Tony Vincelli

There are a lot of reasons you might be considering relocating to Central America. There’s the pleasant climate, the opportunities for adventure, the ability to live at your own pace.  Those benefits are all excellent reasons to look to the Latin tropics when thinking about a move abroad.

But what about improving your brain health and cognitive functioning and lowering your risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease?  That didn’t make your list?  Then maybe you should check out the following stat.

A whopping 24.8 of every 100,000 deaths in the U.S. are due to Alzheimer’s-related causes.  Yet the average in Central America is only 2.48.  That means that you are 10 times as likely to die from Alzheimer’s disease living in the U.S. than in Central America.  

Given that information, you might want to go ahead and add “preventing Alzheimer’s” to the “pro” column on your list of reasons why you should or shouldn’t consider joining the thousands of other U.S. expats who are finding a better, and healthier, life in Central America.

It’s Not a Joke.  It’s a Serious Epidemic.

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are issues we once thought of as merely senility, a normal symptom of old age. Many senior citizens even use this diagnosis to justify their own actions when they misplace their false teeth/hearing aid/bifocals or when they forget a grandchild’s name and instead call them by the name of another relative/neighbor/pet.

However, these symptoms are what we now know as the condition commonly referred to as dementia.  While not a disease, in and of itself, dementia instead refers to a group of symptoms that include memory loss and difficulties with language, attention, problem solving, spatial skills, and organization (among other areas).

Much like a fever, dementia is an indication of an underlying issue.  And in 70-80% of cases it’s caused by Alzheimer’s Disease, an irreversible degenerative brain disease that’s currently the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.

Wait, It Gets Worse.

Not only are dementia and Alzheimer’s very real problems.  But they’re significantly more prevalent in the U.S.  In fact, it ranks 3rd IN THE WORLD for deaths as a result of Alzheimer’s and other diseases that cause dementia.

Between 2000 and 2010, U.S. Alzheimer’s deaths have increased by a whopping 68%, while other top killers like breast and prostate cancer, heart disease, and stroke have decreased by 2, 8, 16, and 23% respectively.

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking.  Since the risk of Alzheimer’s increases with age (it doubles every 5 years after age 65, reaching 50% likelihood after age 85), then won’t there naturally be more cases as people live longer?

While that’s a valid argument, and certainly one that accounts for a slight increase in the instances of Alzheimer’s, the numbers are extremely disproportionate.  During the same decade when the disease increased to claim 68% more lives, the U.S. life span increased by less than 2 years (from 77 to 78.7).

Andrew Morrell

So Who’s Getting It Right?

Although U.S. residents are leading the world (in a bad way) when it comes to Alzheimer’s deaths, their south-of-the-border neighbors are faring quite well in this same area.  While the U.S. ranked 3rd (Canada came in 16th, by the way), the Latin American countries of Mexico (120th), Belize (166th), Costa Rica (40th), El Salvador (169th), Guatemala (161st), Honduras (168th), Nicaragua (162nd), and Panama (117th) all did much better.

Let’s address life spans again, since it does in part account for a small portion of the additional Alzheimer diagnoses.  But again, there’s hardly much difference.  Costa Rica ties the U.S. for 33rd place in the world for its long lifespan (79 currently).  That partially explains its somewhat higher Alzheimer’s rate than its Central American counterparts.

But it doesn’t help justify the much lower number of occurrences in places like Mexico and Panama, whose life expectancies are 75 and 77, respectively.

It isn’t the quality of the care provided, as only Costa Rica comes close to the U.S. in the WHO’s ranking of the world’s healthcare systems.  And considering the U.S. is the 4th best educated nation in the world (Canada is #1), according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, education isn’t to blame either.

So, if those factors aren’t the culprits behind the U.S.’s growing Alzheimer’s epidemic, then there’s got to be another explanation.  The gravitational pull of the moon, a genetic predisposition, or maybe exposure to an abundance of Walmart stores.  No?

