Adding spice to your life can have some terrific benefits. Traders risked their lives and traveled far and wide to procure and sell these invaluable assets. Aside from adding flavor to foods, spices have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. They have powerful effects in protecting the brain from damage. Each acts a little differently to prevent or reverse damage to nerve cells. Longevity Medicine Review looked at the development Alzheimer’s disease calling it the 21st Century Epidemic and found the active extracts of some common herbs and spices may preserve healthy brain function with few, if any side effects. . Here are some of the most pertinent findings that may compel you to consider incorporating the following into your foods and supplement regimens.
• Curcumin, the most active of the three curcuminoids found in the yellow- orange Indian curry spice turmeric. Populations who used this liberally in their diets had a much lower incidence of Alzheimer’s and scored better on established measures of cognitive function.
• Rosemary extract with its long history of folk use as a brain stimulant was studied and the results were so impressive the researchers concluded it could be a key molecule for the development of therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease.
• Gingko bilboa extract treated brain cells were resistant to toxic effects of beta amyloid protein found in Alzheimer’s plaques.
• Red or Panax Ginseng in recent studies showed the extracts were able to regenerate brain cells. Its extract in other studies was shown to improve memory.
• Vinpocetin is an antioxidant, dilates blood vessels and improves blood flow to the brain.
• Huperzine A significantly relieves memory deficits in the elderly related to Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia without the side effects that usually accompany pharmaceutical products.
Blending, means of extraction, and absorption enhancers may explain why studies of these compounds have had conflicting results. Individuals with ApoE4 genotype are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s and preventive action may thwart disease development. Large -scale human trials are necessary to shed more light on how to prevent this 21st Century Epidemic. In the meantime, spice up your memory and work with a healthcare professional knowledgeable in prescribing high quality dietary supplements to assure that the products you are using are safe and effective.
