Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I am 68 years old and concerned about getting Alzheimer’s Disease someday. Are there any natural products that might help prevent this? Thanks for your help.”— Bobbie A., Jackson, MS

A. Dear Bobbie, I understand your concern. In a recent survey, Americans over age 55 said they feared Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) more than diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. While there is currently no cure for this devastating condition, I truly believe that the more we learn about how this disease develops in the first place, the better we will become at prevention, and slowing down the progression of this illness. In the meantime, making good decisions regarding exercise, food choices, and proven natural medicines can have a tremendous impact in reducing your risk for this disease.

I would also recommend taking a combination of curcumin (an extract that comes from turmeric), vitamin D, and oils of rosemary and Spanish sage. Together, these ingredients have protective antioxidant effects for brain cells, as well as supporting memory and mental function.

In fact, research currently underway may well prove that a combination of curcumin and vitamin D can slow the progression of AD in the early stages of this disease. It seems that curcumin and vitamin D, when used together, help to reduce the plaques and tangles in the brain that contribute to AD. Additionally, curcumin and vitamin D help protect the brain from both inflammation and damage to brain cells by dangerous free radicals. The concentrated plant oils from rosemary and Spanish sage are quite helpful for memory and mental function. I recommend taking 1 or 2 softgels of this combination three times daily.

Because standard curcumin is very poorly absorbed, make sure the product you choose features a curcumin with excellent absorption that has been proven in published human studies. The best form I have ever found uses micronized curcumin blended with turmeric essential oils in a patented process. This curcumin has been shown in published human studies to be up to 10 times better absorbed than standard curcumin.

Healthy Regards!

Terry . . . Naturally