Proof That It Isn’t In Their Genes

Although the theory that susceptibility to Alzheimer’s is merely in the genetic makeup of U.S. residents doesn’t seem all that farfetched, recent findings have shown the complete opposite of that fact to be true.  Let me explain.

As mentioned, the countries of Central America (and Mexico) have relatively low rates of death due to Alzheimer’s, when compared to the U.S.  Now, what happens when you transplant those Latinos into the U.S. and let them live like much of the rest of the North American culture?

THEY BECOME 1.5 TIMES AS LIKELY TO DEVELOP ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE.

That’s right.

Latinos make up roughly 17% of the U.S. population and, even though they have no genetic predisposition to developing Alzheimer’s, they are being affected by alarming rates.  Rates that are projected to increase 600-fold by 2050.

Doctors chalk most of this phenomenon up to an also high occurrence of chronic illnesses in Latinos, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.  More diseases that occur in a relatively low percentage to these same individuals in their countries of origin!

G. Vermin

The North American Lifestyle Is Killing Them!

All other factors unchanged, the only other explanation is that these immigrants have succumbed to a North American lifestyle that creates the ideal climate for brain degeneration.  And we aren’t merely suggesting they are all turning into couch potatoes who sit around and east fast food all day.

While that is an unhealthy way to live, recent studies suggest that there are a lot more factors leading to the high occurrence of U.S. Alzheimer’s cases than just diet and exercise (although those are certainly major ones).

The study, Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging published by Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Science and Environmental Health Network, identified several environmental factors that alter human cells and cause a number of health problems.

They contribute to what’s called the “Western disease cluster” and includes obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome–all which greatly increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.  These diseases, they claim, are being driven by changes made in the past century to the U.S. food supply, exposure to toxic chemicals, and an increasingly sedentary way of life.

Here are some of the leading causes they identified.

• Lead – Lead exposure has recently been linked to cognitive impairment, as much as 15 years’ worth of aging in those with the highest amount of exposure.

• Air pollution – In addition to the brain, air pollution can also damage the nose, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.  The resulting inflammation and cellular damage have been linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

• Pesticides – Exposure to pesticides has been proven to impair memory and attention spans, and those with a high level of occupational exposure more than double their risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

• Dietary risk (and protective) factors – Diet and nutrition can both increase and decrease the risk of disease.  Diets high in saturated fat, for example, have been shown to increase the risk of dementia.  However, diets high in omega-3 fatty acids and those that resemble a Mediterranean diet (consisting of fresh produce, legumes, whole grains, fish, nuts, and olive oil) have been linked to a reduction in the risk of Alzheimer’s, as well as other diseases.

• Physical activity – Getting some exercise as little as two days a week, during midlife, can lead to a reduction of 50% or more in the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s later in life.

Are You About Ready for Some Good News?

If poor eating habits, an inactive lifestyle, and exposure to harmful gases and chemicals can INCREASE your chances of developing Alzheimer’s, then is it too much of a stretch to think that the opposite type of lifestyle can actually DECREASE those odds?

It isn’t.  And it can!

Just look at the suggestions that same study gave to both communities and individuals to help them lower their risks of developing Alzheimer’s.

• Sustainable, diversified, local alternatives to industrial farming

• Reformed chemical policies to prevent pollution

• Accessible health care that focuses on disease prevention

• Energy policies focusing on reduced emissions and conservation

• Eating healthy and nutritious foods (high in vegetables, fruits, fish, and nuts–low in meat, sugar, fat, and processed foods)

• Staying physically and mentally active

• Being socially engaged with friends, family, and community

Sounds doable, right?  It’s a list full of positive strides you hear political candidates promising and just generally things you know you should be doing.

So why aren’t you doing them?

Rita Willaert

Wait, It Gets Better.

While it’s possible to take some difficult baby steps towards better brain health living in North America, it’s flat out simple in Central America.  That’s because there it isn’t just about phoning it in and finding ways to artificially incorporate these practices into your life.

It’s a completely different way of life.

