Association 2014 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report released in March found that nearly a quarter (24%) of Americans hold the same mistaken belief, despite advancing age being the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's.

"Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that slowly robs people of their independence and eventually their lives," said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association, according to the PR Newswire release.

"Sadly, Alzheimer's disease knows no bounds. Anyone with a brain is at risk for Alzheimer's disease, so everyone with a brain should join the fight against it."

Despite lack of understanding of the severity of Alzheimer's, it is still one of the most feared diseases. When asked what disease or condition they were most afraid of getting, a quarter of people selected Alzheimer's, second only to cancer. When asked what disease or condition they were most afraid of a loved one getting, a third of people in Japan, Canada, and the UK selected Alzheimer's. When considering health priorities, 96 percent of people surveyed said that being self-sufficient and not depending on others – an inevitability as Alzheimer's disease progresses – is important.

Government Responsibility
Unless something is done to change its course, worldwide prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias will soar to 76 million by 2030 and threaten economies around the globe. A large majority of people surveyed – 71 percent – say that the government is responsible for helping find a cure or way to prevent Alzheimer's.

"Despite an obvious and large knowledge gap, people around the world still recognize the threat the Alzheimer's crisis presents and hold their government accountable for finding a cure and prevention," said Johns. "In the U.S. and among the G7, federal governments have committed to preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer's disease by 2025. We must hold our leaders responsible for investing in the research needed to realize that goal."

Country and Age Breakdown
The mistaken belief that Alzheimer's is a typical part of aging was highest in India (84%), Saudi Arabia (81%) and China (80%). The UK and Mexico had the highest recognition that Alzheimer's is not a typical part of aging (62%), but 37 percent and 38 percent, respectively, were still misinformed.

More than half of people surveyed in Germany (56%) and Mexico (55%) and Brazil (53%) did not realize that Alzheimer's is fatal. While 40 percent were misinformed, more people ages 18-34 (60%), 35-44 (61%), and 45-44 (58%) agreed that Alzheimer's is a fatal disease than people ages 60+ (53%).

Get Involved
During Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, people around the world will come together on a special day to raise awareness and funds for the fight against Alzheimer's disease. On June 21, teams will participate in The Longest Day®, a sunrise-to-sunset event to honor the strength, passion and endurance of those living with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. To start or join a team, visit alz.org/thelongestday.

Other ways to join the fight against Alzheimer's disease during June include:

Share the facts – Post and tweet about Alzheimer's disease and brain risk throughout the month. If you have a brain, you are at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
Be social – Turn Facebook purple using an END ALZ graphic as your profile picture.
Go purple – Wear purple all month but especially on Saturday, June 21, the longest day of the year, to support those facing the devastation of Alzheimer's disease every day.
Use your brain to learn about Alzheimer's disease – Take the Brain Tour at alz.org (available in 15 languages) – PR Newswire

Doctor pursues Alzheimer's cure for husband, world...

Though Dr. Mary Newport has provided professional care to newborns since 1983, she's led a double life since 2000 when she became a caregiver at home. That's when her beloved husband, Steve, first showed signs of Alzheimer's disease, as documented in the bestselling book, Alzheimer's Disease: What if there was a cure? 

After Steve's deterioration accelerated in 2004, Dr. Newport began avidly researching ways to keep him functional for as long as possible. She put her medial knowledge and research skills to work and found new research showing that medium-chain fatty acids, which act like an alternative fuel in the insulin-deficient Alzheimer's brain, can sometimes reverse or at least stabilize the disease. When she gave Steve about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (a source of these fats) at breakfast before a memory test that he had previously failed, Steve miraculously passed the test. Since then, Steve continued to maintain improvement while taking daily doses of coconut oil and MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil with meals.

Dr. Newport's story of Steve's reprieve from Alzheimer's provides hope for caregivers eager to learn about readily available fatty acids in foods that may reverse the ravages of this dreaded disease. Changes in loved ones may take many forms, including improved memory, return of personality, resumption of activities and social interaction, and relief from certain physical symptoms. Because ketone esters, a synthesized form of these powerful fatty acids, work faster and more comprehensively than fatty acids in foods, Dr. Newport has become an ardent advocate for ketone ester research, with FDA approval her final goal.


