A proper nutritional program should include good sources of protein such as organic poultry, beef, pork, fish, eggs, cheese, legumes, nuts, and corn, a rich source of complex carbohydrates such as organic vegetables, grains, and fruit, and fat, some of which are more helpful than others but necessary for overall health. Healthy oils should include organic coconut oil, and olive or canola oil.

Remember that many foods, especially baked goods, contain aluminum.  Train yourself to read labels carefully.  Choose nonaluminum baking powder, avoid pickling salts and self-rising flour.  Do not use aluminum pots and pans or beverages that are packaged in aluminum cans.  Do not use aluminum foil.

In addition the nutritional program should also include the following vitamins and minerals. Some of these may have been covered in the previous section. Their importance in the over scheme of things is why they are repeated here. The only difference between how they were listed before and how they are listed now is that in the list below only the foods that contain the ingredients are listed.

Vitamins (buy organic fruits and vegetables and organic, free-range meat)

• Vitamin A
  Fresh apricots, broccoli, watermelon, dark green leafy vegetables, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, apricots, carrots, pumpkins, kale, and cheese

• Vitamin B1 (thiamin)
  Bake potatoes, pork, liver, garbanzo beans, oysters, bran, wheat germ, whole grains, raisins, enriched bread, pasta, and oranges

• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
  Bananas, Liver, pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs, wheat germ, tuna, whole grains, cereal, almonds, legumes, and dark green leafy vegetables

• Vitamin B3 (niacin)
  Beef liver, poultry, fish, tuna, turkey, potatoes, dried beans/peas, nuts, whole grains, swordfish, fortified cereals, and enriched wheat products

• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
  Avocados, bananas, poultry, liver, chicken, egg yolks, nuts, lobster, whole grains, soybeans, oranges, blue cheese, and dark green leafy vegetables.

• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
  Liver, beef, chicken, tuna, avocado, cantaloupe, bananas, whole grains, hazelnuts, lentils, potatoes, shrimp, soybean, and dark green leafy vegetables

• Vitamin B9 (folic acid)
  Bananas, calf liver, citrus fruits, beets, avocados, broccoli, carrots, lentils, asparagus, legumes, cantaloupe, and dark green leafy vegetables

• Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)
  Beef, blue cheese, clams, tuna, salmon, herring, liver, beef, pork, eggs, snapper, Swiss cheese, milk, mackerel, and liverwurst

• Choline
  Breast milk, cabbage, calf liver, lentils, oatmeal, peanuts, soybeans, wheat germ, soy lecithin, and cauliflower

• Choline

• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
  Black currants, fresh fruits, tomatoes, grapefruit, guava, papayas, kale, mangos, rose hips, oranges, peppers, tangerines, strawberries, melon, green peppers, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts

• Vitamin D (chalecalciferol)
  Cod-liver oil, egg substitutes, herring, mackerel, tuna, salmon, sardines, milk, and dairy products

• Vitamin E (tocopherol)
  Almond, canola oil, wheat germ, whole grains, brazil nuts, broccoli, corn, soybean oil, fortified cereals, asparagus, liver, walnuts, and raw seeds

• Vitamin K (phytonadione)
  Dark green leafy vegetables, alfalfa, cabbage, cauliflower, asparagus, kelp, seaweed, cheddar cheese, peas, liver, cabbage, broccoli, and brussel sprouts

Minerals (buy organic fruits and vegetables and organic, free-range meat)

• Copper
  Dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, spinach, avocados, shellfish, oats, oysters, soybeans, liver, prunes, shrimp, and raisins

• Iodine
  Lobster, kelp, all seafood, iodized salt, saltwater fish, milk, and shrimp

• Iron
  Red meats, fish, lentils, dried fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, seaweed, eggs, oatmeal, molasses, nuts, garbanzo beans, and liver.