It isn’t squeezing in a quick high-intensity workout at the gym in the morning and then a day full of sitting around.  It’s getting exercise that’s naturally built into your daily life as you tend your own organic garden on a hillside, walk into town or along the seashore, or engage in sports or other activities you enjoy.

It isn’t taking a processed pizza crust and piling it high with “healthy” toppings or buying some obscure vegetable and experimenting with ways to make it borderline edible.  It’s eating healthy the right way by going to the local farmer’s market and buying fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables that taste phenomenal just the way they are.

It isn’t doing crossword puzzles and brain teasers to help keep your mind active.  It’s stimulating all areas of your brain by being exposed to new people and ideas, learning a new language, and trying new things.  (In fact, one study revealed that bilingual patients delayed their dementia risk by almost 5 years.)

And Better…

Other factors linked to a reduced risk for Alzheimer’s include low stress levels, a sense of purpose, strong ties to family and community, spirituality, and plenty of sleep. What better place to find these qualities than in Latin America where life moves at a slower pace, where friends are like family, and where family is everything.

It’s a place whose culture is heavily steeped in religion and tradition and whose people enjoy a quality of life that is virtually unmatched elsewhere.

And, because we so strongly believe in this healthy life-altering lifestyle, we’ve begun building a series of Adventure Colonies that offer an ideal setting for residents who wish to align their lives with these principles.  You can learn more by downloading our free ebook and reading about the Adventure Colony lifestyle.

Whether you’re looking to make a change for the sake of your brain, or just for your heart and soul, it could be the smartest move you’ll ever make.

Net Efeckt

Could the North American lifestyle be sending you to an early grave?  It sounds a bit dramatic, but the truth is that factors like stress, a poor diet, overstimulation, a sedentary lifestyle, and not spending enough time outdoors (all of which are rampant in North American culture) have been proven time and time again to have devastating effects on your health.

For that matter, so have some other surprising contributors like sitting behind a desk all day and using too much hand sanitizer.  Study after study has shown that these kinds of practices can actually take years off your life.

The good news is it is entirely possible to reduce, and in some cases even reverse, the harmful side effects of a lot of these lifestyle choices.  In fact, there’s just as much research out there that shows how living an active life, free of modern distractions and full of meaningful interaction with nature, can improve your health and wellbeing.

Here are 10 easy steps you can take today to help you begin living a happier, healthier, and more vibrant life.

Sarah444

1.  Turn off your electronics.

In a recent study of employees at the Boston Consulting group, led by a Harvard Business School professor, 26% of those surveyed say they sleep with their smartphones within reach.  A majority of that same group (51%) check email while they’re on vacation.  North Americans just can’t seem to let go of their devices.

And their kids are picking up on the same behaviors their parents are modeling.  In a 2010 study by the Kaiser Foundation, North American teens spent 7.5 hrs per day texting, using social media apps, and streaming videos.

This constant overstimulation leads to problems with concentration and difficulties recharging our brains.  In one Chinese study, overstimulated subjects showed signs of atrophy of the connective tissue in areas of the brain responsible for behavior and emotions.

By contrast, however, powering down your devices can allow your brain to recover and refuel, increasing your creativity, attention span, and cognitive function.  Learning to unplug will take some getting used to, but the benefits will be well worth it.

2.  Get off the couch.

Many North Americans spend their days working at sedentary jobs and then come home only to resume equally sedentary activities, like watching TV and sitting around talking.  Even for those who do exercise, even say 30 minutes 5 times a week, that’s still a lot more sitting than moving, an average of 15.5 hours per day.

The problem with this is that when you’re sitting you’re using very few muscles, especially big ones like those in your legs and back.  As a result, your metabolism slows down.  Those who sit a lot often have unhealthy levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides, and waist size…all which increase the risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health problems.

In addition to the cardiovascular and other physical benefits associated with exercise, physical activity has also been shown to help people relax and improve their mood.  And we’re not just talking hard-core weight lifting here.  And any and all kinds of activities are beneficial.  Even things like gardening or working around the house are great ways to keep your body in motion.

