Joanne E. O’Day is founder and director of Basic Health Sense.
She is a graduate of The Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City, a Certified Health Counselor and member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Joanne is also a licensed social worker and nursing home administrator.
“The seeds for my interest in health counseling began long ago. Being a nursing home administrator and social worker for over thirty years gave me the unique opportunity to learn from the many elders who shared their life story with me. I consider myself extremely blessed to have experienced the “wisdom of the ages”. The elders have shown me by example that life truly is what we make it. The controls for the life we desire are in our hands. At the end of our days when we look back on life, it is how we have lived our life that is most important. It’s up to us to experience our life to the fullest and of course, good health is key.”
Thirty years ago, not many people had heard of Alzheimer’s disease. Sadly, today, it is difficult to find someone whose life has not been touched by it. 
Current trends indicate that fifty per cent of the people who live to be 85 years or older will develop Alzheimer’s or some other form
of dementia.
Presently, Alzheimer’s disease costs the economy 110 billion dollars per year, the most expensive of any disease. With an aging society, the financial burden of caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s will cripple our health care system and burden families.
Thirty years ago, not many people had heard of Alzheimer’s disease. Sadly, today, it is difficult to find someone whose life has not been touched by it. Current trends indicate that fifty per cent of the people who live to be 85 years or older will develop Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. Presently, Alzheimer’s disease costs the economy 110 billion dollars per year, the most expensive of any disease. With an aging society, the financial burden of caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s will cripple our health care system and burden families.
There is Hope
The good news is that research on brain health is being done and yielding some very promising results. It is opening our eyes to the importance of nutrition and lifestyle choices in regards to brain health. Research shows that the same basic guidelines for heart health will also support our brain health.
Although wonderful advancements are being made in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, the key appears to be prevention. This involves following some simple guidelines and, because the disease process starts years before symptoms actually appear, the sooner one begins the better. This is not rocket science. It’s all within the control of the individual. It’s about making one choice at a time. It’s about taking charge of your future.
Diet
Eat more fruit, vegetables, whole foods and good fats while staying away from trans fats, high fructose corn syrup and processed foods. Fruits and vegetables provide us with powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants help to prevent cell damage, including brain cell damage.
Eating whole foods and staying away from high fructose corn syrup and other refined foods help to stabilize blood sugar and prevent insulin resistance. Good fats, like the omega three fatty acids that are found in fish, have been shown to reduce the risk of dementia. Drink pure, fresh water to keep our bodies hydrated. Basically, it’s following a simple, natural and well-balanced diet.
Vitamins
Ideally we should be receiving all our vitamins and minerals from the foods we eat but unfortunately because of certain methods of farming much of the soil is depleted - not to mention the chemicals and pesticides that are used on crops. The result is that we are not getting what we need from our food sources. Dr. Walter Willet, Director of Research at the Harvard School of Public Health, suggests taking a multivitamin for insurance because research indicates that minerals and vitamins may play a role in everything from Alzheimer’s disease to poor circulation in the legs.
It is important to know that all vitamins are not created equal. Be sure to get a quality brand with quality ingredients. I recommend products by USANA Health Sciences that were recently named “Best of the Best” in Lyle MacWilliam’s Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements. Christiane Northrup M.D., author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, is a strong advocate of USANA products. Always consult with your physician about taking vitamins or other supplements.
Exercise
Just a half hour of exercise three to four times a week is beneficial. Of course, you want to be sure to work out at the level of endurance that is right for you. In other words, go slow and don’t overdue it. Exercise not only helps our bodies to be strong and flexible but it is also a great stress manager and mood elevator all of which contribute to a healthy brain.
Sleep
Sleep is so important to recharge our batteries. Six to ten hours of sleep, depending on the individual, is what’s needed to experience the proper sleep cycles to achieve balance mentally, emotionally and physically.
Attitude
Having a positive attitude promotes good health and helps us to enjoy life. The mind-body and the body-mind connection are powerful tools so why not use them to your advantage.
Help
If you are concerned about your brain health or that of a loved one, following these simple guidelines can make a difference. If additional support is what’s needed to achieve your goals or if you would like more information about USANA products, contact me for a free, private, one-hour consultation so you can get started on the road to a healthier future.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Benjamin Franklin