Page 12
The Willner Window Product Reference Catalog, Autumn, 2015
since 1911
• Willner Chemists •
the nutritional supplement professionals
Can Diet, and Dietary
Supplements, Delay Onset of
Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Disease?
New Research says Yes!
Alzheimer's disease is now the sixth leading
cause of death in the United States. There
are few things worse than watching a loved
one suffer from this condition. In turn,
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60% to 80%
of all dementia cases. “Therefore,” according
to Martha Clare Morris, Rush University
Medical Center, Chicago, “prevention of cog-
nitive decline, the defining feature of demen-
tia, is now more important than ever.
Delaying dementia's onset by just 5 years can
reduce the cost and prevalence by nearly
half.”
Surprisingly, Dr. Morris and her colleagues
found that modifying the diet may signifi-
cantly slow cognitive decline among aging
adults, even when the person is not at risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease. This finding,
published online in the journal Alzheimer's &
Dementia, is in addition to a previous study
by the same research team that found that
this diet modification may reduce a person's
risk in developing Alzheimer's disease.
In fact, the recent study shows that older
adults who followed the “MIND” diet more
rigorously showed an equivalent of being 7.5
years younger cognitively than those who fol-
lowed the diet least.
This is pretty impressive. Researchers are
spending millions and millions of dollars
looking for drugs that will combat
Alzheimer’s disease, and it turns out that
modifications to our diet could be more
effective than any drugs we have come up
with so far?
So what is this miraculous diet? They call it
the “MIND” diet. It’s a hybrid of the
Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary
Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets.
Both diets, by the way, have been found to
also reduce the risk of cardiovascular condi-
tions, like hypertension, myocardial infarc-
tions, and stroke.
The MIND diet has 15 dietary compo-
nents, including 10 “brain-healthy food
groups” and 5 unhealthy groups: red meat,
butter and stick margarine, cheese, pastries
and sweets, and fried or fast food. Not that
surprising so far, is it? I think most of us
already know that saturated fat, hydrogenat-
ed oils, and sugar-laden foods are considered
unhealthy. So these “5 unhealthy groups”
does not seem unexpected.
What are the 10 “brain-healthy” food
groups? To benefit from the MIND diet, a
person would need to eat at least 3 servings
of whole grains, a green leafy vegetable and
one other vegetable every day -- along with a
glass of wine -- snack most days on nuts,
have beans every other day or so, eat poultry
and berries at least twice a week and fish at
least once a week.
In addition, the study found that to have a
real shot at avoiding the devastating effects of
cognitive decline, he or she must not only
eat the good foods, but also limit intake of
the designated unhealthy foods, especially
butter, sweets and pastries, whole fat cheese,
and fried or fast food.
The one thing I did find surprising is that
berries are the only fruit specifically to be
included in the MIND diet. They specified
blueberries, saying that they are “one of the
more potent foods in protecting the brain.”
But they acknowledge, based on earlier
research, that strawberries would be expect-
ed to work well also. I would think all highly
colored berries would prove beneficial.
While this is encouraging, what is troubling
is the fact that just a short time ago, another
study was published showing that few adults
in the U.S. eat enough fruit and vegetables to
meet government recommendations. Overall,
less than 15% of adults eat enough fruit dailty
to meet the guidelines, and even fewer
adults eat enough vegetables.
These results were reported in a study by
the National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion at the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(July 10, 2015).
Could this lack of adequate intake of fruits
and vegetables be related to the increased
incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and demen-
tia? More important, is this new research
showing the connection between fruit and
vegetable intake with Alzheimer’s prevention
going to provide enough motivation for peo-
ple to modify their diet? Sadly, I doubt it. So
what are we to do?
The ideal solution, without question, is to
eat more fruit and vegetables, while cutting
back on saturated fats and sweets. For those
who cannot, or will not, do this, there are a
variety of nutritional supplements that pro-
vide a healthy alternate. Here are some
examples.
Phyto-Antioxidant Extracts
These products contain isolated or concen-
trated extracts of plants, vegetables and fruits
that can be taken in supplement form. They
provide many of the active flavonoid antioxi-
dants normally contained in those plant
sources, but in high potency form.
Antiox Phyto Complex II
(Willner Chemists, No. 63745, 90 Veggie
Caps)
Some of the most powerful, broad-spec-
trum antioxidants are those found in plants.
This supplement contains a blend of several
of the most potent plant-derived phyto-
antioxidants available, in a high potency, pro-
fessional strength veggi cap.
Phyto-Tech™ Antiox Phyto Complex II
Capsules contains 375 mg of the following:
Acai Berry Concentrate, Mangosteen Fruit
Extract, Goji Berry, Pomegranate, Green Tea
Leaf Extract, Grape Skin Extract, Grape Seed
Extract.
Antiox Phyto Blend
(Willner Chemists, No. 57551, 1 fluid ounce)
Some of the most powerful, broad-spec-
trum antioxidants are those found in plants.
This supplement contains a blend of several
of the most potent plant-derived phyto-
antioxidants available, in a convenient liquid
extract.
Phyto-Tech™ Antiox Phyto Blend contains
the following: Acai Berry 4:1, Mangosteen
Extract, Goji Berry Extract, Pomegranate
40%, Glycerin Vegetable, Water Pure
Deionized, Raspberry Flavor Natural.
This convenient liquid concentrate can be
added to almost any beverage, even cock-
tails.
Food Based Multivitamin
Supplements
Many companies provide “whole food” or
“food based” multivitamin supplements.
These products supply not only pure vitamins
and minerals, but also associated food factors
and food concentrates rich in phyto nutrients
and phyto antioxidants. Here are some
examples:
Whole Earth & Sea (Natural Factors)
Men’s Multivitamin & Mineral
(No. 64965, 60 tablets)
Men’s 50+ Multivitamin & Mineral
(No. 64967, 60 tablets)
Women’s Multivitamin & Mineral
(No. 64964, 60 tablets
Women’s 50+ Multivitamin & Mineral
(No. 64966, 60 tablets)
Bone Structure Multivitamin & Mineral
(No. 65117, 60 tablets)
DaVinci Labs
Spectra Infinite (No. 56734)
Solgar
Earth Source Multi
(No. 13411, 180 tablets)
Garden of Life
Mens Multi Organic Kind
(No. 64563, 120 tablets)
Womens Multi Organic Kind
(No. 64567, 120 tablets)
Food Concentrate Powders
Lastly, there are supplements that consist of
mixtures of dehydrated, concentrated vegeta-
bles and fruits. These products are perhaps
the closest to a replacement for the lack of
dietary fruits, vegetables and other healthy
foods. They can serve as stand-alone meal
replacements, perhaps along with a regular
multivitamin supplements, or as a supple-
ment to what may be a less than optimal
diet.
DaVinci Labs
Spectra Reds
(No. 45587, 11.4 ounces powder)
Spectra Purples
(No. 51484, 11.6 ounces powder)
Spectra Oranges
(No. 52730, 10.6 ounces powder)
Spectra Greens
(No. 42432, 12.6 ounces powder)
The above products are only examples of
the various categories of supplements. You
are welcome to discuss your options with the
pharmacists and nutritionists as Willner
Chemists for additional recommendations.
Don Goldberg, R.Ph.
Note: The above article was posted on Don
Goldberg’s blog in August, 2015. Be sure to
check
for additional
postings.
