Bottom Line - Natural and Home Remedies for Aging Well : 196 Alternative Health and Wellness Secrets That Will Change Your Life.

Also by Bottom Line Inc.

52 Ways to Beat Diabetes

Aging Well with Diabetes

Copyright 2018 by Bottom Line Inc.

Cover and internal design 2018 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Cover design by The Book Designers

Cover images kurhan/Shutterstock Images, Feelkoy/Shutterstock Images

Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systemsexcept in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviewswithout permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. From a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

This book is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified physician. The intent of this book is to provide accurate general information in regard to the subject matter covered. If medical advice or other expert help is needed, the services of an appropriate medical professional should be sought.

All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor in this book.

Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.

P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410

(630) 961-3900

Fax: (630) 961-2168

sourcebooks.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is on file with the publisher.

Table of Contents

Preface

Medication can be effective and even lifesaving, but Americans might be too quick to seek a quick fix without exploring less risky options. Whatever the ailment, theres supposed to be a pill to save the day. Well, its time to step back and consider a different approach.

You see, these quick fixes can come with a lot of risk. If age has already left you a bit unsteady, side effects of drugs may easily worsen balance and cause a fall.

The other problem with medication is that its generally prescribed to control the condition, not treat the reasons you have it. Natural therapies, on the other hand, are more likely to target the root causes of illness, increasing the likelihood of a cure. But even when just treating symptoms, a natural approach can have the sameor bettereffect with little to no risk of dangerous side effects. Nondrug approaches also can be a powerful complement to necessary medications, enabling you lower to your doses, improve your quality of life, or even slow the progression of a chronic disease.

While its true that many nondrug approaches have been based primarily on their thousands of years of use by Asian, Indian, and other traditional cultures, there is now an impressive body of scientific evidence that makes natural medicine a smarter choice than ever before for many health conditions.

The editors at Bottom Line Inc. are proud to bring you Natural and Home Remedies for Aging Well , the first book published to gather trustworthy and actionable health and wellness information specifically for mature readers and their families. In the pages of this collection, youll find what you need to live a fuller, happier life over the age of fifty, from natural foods and supplements to other nondrug approaches for the complications brought on by arthritis, sleep trouble, cancer, or incontinence.

How do we find all these top-notch medical professionals? Over the past four decades, we at Bottom Line have built a network of thousands of leading physicians in both alternative and conventional medicine. They are affiliated with the premier medical institutions and the best universities throughout the world. We read the important medical journals and follow the latest research that is reported at health conferences worldwide. We regularly talk to our advisors in major teaching hospitals, private practices, and government health agencies for their insider perspectives.

Natural and Home Remedies for Aging Well is a result of our ongoing research and connection with these experts and is a distillation of their latest findings and most important advice. We have worked with top experts in natural and complementary medicine and from leading research centers, such as Tufts University, New York University School of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, and University of Washington School of Medicine, to compile the information you need to know. We trust that you will glean new, helpful, and affordable information about living a healthy life!

As a reader, please be assured that you are receiving well-researched information from a trusted source. But please use prudence in health matters. Natural medicine is not do-it-yourself medicineand just because something is natural or drug free doesnt mean that its safe for you. Always work with a knowledgeable health-care provider before starting any new regimen, be it taking vitamins or supplements, stopping a prescribed medication, changing your diet, or beginning an exercise program. If you experience side effects from any regimen, contact your doctor immediately.

Be well,

The Editors, Bottom Line Inc., Stamford, Connecticut

.

.

D. M. Qato et al., Changes in Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medication and Dietary Supplement Use Among Older Adults in the United States, 2005 vs. 2011, Journal of the American Medical Association 174, no. 4 (April 2016): 473482.

Arthritis

Key to Beating Arthritis: The Right Foods and Supplements

Osteoarthritis has long been considered a wear-and-tear disease associated with age-related changes that occur within cartilage and bone.

Now: A growing body of evidence shows that osteoarthritis may have a metabolic basis. Poor diet results in inflammatory changes and damage in cartilage cells, which in turn lead to cartilage breakdown and the development of osteoarthritis.

The increase in osteoarthritis cases corresponds to similar increases in diabetes and obesity, other conditions that can be fueled by poor nutrition. Dietary approaches can help preventor manageall three of these conditions.

Key scientific evidence: A number of large studies, including many conducted in Europe as well as the United States, suggest that a diet emphasizing plant foods and fish can support cartilage growth and impede its breakdown. People who combine an improved diet with certain supplements can reduce osteoarthritis symptoms and possibly stop progression of the disease.

A SMARTER DIET

By choosing your foods carefully, you can significantly improve the pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis. Heres how to get started.

Avoid acidic foods. The typical American diet, with its processed foods, red meat, and harmful trans fatty acids, increases acidity in the body. A high-acid environment within the joints increases free radicals, corrosive molecules that both accelerate cartilage damage and inhibit the activity of cartilage-producing cells known as chondrocytes.

A Mediterranean diet, which includes generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish, is more alkaline. (The body requires a balance of acidity and alkalinity, as measured on the pH scale.) A predominantly alkaline body chemistry inhibits free radicals and reduces inflammation.