Extracts from the Sunday Telegraph:
"The number of patients diagnosed with diseases such as Alzheimer's will rise by 70 per cent to more than 1.2 million by 2028.
Experts warn that there will be almost twice as many sufferers living in nursing homes. However, psychiatrists and charities say that not enough is being spent on research, treatment and care. One professor said he was "ashamed" by the state of the services on offer.
Dementia robs victims of their identities as memory, speech and understanding are lost."
"In November a report by the Alzheimer's Society said that many patients suffered physical and mental neglect. Many residents were left alone in their bedrooms, while others were shouted at, or left unwashed, the investigation said.
Neil Hunt, the chief executive of the society, said the predictions showed the urgent need for a significant increase in services and research. "We know that delaying the onset of dementia by five years would halve the number of deaths from Alzheimer's. If we are to defeat dementia it is vital we invest in more research," he said."
Well vascular dementia could easily be reduced by curbing the reckless over-prescribing of drugs like steroids and anti-depressants which cause vascular damage, salt sensitivity, fluid retention and obesity. Similarly there should be a legal limit of the proportion of salt/sodium food manufacturers are allowed to add to their processed foods and ready meals: - certainly no more than 0.5g sodium to 100g of product. And they should, by law, HAVE to produce some processed foods/ready meals and bread with NO ADDED SALT WHATEVER for the people damaged and disabled by salt sensitivity. People should be told the truth about salt. - Our bodies do not require ANY added salt whatsoever, because we only need a tiny proportion of salt and that is already present in all food and in every drop of water. (Of course if you are taking prescription drugs they may have damaged your body chemistry and so you may need extra sodium/salt because of the wretched drugs.)
And dieting advice should be prohibited. - Dieting is unnecessary, ineffectual, counter-productive and harmful because it results in inadequate nutrition. All that is necessary to reduce excess weight is to avoid eating salt and salty food.
Lose weight, reduce your risk of most cancers, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, vascular dementia, osteopenia, osteoporosis, hypercholesterolaemia, depression, liver and kidney problems, and improve your health in many other ways without drugs or expense by eating less salt! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!
See my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/.html (The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)
Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection
See Sodium in foods and
Associated health conditions and
See FAT RETENTION
I didn't know that salt added to the risk of vascular dementia. Thanks for your post.
ReplyDeleteI have low blood pressure and tend to crave salt--but I'd must rather salt my own food--a light sprinkle just before a bite satisfies me more than having it steeping in sodium.
My mom died of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and I cared for her in my home the last 3 years of her life. I know what this disease looks like. I know the toll it exacts on the families.
Trust me, society is no where near prepared.
~Carol D. O'Dell
Author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous and Heartbreaking Memoir
available on Amazon
www.mothering-mother.com