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Sunrise Lynnfield has graciously accepted a Juice Plus Tower Garden to be placed in the Alzheimer’s Memory unit. We will be there to set it up on September 12th. Join us there if you want to learn more about the abundance of healthy fruits and veggies you can grown in a 5 foot vertical garden.
Posted in: Healthcare
Leave a Comment (0) →It is unfortunately well known that the cure for Alzheimer’s Disease is still under investigation. However researchers are beginning to uncover that even without a cure, prevention may be possible just by exercising certain ways of life. Studies have exhibited that with appropriate diet, activity level, and cognitively stimulating hobbies the symptoms of AD can be suppressed.
With this information in mind, we have been looking for activities that will contribute to a healthy diet, physical activity, and mental stimulation.
We have found that gardening has been proven to have healing affects and is a therapeutic community activity.
Unfortunately, with age, comes physical and mental limitations. That’s why we have become huge advocates for hydroponic and aeroponic gardening.
This type of gardening is just as beneficial as traditional gardening and it eliminates all of the stress and frustrating extrinsic influences (weather, bugs, pesticides, etc.). When deciding on the kind of hydroponic/aeroponic garden it is important to do research in order to discover one most suitable for your lifestyle. After doing our own research, we found The Tower Garden by Juice Plus.
What we value most about the Tower Garden is its appeal to all age groups. We are proud to have donated Tower Gardens to various schools, organizations, and assisted living communities. We have observed firsthand the TG’s lasting benefits on all ages for innumerable reasons. Among the groups of individuals that we have seen benefit from the TG, is the group that is suffering from cognitive decline, including AD and Dementia. It was important that the TG could be enjoyable for all family members, because our goal was to create an activity for visitors and residents to bond over together during the visits. It can be difficult to check a loved one into an assisted living facility, however from observation, this transition can be easier and less daunting if parts of pre-assisted living life are continued once checking into a facility.
Hydroponic gardening has the power to transform a place into a home by providing this communal activity that promotes the creation of life by simply planting a seed. The act of gardening encourages the feeling of purpose among all those affiliated. The progress of the garden symbolizes something to look forward to each day.
In addition to the mental benefits, another perk of hydroponic gardening is that it eliminates the aspects of gardening that are physically demanding, such as kneeling, digging, weeding, etc. The TG specially has a vertical design, which protects the gardener from injuries that are frequently caused by bending down.
The Tower Garden has the ability to enhance motor and sensory skills, improve social interactions, maintain high levels of cognition and interest, increase attention span, proliferate brain volume and grey matter, decrease agitation and aggression, and provide a strong sense of community. Overall, serving as a type of therapy for those suffering from cognitive disorders.
Posted in: Health, JuicePlus, Nutrition
Leave a Comment (1,688) →Recent studies show that about 40 percent of Americans over the age of 85 have Alzheimer’s disease; therefore, hundreds of scientist are researching ways to intervene and untimely treat Alzheimer’s. Within the month of August 2018 there has been scientific progression in counteracting memory loss as well as developing new techniques to understand the disease itself.
If you were to view a human brain with Alzheimer’s disease under a microscope you would see abnormal clusters of plaques and protein fragments building up between nerve cells. In addition, dead and dying nerve cells create tangles. The most damaging aspect of the plaques is its ability to completely block signals at a junction in the nerve called the synapse. In simple terms, the synapse is the point of communication between two neurons or a neuron and a cell. Ultimately when the synapse is obstructed the neurons can’t instruct or communicate with important human body parts such as muscle’s or glands. The growth of these plaques is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease. A new development by Purdue University now provides researchers with a 3D look of brain molecules with much greater details. This revolutionary nasoscope helps scientists understand the structure of plaques that form in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients. The goal is to use this invention to potentially stop the formation of the plaques.
Another recent discovery links aspirin and reduces the severity of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the most chiefly used medications in the world can actually reduce the amount of amyloid plaque commonly founding in brains affected with Alzheimer’s. When running tests with lab mice, scientists found Aspirin stimulates lysosomes or properties of the cell that clear cellular debris.
