What Really Causes Alzheimer's Disease - Soil and Health Library

the amount of sediment in the water supply, but simultaneously
greatly increases levels of dissolved aluminum, especially
if the water is acidic. 18
The western diet promotes Alzheimer’s disease in three distinct
ways. Firstly, it tends to be deficient in calcium and
magnesium, 19-20 making those who eat it very susceptible to
aluminum toxicity. Secondly, many foods are canned, wrapped,
and/or cooked in aluminum. The more acid the food, the more
easily it dissolves this metal. Thirdly, maltol is added to many
processed foods in an attempt to “improve” flavour. This additive
facilitates the passage of aluminum through the blood-brain
barrier. There can be little doubt also that the typical western
diet is too low in many minerals. Consider, for example, magnesium.
This occurs at relatively high levels in unrefined whole
grain cereals and in green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, lentils,
beans, and peas. 21 However, farmers do not routinely add magnesium
to soils, so its levels are often relatively depleted in
their crops. Since it is fairly soluble, food processing and cooking
also often can greatly reduce magnesium levels in foods.
To illustrate, the milling of whole grain lowers the magnesium
content to only 20 percent of that initially present. Processing
further reduces it, so that while one slice of whole wheat bread
provides 24 milligrams of magnesium, a slice of white bread
contains only 6 milligrams. 22 For such reasons, dietary intakes
of magnesium have been declining for at least 100 years in the
USA, falling from about 500 mg to 175-225 mg per day.
Fortunately, there is a great deal that individuals can do to
reduce their chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease. For most
of those reading this book, the average day will begin with a
shower. If the water used is acidic and deficient in calcium
and magnesium, it is possible that it will be a source of aluminum
that enters the body through the pores and nose. This
exposure to aluminum is more likely if the water supplier uses
xi