Four Spices That Will Improve Digestion—And Heal Your Brain
Four spices that can improve brain health and digestion!
Four Spices That Will Improve Digestion—And Heal Your Brain
It is said that health begins in the gut and, as a result, poor digestion is at the root of most health conditions—including those affecting many aging adults. In fact, experts have confirmed the gut-brain connection, which refers to the fact that what’s going on in the intestines (including any stages of illness or disease) can have a direct impact on the mind. Researchers have found that those suffering with digestive disorders like constipation, diarrhea or irritable bowel disease are also more likely to have anxiety or depression, while others have noted the relationship between Alzheimer’s and gut health. The four spices we cover can help.
With 90% of the body’s serotonin produced in the gut and up to 80% of the immune system located in the gut, it is important that gut health and the microbiome—which refers to the trillions of bacteria living in the gut—be optimized in order to combat or prevent many brain-related condition affecting senior citizens. And this begins with digestion. When digestion is poor, undigested food particles and toxic sludge begin to build up in the intestines, throwing off the balance of good-to-bad bacteria in the gut, and eventually passing through the intestinal wall where they can wreak havoc throughout the body.
So what’s one of the easiest ways to improve digestion without adding even more drugs to the full pharmaceutical regimen that many older adults are taking?
Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system of holistic medicine founded thousands of years ago. In Ayurveda, the word “agni” is known as the “digestive fire,” and when agni is weak, the body has a difficult time digesting food, thus leading to illness. And while there are many Ayurvedic practices to increase digestion, one of the easiest is to simply use traditional Indian spices to season food before it’s eaten. You know all those wonderfully aromatic spices that give Indian food its distinctive flavor? Well, it turns out that many of them can do wonders for your digestion—and your brain health. Take a look:
Cinnamon
Aside from adding a sweet spice to everything from pumpkin pie to applesauce, cinnamon has numerous health benefits, including a long history as a digestive aid. It has antimicrobial properties, which makes it an effective antidote for people fighting intestinal bacterial overgrowth. It also acts as a carminative, which means it can help break up intestinal gas and relieve flatulence and any gas-related pains.
Ginger
Drinking a simple ginger tea throughout the day (just steep one teaspoon of sliced or grated fresh ginger in a cup of hot water) is one of the easiest ways to rev up your digestion and keep it going strong. Ginger stimulates the release of enzymes to help effectively break down food, while also acting as an anti-inflammatory and relaxing the muscles in the intestines to help food move along more easily. Additionally, numerous studies have reported on ginger’s ability to relieve nausea, oftentimes proving more effective than pharmaceuticals.
Cumin
Cumin is a common household spice and one that is versatile enough to be used in southwestern-style chilis, Mexican enchiladas and Indian curries. In the ancient Sanskrit language, cumin literally means “that which helps digestion,” and consuming it regularly is one of the best ways to eliminate toxins, thanks to its anti-fungal properties. Cumin also contains natural enzymes that help break food down while also increasing the rate of absorption for nutrients.
Fennel seed
There’s a reason why cultures around the world enjoy fennel after an especially heavy meal. Fennel is great for digestion while also reducing stomach pain and gas after eating. It is packed with vitamin C, which helps keeps bowels regular, and it has anti-spasmodic and carminative properties. Finally, the volatile oils fennel contains are incredibly effective at fighting bloat.
Kayla Harris considers her grandmom to be one of her best friends. Some of her fondest memories come from the time she has spent (and spends!) with her. Kayla wants her grandmom to have the best possible quality of life and that is what drew her to volunteer with ElderImpact.org. By working as a researcher and writer for the site, Kayla hopes to educate people, young and old alike, about the dangers of ageism and to provide advice on how to help today’s seniors continue living fulfilling, happy lives.
What We Can All Learn About Living in the Precious Present – Reprinted from HuffPost50
My good friend Sandy Halperin has taught me how to live in the “precious present.” We all should.
Fuller Lives When We Are Fully in the Precious Present
My good friend Sandy Halperin, who has early onset Alzheimer’s was recently honored along with Sanjay Gupta, M.D. with the 2016 Proxmire Award, which recognizes national figures who have “demonstrated leadership and positively impacted public awareness around Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”
A couple weeks before he accepted the award we had a 35 minute Skype call. In it he expressed concern about what he was going to say. Certainly honored by the award, he knew he needed to be both gracious but also make a statement, while he still could, about how much more was needed to be done in the battle against the disease.