Dementia diseases impair the ability to form new memory; making it extremely important to study the role neuron’s play in memory and learning. Researchers at Uppsala University have unraveled the significance of the OLM cells. When the OLM cells were overactive on experiments with lab mice, the mice’s memory and learning functions worsened. Now researchers are one step closer to finding which cells they should primarily look at when studying memory loss. Uppsala University is continuing to study OLM cells and other memory related links to Alzheimer’s. They believe that certain cells, maybe even OLM cells, can improve memory under specific conditions as well.
You could learn more about scientific progression towards curing Alzheimer’s disease on websites such as Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Association. You could also get involved in funding research by finding your “walk against Alzheimer’s”though ISTAART.
Posted in: Alzheimer’s
Leave a Comment (1,166) →July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, a chance to improve and raise awareness about orofacial clefts. In the United States has approximately 2,650 babies are born per year with a cleft palate and 4,400 are born with a cleft lip. A cleft lip happens during mid pregnancy when body tissue and cells from each side of the head grow towards the center of the face, causing the babies lips to not join before birth, usually an open space between the lips and nose due to lack of tissue. A cleft palate is also formed during mid pregnancy; however, the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely leaving some babies with front and back parts of the palate open. Both defects leave babies with feeding restrictions, breathing, and problems speaking clearly.
To help reduce a woman’s risk for having a baby with an orofacial cleft or other craniofacial condition, health care providers should encourage patients who are thinking about becoming pregnant to commit to a healthy lifestyle such as monitoring diabetes and to quit smoking. CDC and its partners are working to better understand the preventable causes of clefts and craniofacial defects. You could also donate to organization Smile Train, an international children’s charity that provides free cleft repair surgery and cleft care to children in over 80 countries! Surgeries are recommended to take place within the first 12 months of life, but the organization works with youths with clefts as well.
Posted in: Healthcare
Leave a Comment (1,250) →August is Hepatitis awareness month Hepatitis, a highly contagious infection, causing inflammatory conditions to the liver. Some types have no treatments and still very present in modern day society. There are various types of hepatitis including: type A, B, C, D, and E and important to educate yourself about all the strains of hepatitis to prevent infection. All of which have different ways of being virally transmitted as well as different symptoms and treatment.
Hepatitis A, started by virus HAV, is caused by a viral infection most commonly transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated by feces from another infected with hepatitis A. It has short-term effects, which usually requires no treatment and has flu-like symptoms. There is a vaccine for hepatitis A given in a series of two injections, 6 to 12 months apart. Always washing your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom is a simple way to prevent infection.
You can only get this strain of hepatitis transmitted through blood or other body fluids. Hepatitis B, otherwise known as HBV, is estimated to be 600 years old. Over time Hepatitis B has adapted to humankind making it difficult to spot any symptoms at all. If HBV is left untreated it can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis both of which has the potential to be fatal. Around 2.2 million Americans have HBV: however, only 25 percent of adults are vaccinated against the disease. In recent years, scientist have innovated the HBV vaccine to only two shots within a month time span.
Hepatitis C or HCV is a blood borne virus, meaning you can only contract the virus by coming into contact with the blood of someone who already has it. This virus shows zero symptoms because HCV is able to reduce the immune systems response. HCV can be both acute and chronic all depending on how fast you treat the virus. Due to the fact HCV has little to no noticeable symptoms more than half infected with HCV end up with chronic health problems such as liver damage. So far there are no vaccines available to prevent hepatitis C.
Out of the five strains hepatitis D is considered the most severe because it requires hepatitis B to duplicate itself. In other words you need HBV in order to get HDV. The only treatment of HDV is treating for HBV first. Some symptoms include severe joint pain, dark urine, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
Like hepatitis A, HEV is spread through indirect fecal contaminated food and water. Hepatitis E, which is a short-term and self-resolving version of hepatitis and most common in countries where water and sanitation are sparse. This strain of hepatitis is associated with more intense liver damage and higher mortality rate than HAV. HEV has been connected to different meats such as boar, pork, and deer meat; therefore, it’s very important to toughly cook poultry. Usually Hepatitis E goes away on its own, but one day a shot could be available and is already licensed in China for tests.
