Most everyone has “senior moments.” You’ll be talking with someone and suddenly you can’t remember your best friend’s name or the movie you saw last night. These are fairly common place occurrences for people as they age and nothing to worry about as long as they don’t happen very often.

However, if your age is creeping up to 40, 50 or 60 then you have reason to be concerned if:

• Your memory is starting to slip
• Your agility, coordination and balance may be off
• It’s harder for you to focus and concentrate
• Your attention span is shorter
• Your concentration is scattered
• It’s more difficult for you to start or sustain a conversation
• Your handwriting is becoming sloppy or illegible
• You are starting to wonder whether you are getting dementia.

That’s scary enough, but now brain erosion is happening to people at a much younger age than in the past. Statistics from the 1970s and 1980s found brain erosion only in people over 50. However, a major study conducted by Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) detected brain volume loss as early as age 30. Researchers also discovered that this brain volume loss often leads to dementia.

People under the age of 30 may also lose cognitive function as a result of asthma, ADHD, allergies, digestive issues or diabetes. These medical issues can result in a much lower B vitamin absorption rate. That means the brain is literally “starving” for the right kind of nutrition. B vitamins, especially B-12, are so important because they help increase the effectiveness of other essential nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids.

Why are we seeing this dramatic change over a few decades? Stress and its damaging effects on our bodies is a major reason. Stress may come from the pollution in our environment, lack of nutrients in our foods, the accumulation of small and large injuries that we carry with us, the relentless expectations that we place on ourselves and the pressure of other people’s expectations of us.

Stress places such a demand on us that it overcomes our body’s ability to cope. Brain erosion is one result. How can you tell if your brain is shrinking?

You may initially have a nagging feeling that your mental performance is starting to slide – that you are no longer at your peak. When this happens, it’s easy to feel frightened, depressed or frustrated, thinking that your mental abilities are slipping away. But don’t despair or lose hope, because there is a lot you can do to slow and even repair brain erosion.

Vitamin B-12 is the answer

Your brain may be lacking some of the essential building blocks it needs to thrive – especially B-12 or Omega-3 fatty acids. This lack can cause your brain volume to shrink. But Vitamin B can help protect against this. This was confirmed by a University of Illinois study which stated that people with greater B-12 intake were also able to maintain greater brain volume for a longer period of their life.

So, how eager are you to do whatever it takes to improve brain fitness now and help protect against much worse problems like dementia from developing?

I know I’m dedicated and that’s why I’m such a strong believer in B-12 supplementation. Based upon research studies, it should begin as early as age 30. While there’s nothing that’s going to stop you from having an occasional “senior moment”, you should feel heartened to know that Vitamin B-12 is readily available and easy to take.

Now’s the time to turn back the clock on brain erosion. Don’t lose any more brain cells to poor nutrition, stress and bad habits. Reclaim your mental energy, ease irritability and slow brain erosion with Vitamin B-12.

B-12 is the key to reclaiming your mental energy

Source: VitaJournal June 2008 pg 6

The debate about the effectiveness of statins continues and each side offers statistics to support their position. Statin proponents point to studies that suggest these medications may prevent heart attacks and strokes among people who don’t already have cardiovascular disease or elevated cholesterol levels. And there are even studies that claim statins can help protect against dementia or Alzheimer’s.

However, there are just as many respected healthcare professionals who feel that statin drugs are unnecessary and possibly even dangerous. Some of these people question whether cholesterol automatically is the culprit in most heart diseases.

“Cholesterol is just one of the risk factors for coronary disease,” explains Dr. Ronald M. Krauss, director of atherosclerosis research at the Oakland Research Institute, in a Business Week article. “Higher LDL levels do help set the stage for heart disease by contributing to the buildup of plaque in arteries. But something else has to happen before people get heart disease. When you look at patients with heart disease, their cholesterol levels are not that much higher than those without heart disease.”

Still others point to the ever-growing body of evidence that shows potentially serious side effects from statins. The most common side effect is muscle pain and weakness, most likely due to the depletion of CoQ-10, a nutrient that supports muscle function. Some healthcare providers suggest taking a CoQ-10 supplement to help protect against statin side effects. To find out more about TriVita’s CoEnzyme Q-10 product, call a Wellness Consultant at 1-800-991-7116. Other potential side effects from large statin doses may include anemia, acidosis, frequent fevers, cataracts and lessening of mental acuity.

Now there’s even more controversy about statinsJust recently the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) started recommending cholesterol-lowering statin drugs to obese children as young as age eight. Statins have long played a role in the fight against a childhood disease called familial hyper-cholesterolemia. However, the AAP is now making widespread recommendations for a whole generation of eight year olds.

The AAP has been strongly criticized for its statement by the food and nutrition industries. Some say that no studies have been performed to show that this course of action is both necessary and successful. They suggest that doctors should emphasize the value of dietary approaches. An article in Nutraingredients.com states, “The lifestyles of these children have got them into this state; their lifestyle must get them out of it. And that means changing their diet.”

How to lower cholesterol naturally

Here are a variety of ways to lower your cholesterol naturally without any potentially dangerous side effects:
• Make sure you get plenty of high quality, Omega-3 fatty acids
• Reduce grains and sugars in your daily diet
• Include soluble fibers containing psyllium seed
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables: five servings for children, seven for women and nine for men
• Try to eat a good portion of your food raw
• Get the right amount of exercise – this will help increase blood flow throughout your body and also raise HDL, the protective “good” cholesterol
• Avoid smoking and drinking excessive alcohol
• Don’t become overwhelmed by emotional challenges – use prayer, meditation or relaxation techniques to lower stress level being overused and oversold to the wrong people.

Source VitaJournal October 2008 pg 29

For more on this subject visit TriVita for more information.