There are properties in apples that no other fruit has and the many benefits to your overall health have been proven.  An apple a day MAY keep memory loss away!

At Willson House, our new chef, Chris Feskens, has revamped our menu adding lots of fresh fruits and vegetables for our residents and guests.  One of the goals at Willson House is to provide our residents with the best quality of life possible and to help them stay as healthy as we can both in body and mind.

In addition to apples being good for our brains here are 8 other reasons to eat them:

1-Apples contains Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps greatly your immune system.

2-Prevent Heart Diseases. The reason it can prevent both coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease is because apples are high in antioxidants.

3-Low in calories. A regular size apple has between 70-100 calories.

4-Prevent Cancers. Notice the plural. We all know that cancer comes in several forms and in different places. Apples target multiple cancers such as colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer in women.

5-Apples contain phenols, which have a double effect on cholesterol. It reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. They prevent LDL cholesterol from turning into oxidized LDL, a very dangerous form of bad cholesterol which can be deadly.

6-Prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is an infection that seriously damages the structure of your teeth, which is caused primarily because of bacteria. The juice of the apples has properties that can kill up to 80% of bacteria. So there you have it, an apple a day also keeps the dentist away!

7-Protects your brain from brain disease. This is something many people don’t know, and when you consider that your brain makes the person you are, it gives a whole new perspective. Apple has substances called phytonutrients, and these phytonutrients prevents neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinsonism.

8-Healthier Lungs. A research at the University of Nottingham Research shows that people who eat 5 apples or more per week has lower respiratory problems, including asthma.

9-They taste great! And not only that, they also come in many flavors and colors.

Read the full article here.

In order for your brain to function at a high level it has to have water.  Over 70 percent of your body is composed of water and every function in the body is dependent on water, including the activities of the brain and nervous system.
    
The average person in the U.S. drinks less than a quart (32 ounces) of water a day.  Yet, according to the Mayo Clinic, the average adult loses more than 80 ounces of water every day through sweating, breathing, and eliminating wastes.

The brain is one of the most important organs in your body to keep fueled and hydrated.  It is approximately 85 percent water and brain function depends on having abundant access to water.

Water gives the brain the electrical energy for all brain functions, including thought and memory processes.  When your brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, you will be able to think faster, be more focused, and experience greater clarity and creativity.

The reason why it is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day for optimal brain function is because your brain does not have any way to store water. When your body loses more water than you are replacing, dehydration will kick in and brain function will be affected.

Dehydration causes your brain to shut down and not run at full speed.  Some of the mental symptoms of dehydration include brain fog, afternoon fatigue, focus issues, depression, anger, emotional instability, exhaustion, headaches, sleep issues, stress, and a lack of mental clarity and acuity.
   
Studies have shown that if you are only 1 percent dehydrated, you will likely have a 5 percent decrease in cognitive function. If your brain drops 2 percent in body water, you may suffer from fuzzy short-term memory, experience problems with focusing, and have trouble with math computations.

Further studies have shown that prolonged dehydration causes brain cells to shrink in size and mass. This is most common in the elderly, many of whom tend to be chronically dehydrated for years.

What is the best thing to use for hydration?  Plain old water is the best thing and it’s FREE.  So, on these hot, humid days drink up for good brain health!  For more information on staying hydrated refer to Merlin Hearn’s article, http://www.waterbenefitshealth.com/water-and-brain.html

Friday, June 21 is the Summer Solstice, marking the official first day of the season and the longest day of the year. If you live Oregon, you can expect to see about 14.5 hours of sunshine and if you live in anchorage, Alaska you will see about 19 hours!

Did you know there are many health benefits to getting sunshine every day? Of course, you’ll want to use sunscreen and a little common sense so you don’t overdo, but getting enough sun is critical to feeling good.  Check out these 10 health benefits of sunshine:

1. Reduce risk of Type 2 diabetes.  Some studies suggest that vitamin D can reduce the risk of developing it (one study found that those with high levels were 40% less likely than those with low levels).
2. Reduce cancer risk. There are lessened mortality rates for 15-20 types of cancer in regions of higher solar UVB exposure, particularly for breast, colon, and rectal cancer. Those patients who had higher vitamin D blood levels when diagnosed had nearly twice the survival rate of those with the lowest levels.
3. Strong bones for better bone health. Vitamin D boosts calcium absorption for strong bones, which means you’re less likely to develop bone diseases, fractures and osteoporosis.
4. Protect eye health. Vitamin D has been tentatively linked to lower incidence of cataracts, and studies indicate good D levels correlate to a lowered risk of macular degeneration as you age.
5. Boost immunity. Researchers believe that vitamin D is integral to proper function of the body’s T cells— the immune system’s first line of defense.
6. Improve metabolism; fight obesity. Several studies show correlation between sun exposure and an increase in metabolism, although the reasoning isn’t cut and dry.
7. Lower blood pressure. The warmth of the sun can improve circulation, and heightened vitamin D levels have been shown to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive subjects— perhaps as effectively as medication.
8. Reduce stroke risk. There are likely a lot of factors at work here, but in one survey people who lived in areas with less sun exposure had a stroke risk that was 60% higher than those who lived in sunshine-y regions.
9. Sleep better. Daily time in the sun helps to regulate circadian rhythms for a better night’s sleep. And sleep has its own host of health benefits.
10. Feel better. Sunshine has been shown time and again to improve mood, fight Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and lessen stress. Not to mention, we’re more likely to MOVE when we’re outside basking in the sun. And physical activity is definitely good for you!