Posted in: Health
Leave a Comment (0) →Not only does June suggest the beginning of summer, it also represents the month dedicated to Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness. Before becoming your own advocate for Alzheimer’s disease it is vital to gain an understanding of how exactly the brain works with versus without Alzheimer’s. Three sections make up the brain; the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem.
The cerebrum is probably what you think of when you imagine the brain. It contains all of the brain’s lobes (frontal,parietal, occipital, and temporal) that control major functions such as thinking, problem solving, remembering, feeling, etc. It is also responsible for movement control. The cerebellum is located underneath the cerebrum, towards the back of the head. You can blame your coordination and balance skills on this part of the brain. The brain stem serves as the extension cord between your brain and spinal cord, and controls automatic functions which are functions that we do not need to consciously tell our bodies to perform. Such as breathing, digesting, heart rate, and blood pressure.
The most valuable players of the brain, are the neurons. The branches extending from these nerve cells connect at over 100 trillion points, and the average adult brain contains around 100 billion cells. This network of neurons, often referred to as a neuron forest, releases signals that travel through the “forest”. Thus signals represent the basis of memories, thoughts, and feelings; all functions that decline in Alzheimer’s patients.
The signals move along the neurons, which connect to one another at the synapse. The signals, which act as electrical charges, often trigger the release of neurotransmitters once they reach the synapse. As these neurotransmitters travel across the synapse, they transmit signals to other cells. This transmission results in the creation of a code that our brains generate in order to explain thoughts, memories, skills, and other characteristics that differentiate us from one another. Our brain’s coding alters whenever we experience new situations, skills, people, emotions, etc.
So now the question is, how is all of this effected by Alzheimer’s disease?
The neurons are the main type of cell destroyed by Alzheimer’s, hence the electrical charges and the neurotransmitter activity are disrupted. As a result of the interference of neurons and their connection to one another, the brain’s code is misinterpreted. This explains why early signs of Alzheimer’s typically include memory loss and confusion.
When neurons and surrounding tissue are lost, the brain experiences shrinkage. As the anatomy diminishes, it becomes inefficient resulting in the deterioration of specific functions. When the brain’s cortex is impaired, thinking, planning, and remembering becomes compromised. The hippocampus, an area of the cortex responsible for the formation of new memories, experiences extreme depreciation in Alzheimer’s patients.
Fluid-filled spaces in the brain, called ventricles, expand. And plaques, which are clusters of protein fragments, build up between neurons. Tangles are present within the dead and/or dying neurons, these twisted strands of protein along with the plagues are suspected to be the culprits behind cell death and tissue loss in the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient. As the disease progresses, plagues and tangles spread through the cortex. The quicker the spread, the more severe the Alzheimer’s is; hence how long the patient will experience symptoms of the disease. Similar to the brain, each case of Alzheimer’s is unique, to find out more information, visit www.alz.org.
By: Piper Newhall
References: www.alz.org 
Posted in: Alzheimer’s, Health, Healthcare
Leave a Comment (0) →An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is horrific and overwhelming for those afflicted, and for their caregivers.
Jog Your Memory was formed in 2014 with the purpose of funding research to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease. While we remain committed to that mission, we know that every day there are caregivers and families in our community suffering from the emotional and financial devastation brought on by the disease. That is why we created the JYM Caregiver Fund. In 2017, we began providing annual grants for caregivers coping with all the stress and uncertainty of having a loved one afflicted.
