Allergies could cut the ignition to your cognition
If you're suffering from seasonal allergies, think twice before reaching for an antihistamine. The temporary relief just isn't worth the long-term risk.
These drugs have been linked to a hastening of memory loss in otherwise healthy older folks. One study measured that decline to be 1.5 times faster for patients who took a drug with anti-cholinergic properties than those who didn't.
And it's not just antihistamines that you should be concerned about. They're just one drug in the larger family of anti-cholinergic drugs, which includes anti-depressants as well as drugs to treat irritable bowel syndrome.
The way the anti-cholinergic class of drugs work is that they end up blocking the effects of acetylcholine. This is the all-important neurotransmitter that is involved with your ability to learn and the functioning capacity of your memory.
I'm covering the topic of depression much more in-depth in the June issue of my newsletter (you can subscribe at www.healthrevelations.com). But for a natural remedy to take the sting out of seasonal allergies, try quercetin. It's a bioflavanoid known to curb the release of histamine when your immune system encounters an allergen. The usual dose is 500 milligrams two to three times per day.
You'll also find it naturally in onions, apples and leafy green vegetables. Even though the amounts may be smaller than you would find in a supplement, the effect can still be pronounced.
Be patient, as it takes a few weeks to see results. But the good news is that it won't cost
you your brain power.
