You are what you injest

My mom is suffering from Dementia. It's been coming on for awhile, but last Thanksgiving was the beginning of a noticeable decline. She fell, went into the hospital with a fractured back, and is now in assisted living.

I had my yearly physical and asked the doctor if Dementia is hereditary. She reassured me it wasn't, her words were, "You own it."

How to avoid Dementia.

1. DO NOT SMOKE!!!! Let me say that again--DO NOT SMOKE!!!!!



My mother smoked most of her life. But quit many years ago. So I don't think her dementia was the sole cause of smoking. I don't blame her for smoking. Back then everyone did. They were just discovering the ill affects of smoking cigarettes. It's taken all these years later to realize there isn't an inch of your body, smoking doesn't hurt, the neurological system included.




At this point I have to offer a disclaimer. I used to smoke. I'm your worse kind of ex-smoker, the kind smokers hate.



2. Can you say "Antioxidants?"

Antioxidants are "free agent scaventers." This in an article, Written by Gloria Tsang, RD
Published in Dec 2005; Updated in Aug 2007. Free radicals are byproducts of used oxygen. The oxidative damage causes a plethora of diseases, such as heart trouble, macular degenration, diabetes, cancer. Antioxidants may reduce these as well as boost the immune system.



3. What foods have Antioxidants?


• Carrots


• squash


• broccoli


• sweet potatoes


• tomatoes (especially tomatoes)


• kale


• collards


• cantaloupe


• peaches and apricots


• bright-colored fruits and vegetables!

The list goes on and on.

I don't suppose I'd be as interested in this if I hadn't been watching my mother go through her ordeal, though I think it's more an ordeal for her loved ones watching her slip. She's eighty-eight-years old. She lived happily and normally for about eighty-six of those years. So it's not so, so bad.

I didn't mean to preach. It's not my style, but this is so interesting to me. I may occasionally talk some more about health issues. I know I'm not doing everything I should to stay healthy, but according to my doctor, I'm in great health. Thank God. He's blessed me so much, but that's another subject and this blog is getting too long.