Recent studies at England’s University of Essex have also shown that exercising in nature, otherwise known as “green exercise,” offers even more benefits for your mental health.  Not to mention the fact that those who spend time outdoors are approximately twice as likely to be active than those who spend almost all of their time indoors.  So, forget heading to the gym to get your heart rate up.  Just head to the back yard or the park and let it happen naturally.

3.  Go outside.

As we mentioned, today’s North American lifestyle involves an unprecedented amount of time spent indoors.  Even for those who do have an interest in nature, there’s still the temptation to read about it online or simply kick back in the recliner and watch the Discovery Channel.

However, none of these offer the same positive benefits as actually BEING in nature, which studies have shown to have a positive effect on both attention and memory.

Nature has an uncanny way of capturing our awareness, giving us a break from artificial attractions that constantly vie for our attention. Just merely looking at nature, not even actively participating in it, heightens activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (responsible for emotional stability) and the basal ganglia (which helps recall happy memories), per a study at South Korea’s Chonnam National University.

Studies also show that the benefits increase with prolonged exposure to nature.  Even 5 minutes outside can produce some positive effects.  However, one study showed that participants improved their cognitive performance by 20% following a 3-hour hike.  Those who spent 4 days in nature upped their scores by 50%.

4.  Soak up the sun.

Most North Americans have less than optimal levels of Vitamin D, among a number of other nutrient deficiencies.  Just another result of our underutilization of the great outdoors, this situation can be rectified by a mere 5 to 30 minutes of UV exposure per day, according to a University of Wyoming study.

The benefits of adequate amounts of Vitamin D?  Better defense against conditions ranging from cancer to osteoporosis to depression to heart attacks and stroke.  In addition, the right amount of exposure to natural light helps the pineal gland regulate its output of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep.  So getting plenty of sunshine may actually help fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

On the flip side, too much artificial light at night can have the opposite effect on our internal clock.  For instance, staring at a backlit screen before going to bed can decrease melatonin production and disrupt sleep.

Note: Of course, care should always be used to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun.  Using sunscreen can block UVB rays, but unfortunately those are the same ones that provide beneficial Vitamin D.  Professionals are split on this issue, but in general it seems that a limited amount of unprotected exposure can be beneficial, while too much can certainly have serious consequences.

5.  Just add water.

Not only are many North Americans lacking in their exposure to the great outdoors. Many are also missing out on another important benefit of nature: water.  A study by the University of Exeter Medicine School found that being near water improved subjects’ moods to an even greater degree than merely being in just any old natural setting.

In a separate study, they also showed that good health seems to be more prevalent the closer you live to the coast.  Living near the seaside has been proven to reduce stress, and it also seems to encourage physical activity, a known stress reducer.

Researchers at Columbia University also identified the fact that negative ions–which are in high concentration near moving water such as waterfalls, breaking waves, and river rapids–actually act as natural antidepressants.  A study by Indoor Air saw its participants improve their energy levels by 33% after breathing negative ions for an hour.

6.  Play with your kids.

As North Americans are living increasingly inactive lifestyles, perhaps no one is suffering the consequences as much as their children.  Most young people spend more than 7 hours a day in front of an electronic screen and less than 30 minutes in unstructured outdoor play.

As a result, childhood obesity rates have doubled in the past 20 years. Pediatric antidepressant prescriptions have skyrocketed.  And the U.S. is the world’s largest consumer of ADHD medications.  As kids are missing out on the essential connection with nature, they’re becoming out of shape, unfocused, and mentally stressed.

Playing outside builds active, healthy bodies and prevents a number of future health issues.  It also raises vitamin D levels and improves distance vision, lowering the chance of nearsightedness.  It has also been shown to improve concentration and critical thinking skills and has been linked to a reduction of ADHD symptoms.

Being in nature also causes children’s stress levels to fall almost immediately.  It also reduces the anxiety associated with a hurried lifestyle.  So, do the whole family a favor and stay outside and play until the sun goes down.   

