Brain Health News

 

African-Americans may be at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke can be a first line of defense against inherited health tendencies. While age is a factor, there are risk factors individuals can control if they take steps to keep their brains healthier every day. We come to the planet with perfect physical bodies, affected only by the diets of our parents and grandparents AND what we ourselves put into them. If you can't pronounce it or identify it, then you probably shouldn't eat it, so.....
Watch what you eat! If it sticks to the pan or the plate, it will likely stick to your artery walls. Corn syrup solids and hydrogenated fats are now thought to be primary culprits in blocking oxygen from getting into brain cells. These two manufactured products are in nearly all baked goods and processed foods.

Get Active
If it's good for your heart, then it's good for your brain. Since African-Americans have a higher rate of vascular (stroke-related) disease — which may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment — it's important to engage in physical activity to reduce your risk. Walk every day. Stretch. Lift small weights every other day.

Watch your blood pressure
Prevention or control of high blood pressure helps maintain a healthy brain and promotes overall health. Don't hold in your feelings of anger, sadness or depression. Talk with your friends and family. Write your feelings out and then tear it up and throw it away. Adopt a fitness routine, eat healthy foods, don't smoke and work to maintain a healthy weight. Individuals who follow raw diets or eliminate animal products from their diets show a much lower risk of high blood pressure. Processed foods can have an enormous amount of salt in them. Biofeedback and breathing techniques have been shown to be effective in reducing high blood pressure if practiced consistently. Meditation brings calm to the central nervous system and is found to reduce high blood pressure as well.

Manage your cholesterol
A healthy brain and heart depend on maintaining normal cholesterol levels. Leave shrimp and crabs for special occasions. Fried foods produce byproducts in the blood that age the body and set it up for increased cancer risks. Baked chicken is delicious and there's not all that grease to clean up. Dance while it's baking and eat a diet low in saturated fat and high in fiber (carrots, sweet potatoes, cole slaw, greens).

Control or prevent diabetes
Early and continuous consumption of sodas, desserts, breads, pastries, and pastas puts a strain on the pancreas and exhausts your insulin supply. Baby foods and formulas should be checked for sugar levels. Be cautious with giving juices to babies and young children. They need pure, filtered water to help keep their bodies working. Take steps to reduce your risk for diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active. Diabetes II is totally man made and the result of eating the wrong proportions of carbohydrates & proteins.

Wellness
African-Americans are at greater risk than white Americans for high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Much of this is thought to be related to the stresses of racism and socioeconomic disparities. We may not be able to control racism but we can control what we eat and how we handle our feelings about racism.  Because brain and heart health are so closely linked, it's important to take good care of both. In addition, stay socially and mentally active to make sure your brain and your body can perform at their best. Read, play cards, learn something new.