Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Spices good for your brain

I was reading recently an AARP article talking about several spices which research shows help the brain.
I am trying to incorporate several of them in my diet just in case they really do help my brain function.



  • Tumeric   A university study showed that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, which gives curry its yellow color broke up brain plaques of amyloid beta, the abnormal protein buildup in the Alzheimer brain.
  • Ginger     A combo of ginger and feverfew staved off migraine headaches. It is also an antiseptic and antioxidant, great for digestion and burning of calories.
  • Garlic    May fight brain cancer and has many heart healthy benefits
  • Cinnamon  speeds the rate at which your brain processes visual cues.  It regulates blood sugar levels which helps you stay focused.  May help patients slow or prevent Alzheimer's disease.
  • Saffron twice daily dose of this herb works as well as prozac in treating mild to moderate depression.
A while back I placed Lily on cinnamon as I had read that it helped stabilize blood sugar  and perhaps help with cognition and slowing of the Alzheimer process.  I feel the cinnamon did help mom but of course this is subjective and could be coincidental but at this point what do we have to lose?

4 comments:

  1. I have no idea what you put tumeric in. But funny, this past week or so I've become addicted to looking at Swedish and Danish blogs. The beautiful winter pictures and the homes inside in all white. So many of them have mentioned baking saffron muffins, saffron cakes, saffron cookies. Seems they have very short days through the winter. Is it their way to ward off Seasonal depression disorder?

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  2. Hmmmm. Interesting makes me wonder too. I couldn't even tell you what saffron tastes like. I may just have to try it!

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  3. Oh my God, saffron is amazing! Think "yellow rice". I think that when one buys it, it looks brownish?? If I'm remembering correctly, it's super-expensive, and is used sparingly. (It's a gorgeous golden-yellow color. I once had a child in my class whose parents had named her Saffron. Makes me think of the sun.)

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  4. Sue your description definitely makes me want to run out and get some to try. What type of dishes have you had it in?

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