Food for Thought

Can brain disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's--considered
irreversible by many scientists--be treated simply with dietary changes?
It is possible, according to a book by Jay Lombard, Ph.D., Chief of
Neurology at New York's Westchester Square Medical Center.

The Brain Wellness Plan (Kensington, 2000) presents a central
strategy for treating and preventing the most debilitating neurological
diseases. These diseases are typically caused by a communication
breakdown between the brain and immune system, triggering a release of
free radicals--compounds that typically attack bacteria and
viruses---that begin killing healthy brain cells. Lombard believes that
eating certain substances counteracts the damage caused by free radicals,
significantly improving the working relationship between the brain and
the immune system. Antioxidants like vitamins E and C, for instance,
immobilize free radicals, and Lombard cites recent research indicating
that antioxidants can be equally--if not more--effective than most
conventional therapies for disorders like Parkinson's and Lou
Gehrig's.

Even better, nutritional proteins like creatine and coenzyme Q10,
both found naturally in red meat, help prevent cell aging and increase
longevity. Lombard is particularly enthusiastic about Huperzine A, a
Chinese herbal extract used frequently to treat Alzheimer's patients. The
extract helps restore acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in
memory and learning. According to Lombard, "it will be bigger than ginkgo
biloba as a memory supplement."