Alzheimer's Disease
Turmeric: The Spice of Life?
By Kathy Smith, creator of
Project: YOU™
From the Team Beachbody Club - Join Today and Workout to
Win!
 I love
to cook. I make it a habit to collect and trade great recipes with my friends
and family members. When I'm cooking, I just have three requirements -
convenient, scrumptious, and healthy. I use a lot of different spices. They not
only provide flavor, they also have wonderful health-giving qualities. So I
have been really interested in what scientists are finding out about a simple,
yet exotic spice that gives curry its intense yellow color - turmeric.
Disease-fighting properties
Turmeric is gaining a reputation as a
powerhouse plant, and it's no surprise. The World Health Organization reported
on a study from UCLA that found that turmeric could prevent Alzheimer's
disease. Studies on Indian villages, where curried food is a staple, found that
less than one percent of people over 65 had Alzheimer's. Turmeric contains a
phytochemical, curcumin, which can prevent and slow, even reverse, the build up
of neural plaque in our brains, which is a cause of Alzheimer's disease.
 That's
exciting news because Alzheimer's affects millions of people worldwide. In the
United States alone, more than four million Americans have Alzheimer's, and
over the next few years, an estimated 78 million baby boomers will become
seniors.
Turmeric has long been used by
Ayurveda (a holistic medical system from India) and other traditional medical
practices to treat many health problems. Researchers are finding that turmeric
has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties and may help
manage heart disease by decreasing cholesterol levels and other disease risk
factors. With turmeric readily available, and the enormous upside health
benefit potential, it may well be worth your while to introduce more turmeric
into your diet.
Dietary sources
 That
squeeze bottle of bright yellow mustard or that jar of Piccalilli or Chow-Chow
Relish at the back of the refrigerator - they all contain turmeric. Of course,
you'd have to eat a lot of turmeric to get medicinal benefits. Supplements are
a more practical way to get optimal levels for most people. A standardized
formula providing 400 to 600 mg of curcumin taken three times daily is
typically recommended.
 One of
my favorite ways to get a delicious serving of turmeric and omega fatty acids
at the same time is a recipe I got from my cousin. Coat an 8-ounce salmon
fillet with turmeric, wrap it in clear plastic wrap, and stick it in the fridge
for several hours. Then drizzle a little olive oil on it and grill it for a few
minutes on each side. The salmon will have a bright golden crust and a subtle
dill flavor, which I love. It's scrumptious and less than one gram of carbs per
serving.
If you prefer to eat out, now you have
a perfect reason to go to your favorite Indian restaurant. The next time you
order curry, pat yourself on the back. |