Caregivers for the more than 5 million people in the United States who suffer from Alzheimer's disease are searching desperately for hope, relief, and a cure. They will find all that in this book that summarizes Dr. Newport's research and Steve's reprieve, the importance of medium-chain fatty acids, and how Alzheimer's patients can make the transition to a healthy diet rich in these vital fats.

For more information about Dr. Newport's work, go to http://www.coconutketones.com. To buy the book, go www.basichealthpub.com or www.amazon.com

Recapture healthy skin from your youth

Summer brings more sunshine, which makes us feel warm and happy all over, but it also is very hard on our skin. The best way to protect our skin is to be proactive with natural remedies and a healthy lifestyle.

Recapture the healthy skin of a baby.

Naturopath Mim Beim and author of Natural Remedies, An A-Z Reference Guide to Tried-and-True Cures for Common Complaints, says our lifestyle shows the most in our face.

"It’s a great shame that the bit of skin we show the world is so high profile. One bad day and little worry bags appear under my eyes. Two bad days and my cheeks have lost their rosiness," she says. "A week of bad days and the idea of wearing a paper bag with little holes to see from is very appealing."

Beim says the two immutable facts of having good skin are avoiding sun damage and inheriting good genes. If you were unable to pick your parents, at least wear a hat.

Here are some go-to remedies for healthy skin:

Oil and water
The miracle of water
Drink more water. (Take one prune, add a cup of water and leave over night. Next morning you’ll have a plumped-up prune and not a wrinkle in sight.) Witness the miracle of water. Two liters of water a day is ideal, but if you find that difficult, try to drink at least 1/2 of liter (that’s two of those little water bottles). As tea, coffee, and alcohol are diuretic (you lose water from the body), your water quota is on top of these beverages. Purified or spring water is best, but you will get the same benefits for your skin from tap water.

The good oils – fatty acids are vital for good skin.

In our pursuit for thinness, many people have dropped fat completely from their diet, causing their skin to become dry. Beim doesn't suggest a diet of burgers and fries, but there are good fats for the skin. The ‘good’ fat (omega 6 and omega 3) containing foods include fish (sardines are great), nuts and seeds, olive oil, and avocados.  Many people comment on how good their skin looks when they are taking evening primrose oil capsules. This is due to the omega 6 fatty acids.

Diet
Bottom line: it’s hard to have flawless skin without fruit and vegetables in your diet. We all need a couple of pieces of fruit a day, salad, and vegetables. If you want to go a step further, drink a carrot juice daily spiked with celery and wheat grass.

Stress
A lot of people find stress affects their skin. Find ways to deal with the stress in your life with yoga, exercise, meditation, or counseling. Herbal kava is good too. When we are stressed out we tend to drop our healthy habits, so make it a priority to keep drinking water, eating good food, and exercise even during the stressful times.

Summary for good skin:
Stay out of the sun, drink water religiously, eat fruit and vegetables, and ‘good’ fat foods and de-stress.

Up next: Despite our best efforts, most of us will probably get a sunburn this summer. We'll offer home remedies to make your skin feel better and to heal fast.

For more information about this book and to get your copy today, visit www.basichealthpub.com or www.amazon.com

Younger Today author nominated for Nobel Prize – pick up your copy today

Learn how to reverse the cellular aging process 

Dr. Vincent Giampapa, co-author of Younger Today, and his research team at Rutgers University have received a nomination for a 2014 Nobel Prize in the area of Stem Cell Research.

The Nobel Prize nomination was awarded for the potential impact Giampapa’s technology may have on the global aging epidemic, as well as the financial impact of future health care in all countries with aging demographics, especially in the United States.

After two years of research on the effects of young cells on old cells, Giampapa and Dr. Pranela Rameschwar have appeared to reverse the cellular aging process in humans as documented by changes in genes and proteins as well as cell function.

Originally presented by Giampapa in Rome at the Vatican Stem For Life meeting in April 2013 and then again in Stockholm at the Swedish American Life Science Summit, his research has documented the in-vitro approach can make cellular restoration possible.