Depending on where you are in the process of figuring out care for your loved one, you will receive funds to help best meet your current family needs:
1. In home consultation with a certified geriatric specialist in your geographical (Approximate cost $400)
Services may include:
2. In-home care services to provide the primary caregiver stress-free time away (Approximately 35 hours of care, approximate cost $30/hour)
3. In-facility respite care for resident, to allow caregiver overnight stress free time away (Overnight cost approximately $250 to $300 per 24 hours, daytime cost approx. $100 per day)
4. Resources to help make the home more sustainable for the resident
5. Assistance in funding music programs at current care-giving facility
Monetary awards of up to $1,500 are available. All grant monies are mailed to resident’s home with checks written payable directly to the chosen service providers. Each family may only receive one award in a twelve month period.
Applicants will be notified of awards by mail and may receive a call to be interviewed prior to being chosen for a grant. Review of a complete application generally takes three to five weeks. A submitted application is not a guarantee of receiving a grant. Funds are limited and are based on availability. All information will be held strictly confidential.
We are unable to process incomplete applications.
Applications
Please email us at jogyourmemory5k@gmail.com for an application
Mail: Jog Your Memory
Attn: JYM Caregiver Fund
56 Nichols Road
Needham MA 02492
Email: jogyourmemory5k@gmail.com
Web: www. jogyourmemory5k org
The JYM Caregiver Fund welcomes applications from candidates actively being treated for Alzheimer’s disease residing within New England and New York.
Posted in: Healthcare
Leave a Comment (0) →Despite four Nor’easters in March….spring is close, days are getting longer, and soon plants will begin spouting. Be mindful of everything coming back to life, the wonderful clean smells of spring, and how awesome you’ll look and feel by limiting the toxins in your environment. With spring comes newness and an increased desire for us to improve how we look and feel. When it comes to health, prevention is the best medicine and knowledge of what we put in and on our bodies is a good illness deterrent place to start.
Our digestive health impacts every aspect of our overall health. Our immune system is 70% in our gut. We have over 100 trillion good and bad bacteria know as our microbiota. Within those numbers are 1,000 different species made up of 5,000 distinct bacterial strains. Everyone has their own unique bacteria mixture. Studies suggest that certain bacteria in our gut can treat and prevent many common diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and heart disease. We manufacture 90% of our serotonin (happy neurotransmitter) in our digestive tract. Foods high in tryptophan positively impact brain serotine levels. Good digestive health requires we make smart choices in our foods and products to improve our mood and overall wellness.
Eating organic, non-GMO fruits and veggies, as well as using non-toxic products are the first steps in preventing disease. Studies show a positive relation between lower cancer risk and high intake of vegetables, fruit, fish, calcium-rich foods and fiber. As we age, chronic, low-grade inflammation increases throughout our bodies, which causes a drop in serotonin, and the progression of degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease to name a few. Moreover, inflammation is the underlining problem that dictates cancerous tumor origination, progression, and growth.
Our bodies use serotonin to produce the natural amino acid tryptophan which balances and improves our mood and memory. Tryptophan-rich foods such as, eggs, salmon, turkey, chocolate, oats, dried dates, yogurt, nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, spirulina and peanuts, to name a few support healthy serotonin levels. Be aware that using non-organic, and GMO foods may have toxins (pesticides) which encourage a negative inflammatory response in our body. Be mindful of diets high in added sugar which are linked to esophageal, small intestine, colon, breast cancer and other cancers.
Give your cells the nutrients they need to thrive, and fight disease. Look for products supported by clinical studies and published in peer-reviewed medical journals. Juice Plus+ is the only product on the market that is supported by numerous independent peer-reviewed studies published in numerous leading medical journals. A healthy diet supported by quality nutritional based supplements that bridge the gap between what we should eat, and actually eat, helps ensure our bodies maintain their ability to ward off disease.
What we put in our bodies is as important as what we put on our bodies. Numerous studies show toxics from various commercial products are absorbed quickly into skin, pass directly into the bloodstream and impact hormones, cause birth defects and other illnesses. Most individuals don’t know that carcinogens are in 28% of all personal care products and 40% of those labeled natural, and these toxins significantly impact our immune system. Toxins (think poison) create cellular inflammation, which feeds cell disease. What you don’t know about your products can harm you!
