Strict Diet Can Help Fight Diseases - Alzheimer's, osteoporosis and colon

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http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-FIT-Europe-Aging.html?pagewanted=print&position=

EU: Strict Diet Can Help Fight Diseases
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 8:29 a.m. ET

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- EU scientists on Monday called on the elderly to improve their diet as the European Union's population grows older in an attempt to contain such debilitating problems like Alzheimer's, osteoporosis and colon cancer.

Over the next two decades, the number of Europeans over 80 will double as average life expectancy inches toward 79, increasing the need for better eating habits, said three scientists who have been investigating the links between nutrition and aging.

``Proper health, nutrition and care can postpone or minimize dependency in old age,'' said Dr. Christian Patermann, EU director of biotechnology research.

European researchers have found that a healthy diet could lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Tobias Hartmann, a researcher at the University in Heidelberg in Germany, said controlled amounts of specific types of fats could prevent this form of dementia, which affects 20 percent of octogenarians and 5 percent of people over 65.<snip>

French researcher Dr. Joel Dore spoke of developing ``functional food,'' that would contain specific bacteria to help keep the colons of older Europeans functioning and healthy. A healthy colon prevents serious diseases like cancer and inconveniences like constipation.
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