7.  Get your hands dirty.

This may sound counterintuitive, but many North Americans have become too clean for their own good.  Known as the “hygiene hypothesis,” this problem has arisen as humans have decreased their exposure to helpful microbes, like gut flora, probiotics, parasites, and good bacteria.

Without these usual suspects for our immune systems to fight, they’re instead forced to attack harmless substances like pollen and pet dander.  In essence, our overuse of bleach, anti-bacterial sprays, and hand sanitizers has left us in a sterile environment where we’re more susceptible to allergies, asthma, and other serious conditions.

A new study in Finland showed that the skin of young people who lived near forests and farms had a different composition of microbes than that of their counterparts who lived in more urban areas.  The rural kids also had healthier immune systems and a significantly lower occurrence of allergies.

The solution?  Get outside.  Let your kids play in the dirt, and maybe even eat a little of it.

The good news is that a few recent studies, conducted on laboratory animals, have shown that by reintroducing bacteria you can actually reset your immune system and its capacity for certain allergens.

8.  Eat fresh fruits.

Many North Americans fail to eat their recommended daily amount of fruit.  And often what they do get is genetically modified or doused in harmful pesticides or other chemicals, rendering them almost a net zero in terms of nutritional value.

A few fruits that you can introduce into your diet for an immediate boost in nutrients are coconuts, avocados, and mangos.  The increasingly popular coconut water has a wealth of health benefits.  It also makes a great sports drink, since it’s lower in sodium and sugar and higher in potassium than most commercial brands.  The coconut’s flesh and oil are also good for you.

Avocados pack a double punch when it comes to nutritional value.  Not only do they lower cholesterol and provide folic acid, which can prevent cancer and birth defects, they also help you absorb the nutrients of other vegetables that you eat alongside them.  So, add a few slices to your salad for an added benefit.

Eating one mango gives you half your daily recommended allowance of Vitamins A and C, as well as Omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, some B-Vitamins, and more.  These and other fresh fruits should be important staples in your daily diet.

9.  Don’t forget about your brain.

Mental deterioration is just as much, if not more of, a problem in North America as physical atrophy.  In fact, the U.S. currently ranks 3rd in the world for Alzheimer’s deaths, up 68% over the past decade.

Some contributors to this trend include lifestyle factors, like some of those we’ve already mentioned, but a lack of mental stimulation can also be to blame.

Want to know one easy way to improve your mental ability while also broadening your horizons?  Learn a foreign language.

Becoming bilingual has been proven to delay Alzheimer’s disease in at-risk individuals by as much as five years. That’s a higher success rate than any Alzheimer’s drug currently on the market.

Speaking multiple languages also improves listening skills, focus, and one’s ability to adapt.  The benefit to your kids will also be a positive one, as children raised in bilingual environments have stronger working memories and are better at mental calculation, reading, and many other skills.

10.  Allow for plenty of down time.

Overworked and highly stressed North Americans aren’t exactly famous for knowing how to slow down and take it easy.  But doing so is essential to optimal health and wellness.

Studies have shown that those who spend the most time enjoying leisure activities report the most positive emotions and the lowest occurrence of depression.  Other benefits include lower blood pressure, lower stress hormones, and smaller waist sizes.

Even the good old fashioned nap has its place in a healthy, active lifestyle.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, a 20-30 minute nap can do wonders for your physical and mental stamina.  It can help restore alertness, enhance performance, and reduce mistakes and accidents.

Viva Tropical

These Principles Are the Driving Force Behind Our Adventure Colonies.

Because we truly believe that these are essential strategies for living a healthy, well-balanced life, we make every effort to put them into practice in our own lives. However, we saw firsthand how hard it was to do that living in the North American culture.

Yeah, you can get exercise at the gym, and you can make the six hour drive to take your family to the beach every now and then.  But what we were looking for was a scenario where all of these ten lifestyle choices just came a bit more naturally.

