Health News__
Fish Oil May Preserve Thinking Ability in Elderly

.....Diet and nutrition may play a key role in helping people fight depression. A number of nutrients, including polyunsaturated fatty acids have the potential to influence mood by increasing the absorption of chemical messengers in the brain. The journal Nutrition and Dietetics suggests that fish and the oils they contain, in particular omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, are protective against depression.

High Blood DHA (Omega 3) Levels May Lower Dementia Risk

.....High blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which belongs to the class of nutrients called essential fatty acids, may protect against the development of dementia and perhaps Alzheimer's disease. The Archives of Neurology report examined associations between blood DHA levels and dementia risk in 899 men and women free of dementia. They had their blood fatty acids measured at an average of 76 years old. After 9.1 years of follow-up, 99 subjects had developed dementia. Seventy-one of the cases were classified as Alzheimer's disease.
.....After controlling for other risk factors for dementia including age, gender, genotype, and elevated homocysteine, the team found that men and women with the highest DHA levels had a 47 percent reduction in risk of developing dementia and a 39 percent reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's disease compared with those with less DHA. The high level was probably achieved by consuming more than 2.8 fish meals per week or about 180 milligrams DHA per day. DHA can also be obtained in fish oil capsules.

Hypertension_____________

....Hypertension is commonly known as high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the pressure of your blood against the inner walls of your arteries. According to Health Canada, hypertension is a disease affecting 20 to 25% of Canadians and as many as half the people over age 55 who suffer from hypertension are not even diagnosed or treated.
....Use the following strategies to help prevent hypertension:
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Eat low-fat foods.
• Limit your alcohol intake to two drinks a day or less.
• Eat potassium-rich foods such as nuts, vegetables and fruit.
• Eat calcium-rich foods such as low-fat dairy products.
• Limit salt intake. Salt raises blood pressure in 10–15% of people.
• Quit smoking.
• Reduce stress.
• Exercise moderately.
• Get enough rest and sleep. Lack of sleep can raise blood
pressure in people who already have hypertension.

Coenzyme Q10__________

....Coenzyme Q10 is also called CoQ10, and sometimes Ubiquinone because it is ubiquitously found in whole natural foods. the average person ingests between 5 and 10 mg of CoQ10 a day through foods. CoQ10 is a natural vitamin-like compound that is indispensable to the process of energy production at the cellular level. Depletion of CoQ10 can develop in the aging process, and is associated with failing heart function and failing liver adequacy.
....CoQ10 and Statin Drugs. If you are taking prescription statin drugs such as simvastatin (Zocor®) or lovostatin (Mevacor®) for elevated cholesterol levels, you should take supplementary CoQ10. Statin drugs block some processes that are the same processes that are needed to manufacture CoQ10.
....The recommended daily intake is 30 to 100 milligrams, depending on your age and health status. Many health professionals recommend a minimum of 100 mg daily for people taking statin drugs. CoQ10 has an adverse drug interaction with coumadin (Warfarin®) possibly reducing its effectiveness leading to unwanted blood clotting. If you are currently on both coumadin and CoQ10, do not suddenly stop either treatment but alert your physician for consultation.
....For more information on CoQ10, talk to your local Peoples Pharmacist.