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66 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com J THE BODY By Jules Lewis Gibson Juice Up Dementia Hits Women Hardest New research shows women who develop slight deficits in memory later in life tend to decline faster than men. Nearly two thirds of the five million Americans who develop dementia are females, mostly because women are living longer. The new study, presented at the Alzheimer's Assocation International Conference this summer, looked at cognitive tests for women and men in their 70s, measuring memory and mental acuity as well as life quality. Over a period of eight years, scientists discovered that women's scores slipped an average of two points a year faster than men. While there is no conclusive answer why some people develop dementia, doctors say there are ways to fight the disease. 5 Ways to Fight Dementia Get Up and Move! Dancing, power walking or biking improves heart rate and stimulates blood and oxygen to the brain. Watch What You Eat A diet rich in fresh fruits, veggies, lean protein and healthy fats helps to decrease inflammation in the body. Some studies suggest the Mediterranean Diet that emphasizes plant-based foods, such as whole grains, legumes and nuts, has also showed to be beneficial. Limit Alcohol Limit alcohol to 1-2 drinks per night. Doctors say choosing red wines gives you an extra boost of resveratrol, which has been shown to prevent age- related memory decline. Keep Learning Keep your mind stimulated by learning something new every day, whether it is organizing, communicating, or a new hobby. Nap In the Sun We know the importance of getting enough sleep each night, but taking a nap in the sun also boosts your levels of Vitamin D, which minimizes your risk of plaque build-up in the brain. Juicing is all the craze these days with stores popping up across the country. Becoming first popular in the early 1990s, interests in juicing has soared in the last decade due to a number of books and films that set fire to a phenomenon. Seriously motived after watching Fat,Sick and Nearly Dead a few years ago, I rushed out to buy a juicer to set my family on the path to optimum health. We toyed with the contraption for a few weeks until the novelty wore off, and we tired of the massive clean up efforts required for so little juice. Intrigued by the new fresh service offered in dedicated stores such as CROP, a locally woman-owned business in Sarasota, I decided to give juicing another go with an ambitious three day cleanse. Karen, the perky, dedicated owner of CROP, set me up with their three day plan. After a "tasting" of all the favors, she put together a daily package of juices prepared in convenient six-pack containers with instructions to drink one juice every two hours at the time on the label. It sounds prosperous that I could subsist on six bottles of juice a day, but it was surprisingly easy. After my trial, I felt good and down six pounds. Later that week, I picked up a juicer at the mall, thinking I would try making my own juices again. It was a hit for a couple of weeks, then assumed its inevitable position at the back of a cabinet. It is now clear to me why juicing stores are replacing Starbucks. It's much easier to buy than it is to make, and the team at CROP do it immensely well.

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