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The greatest health discovery you'll never see
3rd February 2006
I read an article in the papers this week that both excited and annoyed me...
I guess that's an improvement on my usual reaction to most newspaper articles, which usually involves cursing, ranting to Lara about it, then pouring a glass of red wine to help calm me down.
But still, it just about summed up what's wrong with the medical system in this country.
So what got me so riled that only a glass of VosneRomanee could help...?
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Dog eat dog (or bacteria eat bacteria)
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It's a tough life being a germ.
All you want to do is cause a little misery and wreak a little havoc, when along come a whole load of antibodies and that's it you're dead.
That's pretty much the way the body works, and what keeps us walking, talking and (in my case) eating the odd biscuit.
The trouble is, some very nasty bacteria intent on doing us a great deal of harm are getting through... and one of them is a vicious substance called amyloid plaque.
Many scientists think that this causes memory loss and Alzheimer's.
There was nothing to stop the march of amyloid plaque...
Until now.
Scientists may have made a breakthrough that could save thousands of us from the horror of Alzheimer's. In those weird science labs where potions gurgle and things go zap! they've created a monster... but a good monster.
You see, they've discovered a substance that grabs hold of amyloid plaque and eats it!
Professor Martin Rossor of London's National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery said:
'It might soon be possible to pick up the disease (Alzheimer's) early and treat it with this compound so that the patient suffers very little damage to their brains.'
Tests on animals have indicated that this supercompound can sniff out and kill off amyloid, so EVERYTHING looks rosy.
But as usual, things are never that straightforward...
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Why you're not being told the whole story
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First up, you'll notice I keep referring to a 'substance' or 'compound'.
Well, that's because the actual content is never referred to.
And I have a pretty good idea why...
This potentially lifesaving compound is being developed by (cue pantomime boos) a drugs company. And I guess they have a very real interest in keeping this under wraps.
Imagine if they said, 'Eureka! A mixture of ginger, Vitamin B12 and potassium is having an enormous effect on the cause of Alzheimer's'.
What do you think people would do... especially people who suffer from memory loss or those who have actually been diagnosed with Alzheimer's?
That's right, they'd run straight out, buy these three ingredients, and start taking them immediately.
And that's the last thing the drugs industry wants you to do.
They can't make a profit if you're protecting your health under your own steam can they?
Mind you... who cares, I suppose, as long as they launch the drug tomorrow?
This brings me to more bad news.
This compound won't be available for YEARS! There's research, forms, research and more research to go through.
And the matter only gets worse...
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Why you're not worth £2.50 a day...
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Last week, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (they're the people who provide national 'guidance' on our health) made a staggering suggestion...
Even though there are drugs which have shown to slow down the effects Alzheimer's, these drugs should be made available on the NHS only to sufferers in early or late stages of the disease.
Considering these drugs only cost £2.50 a day, is it too much to ask that they should be made available to ALL sufferers?
It seems it is.
Yet again, it appears a tight-fisted government and a 'profits-first' drugs industry are making it as hard as possible for us, the public, to protect our health.
So what should we do?
Of course, the first thing anyone should do if any symptoms of Alzheimer's appear is go and see the doctor.
In my opinion, the second thing to do is try these unregulated, unapproved remedies that will never be rubber-stamped by the institutions or championed by the drugs companies.
That's because they're 100% natural... and, in some cases, 100% FREE...
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Your crash course in the art of Alzheimer's self-defence
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- Keep on eye on your zinc levels. The link between zinc intake and Alzheimer's is pretty inconclusive, but one study made a connection between zinc and the clumping together of proteins in the brain (the amyloid plaque we looked at earlier). And one study is enough for me to take precautions when it comes to my health. The daily guideline for zinc intake is 15mg for men and 12mg for women - so try and stick to these.
- Keep your brain active. Making your brain stretch this way and that to solve a problem is as vital as taking that 30-minute walk to exercise your heart. If the most demanding choice your brain has to make is 'which channel shall I watch', do yourself a favour, hit the off button, and pick up a crossword instead.
Better still, try out the amazing Su Doku machine I talked about last week.
Have you taken a look at this thing yet? You should, it's great fun... and it stimulates the brain cells and keeps them alert. You can find out more here: Su Doku
- DHEA may help protect brain neurons from Alzheimer's. DHEA is a steroid hormone that's naturally abundant in the brain. But tests have shown that Alzheimer's sufferers tend to have low DHEA levels. A leading expert in this area, Dr. Eugene Roberts, found that very low concentrations of DHEA seemed to 'increase the number of neurons, their ability to establish contacts, and their differentiation' in cell cultures.
My English-Science Gobble-di-gook Dictionary tells me this means the brain works more effectively.
You can order DHEA from a number of places on the Internet, but as ever, YOU MUST consult your doctor before taking any supplements, especially something of this nature.
- Try ginkgo-biloba...many studies suggest this herb can help fight symptoms of Alzheimer's, but again it can cause irritation if used at the same time as other substances. You know what I'm going to say next... go and see your doctor.
- Get exercising and get active! A seven-year study of 2,000 people aged 65 and over found that those who enjoyed some form of physical exercise, coupled with a mentally engaging activities such as reading, crosswords or even talking with friends, reduced their risk of Alzheimer's by 38%!
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Want to find out more about Alzheimer's?
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There's a ton of information about Alzheimer's and other age-related conditions in ONE book: 'The World's Greatest Treasury of Health Secrets'. |
It's a massive 500-page volume that every home should have. If you'd like a copy, click here: Health Secrets
That's all for today. I should go and clear out the shed that I promised Lara I'd do straight after Christmas, but I hear my Su Doku machine calling me...
In the meantime, look after yourself and have a great weekend!
Yours,
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter
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