Dear Healthy Friend,

Dementia doesn't have to come with the territory as you get older - and three new studies show how good habits for your body now could save your mind years later... A vitamin, a refreshing hot beverage and something most of us do anyway...

Keep reading to find out what these pearls of dementia defenders are...

In the name of good health,

Taryn Strugnell
Managing Editor of Nutrition & Healing

P.S. Alzheimer's is a topic that's discussed often... And there are many that will tell you there's nothing you can do to stop it... Dr Wright has something completely different to say. Keep reading...

Natural dementia prevention
Ed Martin
Editor, House Calls

When it comes to dementia, there are three things that should be a big part of your life: Vitamin D, tea and exercise, according to the studies presented at a recent Alzheimer's Association International Conference held in Honolulu.

Researchers tracked 1,200 elderly people for 20 years as part of a study on cardiovascular risk. But the researchers also noticed that the 242 patients in the study who developed dementia tended to have something in common: More time on the couch.

Once they crunched the numbers, the researchers found that the patients who enjoyed the highest levels of physical activity had a 40% lower risk for dementia in any form. Those who moved the least, on the other hand, were 45% more likely to come down with the mind-robbing condition.

Maybe these folks should have been drinking more tea - because another new study on seniors finds that those who sipped between one and four cups each week had a 37% lower risk of dementia than those who drank no tea.

The researchers say coffee didn't show any benefits except at very high levels of consumption... But don't let that keep you from your daily cup of mud, because other studies have found that caffeine can slow the production of amyloid-beta, an amino acid found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

And in the third new study, researchers confirm something I've told you about before: Vitamin D could lower your risk of dementia - and a D deficiency can increase it dramatically.

Researchers looked at data on 3,325 seniors and found that those who had low levels of D were 42% more likely to suffer from cognitive impairment.

But wait - this one gets even worse. Those who were severely deficient in D had a 394% increased risk. And millions of us are severely deficient in D.

You might even be one of them. But you could kill two birds with one stone here by getting a little exercise out under the sun, where your body can make its own vitamin D as you work up a sweat, burn some calories and get your blood pumping.

In addition to slashing your risk of dementia, that all-natural vitamin D could also keep your bones strong and lower your risk for any number of diseases, including diabetes and cancer. It may also boost your immune system and it could even help you live longer.

Then, after a little exercise and a little sun, complete the trifecta by kicking back with a cup of antioxidant-rich tea. Green tea in particular has been linked to everything from longevity to cancer prevention...

A natural programme for Alzheimer's prevention

Q: Alzheimer's is a pretty hot health topic, but I have trouble keeping all of the advice straight. What do you think is the best way to prevent the disease?

Dr. Wright: There are quite a few natural approaches for keeping your mind sharp well into old-age and while each of them could very well fill a book all its own, here's a quick outline of the top five recommendations I make to patients who are trying to prevent Alzheimer's disease:

Eliminate refined sugar and refined carbohydrates from your diet - especially if you have type II diabetes in your family or if you are insulin resistant.

• Research has suggested that insulin resistance raises your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
• Research has also linked elevated homocysteine levels with an increased risk of Alzheimer's. Keep your homocysteine levels down by taking B-complex vitamins and/or a multiple vitamin containing vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid.
• Take 1 Tbsp of fish oil per day. This natural anti-inflammatory contains omega-3 fatty acids that help repair brain cell membranes.
• There is ample evidence indicating that adequate levels of estrogen or testosterone could allow you to dramatically reduce your Alzheimer's disease risk. Consider using bio-identical hormones to keep your levels of estrogen or testosterone where they need to be.
• Research shows that the mineral lithium has strong potential to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.