• Magnesium
  Raw green leafy vegetables, almonds, cashews, soybeans, whole grains, avocados, bluefish, dairy products, molasses, herring, halibut, and cod

• Manganese
  Green leafy vegetables, eggs, whole grains, carrots, seaweed, hazelnuts, pecans, tea, chestnuts, beans, and spinach

• Phosphorus
  Poultry, fish, eggs, whole grains, almonds, pumpkin seeds, red meats, scallops, soybeans, sardines, sunflower seeds, cheddar cheese, and peas

• Potassium
  Green leafy vegetables, citrus fruit, bananas, whole grains, peas, pumpkin seeds, avocados, raisins, molasses, sardines, cantaloupe, and carrots

• Selenium
  Liver, dairy products, fish and shell fish, whole grains, onions, kidney, mushrooms, garlic, chicken, cabbage, broccoli, bran, tuna, and oatmeal

• Zinc
  Whole grains, wheat bran, wheat germ, liver, eggs, lean beef, herring, lamb, molasses, soybeans, turkey, fish, sesame seeds, and maple syrup

Exercise

Alzheimer's disease is associated with a progressive impairment of central nervous system function. Recent memory is poor, the special senses deteriorate, reflexes are slow, and coordination is impaired. There are sometimes other limitations which developed simply because of age or attributed to the onset of Alzheimer's. Some of these limitations include loss of vision and hearing. Also reflexes and movements slow substantially. The patient develops poor posture, low mechanical efficiency, is unable to keep a steady hand, and loses muscle tissue, which when compounded causes stress, aggressive behavior, and depression in some patients.

• Depression

The emphasis is now on the care provider to develop an exercise program specially tailored to the physical, medical and mental condition of the individual patient.

The ideal program must be one where the AD patient feels safe, and knows it will be effective and motivating so as to keep up the regimen. Without such a program the continuing deterioration of cardiovascular function and muscular strength will inevitably occur.

That is why it is critically important for the patient to maintain reasonable flexibility of major joints.

Some simple cardiovascular exercises can include the movement of the arms and shoulder. If the patient is in a wheel chair some simple exercises that mimic both cycling and rowing can be done or the facility can invest in an arm and wheelchair ergo meters.

Muscle exercise can also be done even if room is limited by tensing one muscle group against the back of the chair or bed. Also, weight such as books can be balanced on the ankles. This can help the leg muscle and can be given to the patient in the form of a game.

Flexibility can be improved by taking the joint through its full range of movements, if however the joints have become painful, the activities can be done is a heated swimming pool or by using a heated compress support.

Walking is the ideal exercise for preventing osteoporosis and mood changes. A daily walk will allow you to get 30 minutes of sunlight on the skin every day. It also a perfect group exercise, an opportunity for social contact, and a pleasant and relaxing experience. It strengthens the leg muscles to a degree. But the main benefits to both the patient and care provider could be significant. The patient's quality of life can improve in such a way that the care provider may no longer have to assist the patient even with a simple task as getting off a toilet seat. Basic regular exercise can provide such dramatic benefits to patients it should be strongly recommended to all Alzheimer's patients.

Suggested Supplementation

• Ginkgo Biloba - 120 mg 2-3 times daily.  Improves memory and circulation to the brain.

• DHA - Take a fish oil supplement which contains a daily dosage of 1,000mg of DHA.  Supplies essential fatty acids.

• Vitamin B-12 - Take 800 to 1,600 micrograms daily.  Use a sublingual form.

• Vitamin E - Take 2,000 IU daily with mixed tocotrienols and tocopherols.  Do not take this high a dosage of you are on blood-thinning medication.

• Glyconutrients - Helps with poor memory and with immune system function.

• Nattokinase - Helps to clean arteries and blood vessels.

• Acety-L-carnitine - 1,000 mg 3 times daily.  Improves brain cell communication and memory.

Aromatherapy

For stress and relaxation use the following: lavender, melissa.

To stimulate the mind: geranium, jasmine, neroli, bergamot or rose.

Alzheimer's disease  > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4