Sandy lives in what he calls “The Precious Present.” It’s a book and a way of life for many with dementia, including Alzheimer’s. But it could be a way of life for all of us if we grasp the nugget of what this tiny book is about.
Here is a quote:
The present is simply who I am, just the way I am…right now. And it is precious.
When Sandy and I were conversing on Skype, he said that once the call was over, he would likely forget who he talked to and what we talked about but he would know something special happened. Every time I speak to him it is special. Because he is fully present and he makes me fully present. He knew when he addressed the attendees at the Leading Age presention, he would have that moment and that moment only to make an impact.
Think about how much fuller our lives could be if we were fully present.
In a recent New York Times article entitled “Fraying at the Edges reporter N.R. Kleinfield followed Geri Taylor, a woman battling Alzheimer’s with as he said “prudence, grace and hope.”
A couple of quotes struck me:
If you continue to think of who you were right up until the time you got Alzheimer’s, you will experience frustration, decline, failure, a lesser self. (she continues)…But if you let that go then you are still becoming something. And it’s not necessarily a diminution of yourself. You must realize, it ain’t over.
Here’s more:
Now we’re always living in the present. There’s none of that where you postpone saying something because he’s in a bad mood or something. Right now I can’t remember to postpone something.
I recently watched a Shark Tank episode where the presenters had what amounted to a gag gift. It is called the No Phone. Yep, nothing more than a square block that you can clutch instead of your phone. Oh yeah there is a selfie version that comes with a mirror on the back! Of course the Sharks did not fund it. But they missed the point. Only slightly tongue and cheek, founders Ben Vangeveld and Ingmar Larsen are sending us a message. They invented the No Phone after going to a Manhattan bar and doing what they call socializing, that is, staring at their phones and looking up occasionally. They were convinced people are addicted to their phones to the detriment of our daily lives and living in the present. Watch their You Tube video to gain more perspective.
See what they are really saying is no one, let alone those with dementia, is living in the present. I certainly get caught up in it. Do you find yourself doing these things?
- Taking a phone call but still have your email open checking to see what comes in.
- Going to dinner with your wife and the phones are ever present on the table.
- Attending a concert, a seminar, a meeting and still staring at your silenced phone.
Of course you do.
See Sandy and Geri totally get it. All we have is the moment we live in and we don’t even live in that moment. If we were fully present to each other, we would have deeper relationships. And we would come to understand and appreciate how those with dementia, including Alzheimer’s live their life. See we write them off immediately when they still have so much to contribute. Each of us has so much to contribute if we just pay attention to the moment we are in now.
I recently ended a business relationship after nearly six years, mainly because of finger-pointing, false accusations and no one checking the facts, all out of my control. It happened mainly because people have forgotten how to communicate with one another on a deeper level and we have become a knee-jerk reaction society. Yeah I could have sour grapes and did for an hour but then I said very well it’s time to move on. One door closes, another opens. Today is what I have and I am fully present and open to what is next. As I say on my web site, I am going to Rock It! It’s all we got folks.
I’ll leave you with one more quote from the book:
As long as I continue to stay in the present, I am happy forever, because forever is always the present.
10 Easy Steps to Coordinate Aging Parent Care
Here are ten tips to help you on your caregiving journey. Turn it from a burden to an opportunity.
Tip on Your Caregiving Journey – thanks to Carol Marak at Seniorcare.com
It takes a village to care for an older adult especially if one lives with several chronic conditions. Experts in caregiving recommend to family caregivers to start planning early, long before a parent or older relative needs assistance, because if you wait until they need a lot of help, you’ll be caught off-guard and scrambling. Waiting until the last minute to find support will put you and the loved one in a precarious situation.
According to the National Association of Family Caregivers, there are close to 50 million people who provide care and assistance for the aged, chronically ill or physically challenged family member. If you think a relative will need care down the road, I recommend retaining the service of a geriatric care manager because they can set you on the right track. They have deep-seated expertise and experience in working with older adults who no longer can manage their finances and need help finding home care, locating senior living options, and setting up a care plan.
