Vitamin D has been lauded in past research for its possible beneficial effect against the amyloid plaques that are key in Alzheimer’s disease, but a new study shows just how they may work in clearing the plaques.

Research published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease shows that vitamin D3 may work by activating certain genes and cell signaling networks to ramp up the immune system, which then clears away a key component of amyloid plaques called amyloid-beta protein.

“This new study helped clarify the key mechanisms involved, which will help us better understand the usefulness of vitamin D3 and curcumin as possible therapies for Alzheimer’s disease,” study researcher Dr. Milan Fiala, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, said in a statement.

Researchers conducted the study by taking blood samples from people with and without Alzheimer’s disease, and isolating particular immune cells from the blood that are responsible for clearing away the amyloid-beta protein.

The scientists have conducted past research on vitamin D’s role against Alzheimer’s, also published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2009. In that study, they found that vitamin D3, together with the spice curcumin, work together to get the immune system to have its effects against amyloid-beta protein in the brain. They reported that vitamin D3 mainly comes from sunshine.

Another study, published in 2010 in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that people with low vitamin D blood levels have a higher risk of cognitive decline, WebMD reported.

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Mix the following ingredients together to wash our produce off:
Once cup water, one cup white vinegar, one tablespoon baking soda and one half lemon. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray your produce. Let the solution sit on your produce for about 5 minutes before rinsing off. Vinegar is anti-bacterial and lemon is a natural astringent.

Here are a few ways to prevent and eliminate dark circles under the eyes and puffy eyes:     Try the elimination diet:  Remove the most common allergenic foods from your diet, including  sugar, dairy, yeast, peanuts, corn, soy, red meats,  caffeine.and foods you suspect you may be allergic to. After two weeks, re-introduce these foods -one at a time- for three days each.   If symptoms return, you know that particular food should be excluded from your daily diet.  These allergy foods can cause puffiness and increased water retention or dark circles under the eyes.
Make sure to get enough sleep.  Lack of sleep causes facial puffiness and makes blood vessels more visible, giving the appearance of dark circles.
Check your thyroid:  Low thyroid levels, can cause puffy eyelids.  Also, have your iron
and B12 levels checked.  Low iron and B12 levels can cause dark circles under the eyes.
Make sure to eat  enough vitamin K friendly foods ( broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green leafy veggies, carrots, spinach). They can increase circulation under the eyes, preventing the formation of dark circles (avoid these foods if you are taking blood thinner medication).   Consuming a quality multivitamin that contains vitamin K like “Vita-Essentials” from  Pure Encapsulations  can help to avoid nutritional deficiencies).  Order it from HeleneKaplanHealth.com
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