That’s what’s so great about our Adventure Colony concept.  Adventure Colonies are the ideal setting for those of us who want a place where we can unplug, recharge, and live our lives more in tune with the way nature and our bodies intended us to.

If these healthy choices sound like the much-needed change you’re looking for, learn more about how you can live the Adventure Colony lifestyle.  Download our free informative ebook today and see how you can reset your routine and experience a whole new way of living.

Viva Tropical

Meet Gary Dierking, specialty outrigger sailing canoes designer and builder who calls Coromandel, New Zealand home. Gary acknowledges that while catamarans and trimarans are now the norm in ocean racing, cruising, and charter fleets, the characteristics of the sailing outrigger canoe are still unknown to most sailors. Read on, as Gary helps explain the different designs and benefits of outrigger sailing.

1. What is an outrigger sailing canoe?

Viva Tropical

An outrigger canoe is a very narrow canoe that would not be stable without the addition of a float on the end of a pair of beams to stabilize it. The advantage of making it very narrow is the ease with which it can be driven through the water and especially waves. An outrigger canoe can be paddled, sailed, or powered with an engine. A sailing model requires a bigger ama and stronger crossbeams to counter the forces of the sail. Over half of the earth’s surface, from Madagascar to Easter Island, was originally explored and settled with this type of vessel. An outrigger canoe can range from twelve foot in length to over one hundred feet.

2. What are they used for?

Today most outrigger canoes are used for fishing by indigenous people in the Pacific or for recreation all over the rest of the world. In Hawaii they are used for surfing and racing between the islands.

3. Can you use them on the open ocean?

Viva Tropical

Outrigger sailing canoes can be safely used on the open ocean if they are designed and built for that purpose. An 18 foot outrigger with a windsurf sail crossed 700 miles of open Pacific several years ago. One of my T2 designs cruised for over 1000 miles from Northern Mexico to Panama. The success of a voyage like these depends on good workmanship, water tight compartments, and an experienced sailor. Take baby steps first; don’t finish a canoe and immediately take off into a long voyage. Learn to sail it in light winds and calm seas until your instincts are developed. Capsize it on purpose and learn to right it. Then imagine doing that in a big seaway.

4. Are there different designs?

There is a wide variety of outrigger sailing canoes. The most important published work, “Canoes of Oceania” is 1000 pages long. There are a limited number of plans available for modern builders but I have been trying to interpret traditional designs so that they can be reproduced with modern materials. The sailing rigs and the resulting differences in hulls and structure can be divided into two types. Shunting rigs allow the canoe to be sailed with either end as the bow and always keep the ama (outrigger float) on the windward side where it acts as floating ballast. Tacking rigs sail like normal Western sailing boats and will have the ama to windward or leeward depending on the tack being sailed.

5. How do the differences of the design affect performance?

Viva Tropical

Some hulls like the classic Hawaiian were optimized for landing in heavy surf due to the lack of protected harbors. All boat design involves compromises and a canoe optimized for surf with buoyant ends and plenty of rocker will not be the best performer sailing on a lake. Traditional outriggers never had centerboards or leeboards but I have added them to greatly improve their performance to windward. Some traditional sailors would use their paddles as leeboard when sailing to windward but this is poor substitute for a good deep high aspect foil.

Steering can be accomplished with a large paddle, a long steering oar, or a rudder mounted either on the stern or on the side like a Viking ship. All of these methods were used in Oceania. Modern recreational sailors can use any of these methods but the paddle and oar are more difficult if you are sailing alone.

6. How quickly could you build one using your plans?

The big hull can usually be completed in 100 hours or less, but there are many additional parts to an outrigger sailing canoe that can take another 200 hours to complete. Much is determined by the standards of finish and ability of the builder.

Wa Kuk Wa Jimor – Marshallese Canoes Today from Rachel Miller on Vimeo.

Editor’s Note:

Gary Dierking specializes in building Outrigger sailing canoes, you can see more at his blog, Outrigger Sailing Canoes.