If you’re a curry lover this post could well be for you. Turmeric is your new BFF…
Turmeric may be well known to you from Indian cuisine; as many of us know, it is the main spice in an Indian curry. With dementia in mind, we discuss how Alzheimer’s has been recorded as lower than average in India. Should we all start eating more curry? … Let’s find out…
Some Turmeric background info for the science minded:
Curcumin is a bright yellow chemical produced by some plants. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric, a member of the ginger family. It is sold as an herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, food flavoring and food colouring (Wiki)
Turmeric
Turmeric is not only used as a spice, it is also a medicine. Turmeric is a major component in the traditional Chinese and Indian medicine systems.
Curcumin has a lot of power too; according to studies it can significantly improve our memory and help people living with Alzheimer’s.
Turmeric can also serve as a pain reliever anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. “It’s known to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow. It influences multiple processes that nudge brain function in a positive direction” says Andrew Scholey, from the Swinburne University of Technology study.
The Benefits Of The Turmeric
Amazingly, as mentioned, it is recognized that India has a lower than average incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. We know that India, Bangladesh and Pakistan consume Curcumin more than most countries as it’s a main ingredient in the traditional cuisine. “Globally, the lowest validated rates of Alzheimer’s in the world are rural India,” According to Michael Greger M.D
Turmeric is a member of the ginger family, the root of the plant looks a bit like ginger. See pic below…
Turmeric
It can be used fresh or dried usually consumed as powder & has a unique yellow colour.
There is only one drawback with Curcumin and that is it’s poor intestinal absorption, Professor Alf Lindberg, scientific director at Cambridge Nutraceuticals, comments: ‘It is well known Curcumin is poorly absorbed in the gut.’
‘In our newly developed supplement FutureYou Mind+, we combine the Curcumin with soy lecithin in order to prevent it being destroyed in the stomach.
‘This allows Curcumin to pass through to the intestine where it is absorbed and distributed around the body.’
Another very healthy spice for people with Dementia is Paprika. This colourful little powder is made from peppers and used mainly in Hungarian & Eastern European cuisine. Paprika is rich with vitamin C vitamin E and Carotenoids.
Paprika
According to a study from The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease if we consume food that contains vitamin C and E it can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Paprika has many other benefits, it helps with hair loss because it’s rich with vitamin B6 & it’s good for the skin, paprika can also improve your eye sight according to the Institute of Medicine. “It’s Zeaxanthin and Lutein content helps your eyesight
by preventing harmful light rays from damaging your eye
tissues”.
The Benefits Of Sweet Paprika
Here you can find recipes with Turmeric and paprika. On this website you can find out how to prepare a smoothie that also contains coconut oil and turmeric. Healthy and yummy – we like that.
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