However, if you believe the older adult is not at the point of needing care very soon, there are other ways to prepare for the responsibilities—start building a support team, the people you can count on for encouragement and reinforcement. But where does one begin to put together a plan of support? Since that’s a common concern for families, I asked the Seniorcare.com Aging Council,
“Give tips and advice on how people can start to create their support team early to avoid frantic decisions during an emergency?” Here’s what they recommend:
Join an online support community
There are excellent and easily accessible online communities of caregivers. Each member practically has an unofficial ‘MBA’ in Caregiving because they are living it and learning as they go. While a situation may not be relevant now, networking with other caregivers gives you that one place you can count on for answers when an emergency creeps up – and an emergency always creeps up! Elizabeth Miller, SavvySandwicher.com.
Join or start a group to meet people who are going through the same life changes. Example: If mom is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s, a support group can offer emotional support/guidance for mom, you and relatives. Asking for or accepting help will alleviate stress, depression and other long-term health effects. Keep an open dialogue with your family and map out plans ahead of time. Gjenes Belamide, Bay Alarm Medical.
Prepare and organize legal documents
There needs to be a leader who becomes the power of attorney and the health care proxy. This person is the decision maker. Ideally, most situations have been decided in the initial meeting with the parent on what their wishes are for the future. Hiring a elder law attorney to review or implement plans will make things easier when hard decisions come around. Ryan McEniff, Minute Women Home Care.
Start the process by speaking to an estate planning expert. Many estate plan documents require you to think clearly about who AND how you would like to handle your care, especially in an emergency. Identifying AND engaging with those you trust will significantly reduce stress levels and allow you a greater degree of control in your life. Michelle Jeong, LifeAssist.com.
Make a list of professionals
Networks develop over time but need to be managed to be effective. Seniors and caregivers should keep a list address book-style with names and contact numbers of everyone providing a service including bank, lawyer, hairdresser, yardman or who helps like neighbors, church, friends and family. Don’t rely on someone’s memory for details. Keep up-to-date and engage team, so they are ready when needed. Kathy Birkett, Senior Care Corner.
Begin with the Logical and immediate members of your team: physician, family, neighbors, attorney, financial specialist, and pharmacist. Figure out what you need now to live safely and comprehensively and then envision the Long View (Five years, 10? 15?). Communicate your choices to your Team. The Emergency Room is no place to have Team members making decisions regarding your care if you have not. Nancy Ruffner, Navigate NC.
Make a list of local resources
As a psychologist in long-term care, I’ve observed that family members are the most devoted helpers, so it’s important to maintain or repair connections with family members. Religious groups often are excellent supports, but if one isn’t religiously inclined there are other types of helping communities. Think local, hands-on, with all-age members such as Meals-on-Wheels. Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D., MyBetterNursingHome.com.
Obtain a home safety assessment
We recommend a home safety assessment to determine the current status of the home. It provides recommendations for immediate, short term and long term solutions. Many products, especially lighting, are affordable and reduce fall risk. The assessment advisor will also have community resource referrals for the family. Fritzi Gros-Daillon, Household Guardians.
For seniors or those with disabilities, a support network is vital because these loved ones may be more vulnerable to being isolated and need assistance in their daily lives. To build a support network, you should try and be actively involved in your community. Maintain friendships and invite good people to be part of your life, and start a formal circle of support with those you can trust. Evan Farr, Farr Law Firm.
Start discussions with relative and siblings
Nothing is more important than starting conversations early and having a plan. It is also great idea to consider the special interests and natural talents that family and friends possess that might also correlate with your care needs. While some will not be comfortable with personal care, perhaps he or she enjoys cooking and would not mind making an extra portion for you as a frozen meal. Dr. Eboni Green, CareSupportServices.org.
Help For Family Caregivers – Moving the Talk to Action
Help For Family Caregivers – Moving the Talk to Action
Here is another link to an article we have on Senior Care at Verywell.com.
Moving the talk to action for family caregivers needs a shove. Find out more here.
Family caregivers need help especially in the workforce. Here are some leading experts to tell us how to move the talk to action.