Giampapa is an attending physician at Hackensack Medical Center, an Associate Clinical Professor at UMDNJ- Medical Center in New Jersey, and is also the founder of the Cell Health Institute. He has also received the EDISON Award this past year for innovation in the design of HealthyCell™, a new oral supplement based on natural plant extracts that helps keep cells healthier longer.

To learn how to implement Giampapa's findings in your own life and health, pick up a copy of Younger Today, which he co-authored with Carol Alt. You can read more about this breakthrough book at www.basichealthpub.com

Nurse Barb makes connection, answers your health concerns about menopause

We invited readers to submit their questions for Nurse Barb, America's most trusted nurse practitioner, and she responded with thoughtful and professional insight...

I haven't slept good for 10 years, which trust me is no exaggeration. Unfortunately, I take sleep aids almost every night. Even when I go to bed feeling very tired, I still wake up throughout the night. I'm not in menopause yet, but I suspect at 48 I am close. Can you please let me know if my insomnia is due to my hormones and what I can possibly do or take to improve my sleep? - June in Portland, Oregon 

Dear June,

I’m so sorry to hear about your chronic lack of sleep, which may have left you feeling completely wiped out, irritable, and made it hard to concentrate. I think that you’d benefit from seeing a sleep specialist and having a comprehensive sleep evaluation since this issue has been on-going for 10 years. Don’t be tempted to just have a sleep study, have a sleep specialist do a thorough examination. When a person has had to use sleep aids for years just to fall asleep, then going off them or trying something else can lead to more problems. You have many choices in Portland from Oregon Sleep Associates, link here: http://www.oregonsleepassociates.com/About, to Providence Sleep Disorders Clinic:  http://oregon.providence.org/our-services/p/providence-sleep-disorders-centers/

For those of you who might be reading this question and answer and have the same concern, look for a sleep specialist in your area or ask your Health Care provider for a referral. Good luck and I hope you’re on the road to more sleep.  Barb

If you get your period young  does that mean that you'll go through menopause young too? - Mary Therese from Spokane, Wa. 

Dear Mary,

This is such a great question and one that I hear a lot from my patients. The research shows that even more and more girls are getting their periods at younger ages, the average age of menopause hasn’t changed, it’s still between 51 and 52. The best predictor that we have for when a woman will go through menopause is to find out how old her mom and any sisters were when they became menopausal.

I hope this helps, Barb

I think that I just experienced my first hot flash and it was terrible! My head felt like a warm faucet that would not shut off. Is there a way to stop hot flashes or at least minimize the massive sweating, especially out in public? Kelly from Orange County 

Nurse Barb

Hello Kelly,

That first hot flash can arrive like lightning! No warning, just intense, searing heat. One of the best things you can do is eliminate hot flash triggers, which means avoiding drinking hot liquids, that’s right, you guessed it, your hot coffee or hot tea may need to be iced. Also, a hot shower may need to be cooled way, way down. Too many layers of clothes, even drinking wine can trigger a hot flash. When you’re out in public, even though it’s tempting, don't jump into the nearest swimming pool or pour ice water over your head in a restaurant, instead, try taking slow deep breaths, about 6 in a minute. This is like the deep breathing you may have done with yoga or with a mindfulness class. Research has shown that 6 breaths a minute for 1-2 minutes will not only decrease the intensity of a hot flash it will also make it go away faster. Good luck, Barb

Nurse Barb, do you have any podcasts or YouTube channel that you offer advice on? And do you offer phone consults? - Michelle from Salt Lake City, Utah 

Hi Michelle,

I’m just getting the menopause videos uploaded on my YouTube channel. Right now, there’s a few videos up on related topics via this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBC15F712D05BEB43  Look for more to come.

