This medical mistake could help you take charge of your health
Posted by Andrea Nakayama

Last year, I attended the Grand Rounds presented through the Cleveland Clinic, where Dr. Dale Bredesen spoke about the reversal of cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Even if you’re not interested in dementia or other mental health concerns, and they haven’t yet impacted your life or those of your family members, read on. The messages here apply to you no matter what…
There was something poignant that the good doctor said which speaks directly to those of us who Helping Alzheimer’s Patients with Cognitive Decline: Plugging the Metaphorical Holes in the Roofare interested in taking charge of our own health, even (or maybe especially!) if we are contending with difficult-to-treat conditions.
Dr. Bredesen spoke about the mistake the medical community has made with regards to Alzheimer’s treatments.
The Mistake
The mistake? It’s trying to target the disease with one single agent.
Just like we now know that the reversal of AIDS requires a “cocktail” therapy, Bredesen said Alzheimer’s requires a similarly many-pronged approach.
This approach is needed because Alzheimer’s is multifactorial. It’s a condition that has many underlying causes. And in order for people with this (or any!) condition to reach their healing potential, they need to be treated in a personalized manner with a multi-pronged approach.
In other words, we need to take a Functional approach—even (or especially) with conditions such as Alzheimer’s and other mental health challenges.
Dr. Bredesen went on to compare Alzheimer’s to having 36 holes in a roof…
Hang on here, you’re going to love this concept, because the 36 holes in the roof scenario means that there are things you can do all day, every day to help reverse your risk of Alzheimer’s and any other chronic or degenerative conditions.
You see, you can’t just plug one hole and expect your problems to resolve. (Imagine the water that would still come pouring in through a physical roof that still had 35 holes!)
Instead, we have to plug multiple holes. As many as possible. With our everyday diet and lifestyle choices.
In fact, what Bredesen found in his research was that essentially plugging even half the holes can lead to complete reversal of symptoms.
One hole isn’t enough. Many holes make a difference!
It’s when Dr. Bredesen said this that my ears perked up. Do you know why?
Because so many of the holes in your particular roof are truly within your power to plug. With the help of a Functional Nutrition practitioner who can uncover the needs of your unique body, you can get back in the driver’s seat of your own health. You can not only reverse your risk of disease, but even reverse conditions that have been plaguing you for years!
What You Can Do
You can make the dietary changes that add the proper nutrients into your diet, transforming your food into medicine.
You can alter your bedtime, enabling your body to better detoxify.
You can reach out to friends and family and create space in your calendar to connect with those whose company nurtures you.
You likely have the power to plug many more holes than you realize. And in so doing, you’re building your resilience and increasing your healing potential.
Remember, every hole matters, even though no single one will do the trick alone.
Together, with a Functional Nutrition practitioner who can guide you, you can become the hero of your own healing journey.
How cool is that?
What’s one thing you can do today to plug a few holes in the leaky roof that may be putting you in unnecessary risk?
Reference
Bredesen, D. (2017) The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline. New York, NY: Avery
EXPERIENCE A FREE TRAINING SERIES WITH ANDREA NAKAYAMA TO HELP YOU
Begin practicing functionally today!
MORE TO EXPLORE
You Might Also Like
A Functional Understanding of Microflora and Candida
I’m a firm believer that you are not what you eat, but what your body can do with what you eat. In other words, you are what your body can break down and absorb. In many ways you are also the sum of your parts. Sure there’s the usual digestive parts – your mouth and […]
Read MoreStart with the Gut
It's been several months since I've written a Consumer's Report. Please don't let that fool you into believing that I'm not a consumer. Like you, I get caught out-and-about and also just appreciate being able to buy a pre-packaged thing or two that meets my exacting standards and serves my gut intentions. I especially love to get my hands on a product that simultaneously passes the grade, is gratifying to the taste buds and fuels my health. That's what these pages are all about! Today I raise a glass to KeVita, my favorite drink on-the-go.
Read MoreGraduate Spotlight: Salomey Adomako
Salomey Adomako is a registered nurse (RN) and a Functional Nutrition Alliance Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC) in Simsbury, Connecticut. She is originally from Ghana, West Africa, and devotes a great deal of time to her Ghanaian community in Connecticut. Salomey specializes in working with women struggling with chronic health issues to support their health […]
Read MoreFood, Mood, Poop Journal (and the real scoop on poop)
While poop provides some great clues, poop data alone becomes much more relevant when we gather input on food intake as well. That’s why the Food, Mood, Poop Journal is your first step in clinical data capture.
Read More