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Author:
John Gibb

Understanding what happens when an individual develops Alzheimer's is still something that is being investigated. What scientists do know about Alzheimer's is that it is a slow-developing disease of the brain that is characterized by dying brain cells. While the direct cause is unknown, it is theorized that the death of the cells is attributed to a lack of chemicals necessary to keep brain cells healthy.

After the age of 20, human brain cells (neurons) start to die at a rate of about 9000 per day. This results in a natural decline of mental acuity. There are reports that some vitamins can help to restore brain cells, but these reports are highly controversial. Once brain cells die, there really is no way to restore them. What scientists focus on is how to prevent Alzheimer's. In the last few years, scientists have been testing the effects of vitamins on the brain. Those that seem to provide the most benefit are vitamins C and E.

In the world of vitamin supplementation, vitamin C and E are building blocks of good health. These vitamins are antioxidants that has proven beneficial in numerous health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stress. The body normally produces enough vitamin C and E in the body to protect the brain from damage from free radicals. However, the amount of vitamin C may be depleted by factors, such as diet and genetics. Scientists believe that taking 500 milligrams of vitamin C and 500 milligrams of vitamin E daily protects brain cells from premature destruction, a key to Alzheimer's prevention.

These recommended amounts of vitamin C and E supplementation to prevent Alzheimer's is way beyond what is recommended for general health. Before you consider taking these vitamins, you should discuss your plans with a medical doctor. Excessive amounts of vitamin C are flushed out in the urine and don't usually cause serious problems, but excessive amounts of vitamin E can result in some unpleasant side effects. As with any vitamins or medication, you should store them in a location that is out of reach from children. Vitamins C and E can cause serious problems in children.

Why not check out our nutrition guide at http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/nut-ebook.html

and also what supplement we personally use for our nutrition needs at http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com/what-we-use.html

John Gibb is the owner of Nutrition guides, a website offering free nutrition advice and a quality nutrition book for newsletter subscribers.

| Article Keywords: Nutrient Basics

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Nutrient Basics... Vitamin B1 and Its Importance to Mental Health Vitamin B1 also called as thiamine is one of the eight vitamins that make up the powerful group called as the Vitamin B complex. Like all of the B vitamins this nutrient plays a great role in the good health of the body as well as a sound mental health. Proper care and caution should always be considered when it comes to taking in these nutrients especially when it comes to dosages as some may tend to overdose which is never really a good thing and is actually quite as bad as not having any at all. Vitamin B1 serves many purposes in the body. It is an essential part of converting carbohydrates to energy and necessary to the proper functioning of the nervous system, the heart and the musculature system of the body. Thiamine is very important to the brain particularly in terms of emotional health and well being as well as being useful for focus and concentration. There are a variety of physical conditions and diseases associated with deficiencies in Vitamin B1. Symptoms include pain, numbness and tingling in the extremities, muscle weakness and a lack of physical coordination particularly in the larger muscle masses that make up the leg muscles. A deficiency in thiamine can cause enlargement of the heart which can itself lead to congestive heart failure and lung congestion. A severe deficiency in Vitamin B1 can lead to nerve damage, brain damage and even death. Mental symptoms associated with a serious lack of Vitamin B include fatigue, psychosis and confusion. These are a few serious diseases specifically associated with a deficiency of Vitamin B1 including the notorious beriberi disease. There are also two specific types of brain damage associated with severely low levels of Vitamin B1. One is the Korsakoff syndrome which results in confusion and short term...