I do offer phone consults through my women’s health practice at Women Physicians in Mt. View, CA. You can find out more information about available times and the consultation rates from my receptionist. Here’s a link for my practice: http://www.elcaminoobgyn.com

Thanks for asking, Barb

What natural herbs or remedies would you suggest to help with night sweats? Lisa from Sacramento, Ca 

Dear Lisa,

Night sweats can be so bothersome, especially if you’re having more than a few every night. For my patients who have no personal history of breast cancer and those women who are not on chemo, I recommend the following natural remedies for women with night sweats:
• Yoga and regular yoga breathing throughout the day
• Consider adding 1 - 2 servings of soy to your diet. Soy is a plant based protein that contains photoestrogens, which are plant based estrogens that may help. Soy may cause stomach pains, so do start with one serving and don’t exceed 3 per day.
• Consider adding some flaxseed to your diet. Not only is flaxseed great for keeping you regular and avoiding constipation, it also can help with night sweats and hot flashes.
• Some women find that Black Cohosh works for their night sweats and others don’t find any relief. Remifemin is a brand with consistent levels of black cohosh and high standards for quality.
• Acupuncture may also work. Studies have found that some women do very well with acupuncture.
• Also try the Chillow Pillow. This has a cold pack in it that can keep you cool.

I hope this helps you find some options that may fit well into your life and help you stay cooler all night. Barb

I can't seem to lose weight since i started gaining a lot in my 30's Nurse Barb. Do you have any nutritional and diet recommendations that you'd suggest for weight loss during the premenopausal stage? - Frustrated in Atlanta.

Dear Frustrated,

I feel your pain, or in this case, I feel your pounds!  I too am always struggling with weight and it got a lot worse in menopause! There are 3 things that will work for you:

#1 exercise more than you were in the past. That’s right, in addition to all the other things you have going on in your life, making time for 40-60 minutes of exercise each day will help you shed those pounds.

#2 start some resistance training or using weights at least 3 times/week. The sad fact is that we lose muscle mass every year and by pre menopause and menopause, we need to rebuild our muscles so that we can burn more calories more efficiently.

#3 Reduce your carbs. We know that as women age, many develop a slight insulin resistance. This means more fat deposits around the belly, which is a set up for diabetes and heart disease. By understanding what a carb is and how to reduce them, you’ll find yourself more empowered. My chapter, Losing the Meno-Pot Belly goes over this in great detail. Good luck and I’ll see you at the gym, Barb

Disclaimer:
Nurse Barb is happy to answer your questions about menopause right here. For more specific questions or more complicated situations, do seek advice from your own health care provider.

To read more great advice from Nurse Barb about menopause, pick up a copy of The Hot Guide to a Cool Sexy Menopause at www.basichealthpub.com or www.amazon.com. Keep on submitting your health questions for Nurse Barb, and we'll continue to post answers every couple of weeks.

Submit your health questions for free

How often do you get the chance to submit your health questions to a proven and trusted medical professional for free? If you are a woman who is or will be experiencing menopausal symptoms, it's time to start the conversation about this inevitable  phase of life and learn how to be empowered.

The new book, The Hot Guide to a Cool Sexy Menopause, recently  made its debut, and author Barb Dehn, known as Nurse Barb, is here to answer your questions. Basic Health Publications is teaming up with Nurse Barb to not only make this stage in a woman's life bearable but also empowering.

We've already received several important questions for Nurse Barb ranging from women suffering from insomnia, hot flashes, and weight gain. She will begin answering these questions next Tuesday, as part of our ongoing conversation with our readers.

No question is too serious or silly for Nurse Barb, and you will probably be surprised how many other women are experiencing your same challenges. Even if menopause is a ways off for you, all women deal with hormonal and reproductive questions. Whatever phase of life - we are here to help answer your health inquiries.

Nurse Barb knows that menopause can impact a woman's life in a variety of ways, and the experiences can be as varied and unique as the women who are experiencing them. That’s why she delivers a chapter covering a different aspect of the menopause transition.

Nurse Barb

So take the lead for your own good health, submit those questions, and then go buy the book. We're all entitled to good health, and Nurse Barb and Basic Health Publications want to partner with you on that journey.

What was once the unknown dreaded stage of a woman's life, can now be an empowered journey in The Hot Guide to a Cool Sexy Menopause. 

Please send your health and menopause questions to Courtney@dunham-media.com You're free to just give a first name or leave it out completely. We'll reply and confirm that we got your email and forward those health questions onto Nurse Barb.

For more information about The Hot Guide to a Cool Sexy Menopause and to take control of your own health, check out www.basichealthpub.com