Unfortunately, regulation on skincare products hasn’t happened since the 1930s, which leave millions of products with toxic ingredients on the shelves for daily use by individuals. When looking for safe products search for companies with strong lobbying efforts that push Congress to pass laws which prevent known toxins from being allowed in our products. Only one company, Beauty Counter, continues to lobby Congress to remove hundreds of toxins from the products we use.
Food safety collage.
Posted in: Healthcare
Leave a Comment (0) →February is upon us, and this month we acknowledge the American Heart Month, the Chocolate Lover’s month and Valentine’s Day! It’s a great month to appreciate the good things in life, like abundant good health, strong relationships, and delicious chocolate! American’s eat 2.8 billion pounds or 11 pounds of chocolate per person in a year. The best news about chocolate and cocoa, ideally organic and non-GMO types, is that they positively impact your heart, your mood, and your relationships! Chocolate is linked to 37% lower risk of heart disease and appears to protect against high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes – all of which are risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, it has phenylethylamine “the love drug” that arouses feelings of attraction and excitement associated with the initial euphoria of falling in love. This chemical also acts as an anti-depressant by combining with dopamine a naturally produced neurotransmitter in the brain. The amino acid Tryptophan in chocolate is used by the brain to make the neurotransmitter serotonin which is noted for creating feelings of happiness and wellbeing. In addition to being a heart-healthy, mood enhancing food source, chocolate’s antioxidants are worth noting.
The darker the chocolate and the less processed – the higher antioxidant levels. Chocolate comes from cocoa beans which are rich in antioxidant flavonoids called flavanols. Studies have shown individuals with high levels of flavonoids have a lower risk of heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer, asthma and type 2 diabetes. Penn State University showed that diets rich in cocoa powder and dark chocolate showed lower oxidation levels of bad LDL cholesterol, and higher blood antioxidant levels, and higher levels of good HDL cholesterol. As with all good things, moderation is the key to good health. The recommended amount is an ounce of dark chocolate a day. Select smart, wise ways to consume chocolate and always balance it with a healthy dose of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
Smart heart-healthy chocolate choices to consider include, making your own cocoa powder bars and smoothies with a nutritional product like Juice Plus chocolate complete powder. The only protein powder backed by scientific research supporting the numerous health benefits. This power gives you a health-enhancing dose of antioxidants from over 30 organic, non-GMO, dehydrated fruits and vegetables which provides you with a powerhouse of nutrition that supports every inch of your mind, and body.
One of the healthiest chocolate bar treats to share starting this month consists of – 1 mashed banana, 1 ½ cups dry oatmeal, 2 tbs ground flax seed, 2-4 scoops chocolate Juice Plus, ¼ cup organic peanut butter, ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, ¼ cup coconut oil, ¼ cup raisins, ¼ cup water, ½ cup organic dark chocolate chips. Mix all ingredients and line an 8×8 inch pan with foil. Spread mixture in pan. Melt chocolate on the stove and drizzle over bar mixture. Place pan in the freezer until solid. Thaw slightly to serve. Another treat to try is a chocolate smoothie with a twist: 1 scoop chocolate Juice Plus+ complete powder, ½ frozen banana, ½ cup almond milk, 2 tsp organic peanut butter, ¼ cup water, 2 tsp unsweetened organic cocoa powder, and ¼ tsp cocoa nibs. Mix in a blender until blended, add nibs after mixing.
When we consider heart-healthy ways to consume the foods we love we feel less deprived which leads to us sticking with better, health-wise food choices. Moreover, making smarter nutritional decisions are further supported by us feeling better, looking better and performing better. Given the right nutrients, our bodies handle stress better, recover more quickly from illness and have the tools needed to fight disease. So, this month you can have your chocolate and your health. Bon appetite!
