The ingredients to help you stave off Alzheimer's disease may be sitting right above your stove. Consider some of these helpful home remedies when confronting this debilitating ailment.
Home remedies from the Spice Rack
Many people with AD experience a decrease in taste sensation, so spice up that food to tempt the taste buds and appetite. Chili powder, pepper, sage, oregano -- anything that tastes good and makes food interesting will work. Don't overload on salt, though.
Almond extract. This contains vitamin E. Try offering some almond cookies.
Curry. New research suggests that curcumin, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound in turmeric (a spice used in yellow curry) might prevent AD. This might explain why India has one of the lowest rates of AD in the world.
Ginger. This spice can stimulate a poor appetite. For an on-the-go home remedy, try some ginger tea or gingersnaps, or chop up some fresh ginger and mix it with a little lime juice and a pinch of rock salt, then chew. It will not only increase appetite but thirst, too.
Lemon oil. Steep a few drops of lemon or peppermint oil in hot water, then inhale. These aromatherapy stimulants can perk up those suffering typical AD symptoms, such as lethargy or depression.
Sage. For depression associated with AD, drink a tea made with 1/2 teaspoon sage and 1/4 teaspoon basil steeped in 1 cup hot water, twice a day.
Salt. For dry skin that occurs with age: After a shower or bath, and while the skin is still wet, sprinkle salt onto your hands and rub it all over the skin; then rinse. This salt massage will remove dry skin and make skin smoother to the touch. It also will invigorate the skin and get circulation moving. Try this first thing in the morning to help increase alertness. If the skin is itchy, soak in a tub of saltwater. Just add 1 cup table salt or sea salt to bath water. This home remedy solution will also soften skin and encourage relaxation.
Turmeric. Curcumin, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound in this spice, has been found to reduce the number of plaques in the brain of mice and thus may slow the progression of Alzheimer 's disease.
Do's & Don'ts
DON'T serve foods with pits or bones.
DON'T serve foods with a mixture of textures. They may be hard to swallow.
DO always check food temperature. Hot sensations can be numbed for people with AD, but they still can get burned.
DO serve foods that require little chewing, such as soups, ground meat, and applesauce.
DO serve several smaller meals, rather than three main meals.
DO select favorite foods, especially if the appetite is poor. And keep in mind that as the disease progresses, food preferences may change.
DO play music during meals. Mealtimes can be stressful, and music is relaxing. Choose songs from the patient's youth or that hold a special memory.