Posted in: Alzheimer’s, Health, JuicePlus, Nutrition
Leave a Comment (0) →January is the month of resolutions; renewed commitments to fitness, nutrition, nontoxic products, diet and taking better care of ourselves, are a few of many improvements we commit to annually. This month is a great time to look at making positive health changes. As we look inward, we may ponder areas we want to change or improve from last year. Some accomplishments we are proud of, and some, we feel could be improved, so we make big plans to make positive changes for the New Year. While our effort may be on target and our actions on the right path, some still struggle with seeing and feeling the results of major lifestyle improvements through diet, exercise, good nutrition, and nontoxic products. Often, mainstream or fad diets are only temporary solutions and they don’t get to the heart of the matter and searching for nontoxic products that won’t encourage disease and alter our hormones is challenging. Really, who can even pronounce half of the ingredients we need to avoid! Our health is unique with each of us carry DNA from our parents and previous generations which create our distinctive genic code that might carry alternations that impact our health. One of these alternations may well impact our thyroid. This disease is brought to our awareness in January, as millions of individuals are newly diagnosed with the disease and learn how to best manage it through medication, diet, alternative treatments, and lifestyle modifications, among other changes.
The thyroid gland is located below our Adam’s apple and wraps around the trachea (windpipe) and is controlled by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Thyroiditis means “inflammation of the thyroid gland” and includes different variations of the disease such as” Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis, and subacute thyroiditis to name a few. Thyroiditis consists of an immune (antibody) attack on the thyroid causing inflammation and damage to the cells. Thyroid disease can be overactive (Hyperthyroidism) or underactive (Hypothyroidism). Our energy, weight, bone density, hair, skin and nail quality, among other things are impacted by this disease. The thyroid uses iodine to produce critical hormones, namely, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) which are produced by the gland. When the thyroid hormone levels are low, the hypothalamus in the brain produces a hormone called thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TSH), which stimulates the thyroid gland to release more T4. When you have the disease your body either produces too much or too little of the hormones needed for proper function.
Thyroid function benefits from good nutrition as do all diseases. Non Genetically Modified Organisms (non-GMO), and Organic whole foods provide your body with nutrients to assist it in performing at optimal levels. Look for foods known to reduce inflammation, such as fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil. Some of the best foods include leafy greens which are packed with nutrients like vitamin A, C and K, potassium, and fiber. Fruits such as apples have skins that are rich in pectin and detoxify our body by sticking to toxic compounds like mercury and excreting them through our urine. Pectin also can limit the amount of fat our cells absorb, so it’s diet friendly. Seaweed is rich in iodine which feeds the thyroid with what it needs to function properly. Yogurt protects the thyroid because it’s rich in vitamin D which helps with weight maintenance, and provides good bacteria that support a healthy gut balance which positively impacts our weight. Salmon is one of the best fish for metabolism because of its anti-inflammatory properties from the omega-3 fatty acids. Also, studies suggest that fish fatty acids may signal thyroid cells in the liver to burn more fat. With all fish, it’s best to purchase wild-caught versus farmed to avoid contaminants that may impact your thyroid function. It’s difficult to get the recommended daily allowances of fruits and vegetables and omegas from fish and olive oil, so finding a supplement that is backed by scientific research that bridges the nutritional gap is vital to good health.
Another area that needs some mention is your skin. Your skin is also impacted by your thyroid so maintaining healthy skin begins with good nutrition and a healthy thyroid begins with removing products with toxins from your skin care and makeup. Look for those products that provide proof that they omit the hundreds of toxins currently in many of the products on the market. Skincare and makeup products aren’t regulated by the government, and self-regulation has its limits, so look for products that provide clear information that they clean from harmful ingredients. Your body will thank you.
New Year’s resolutions are easier to keep when you build your knowledge on what can help your body perform at its best through good nutrition and nontoxic products. Taking small steps towards changing bad choices and replacing them with good choices will help you age better, look better and feel better. Are you up for the challenge to feel and look your best?
Posted in: Alzheimer’s, Health, Healthcare, JuicePlus, Nutrition
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