Foods, Vitamins And Herbs That Boost Your Brain Power

The right foods will help you use your brain to the max, and the more you use it, the more you’ll challenge your brain to grow new cells, create new connections, and improve your problem-solving and memory functions.

Before I tell you about the many great foods that will keep your brain performing at its peak, remember — eat organic foods that are fresh and as close to their natural state as possible. Also, drink plenty of pure, clean water, which is 85% of your brain’s weight.

Did you know that water can actually increase your alertness? When you’re feeling sluggish in the afternoon, instead of grabbing a caffeinated, carbonated drink, pour yourself a tall glass of purified water.

Finally, pick foods your great, great grandparents would have eaten, and stay away from so-called modern, highly processed foods that are filled with nasty chemicals. Many foods today are genetically modified. So, they are not as nutritious as organic, natural foods. And even worse, they can be dangerous to your health.

Foods that Boost Your Brain Power

Research suggests that diets rich in berries reduce, or even reverse, declining brain function. Blueberries, in particular, have been shown to have the ability to improve memory and keep your brain “young.” They can also help you improve your balance and coordination.

Berries are rich in antioxidants which protect your brain cells from oxidation and free radical damage ^[1]. This means antioxidants may slow down brain aging and prevent disease, while promoting the growth of healthy brain cells. Berries are also some of the most colorful foods you can eat!

The Healthiest Berries

Blueberries Blackberries Red Grapes

Strawberries Raspberries Cranberries

Goji Berries Mulberries Boysenberries

The South American Acai Berry has more antioxidants than any other berry. Plus, it contains Omega Fatty Acids and is high in protein. Stick to bright colors when choosing other fruits and vegetables, too. Yellow, orange, and green vegetables are rich in beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that converts to vitamin A in your body. Dark leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits are packed with vitamin C.

Both vitamins are linked to improving your memory and reasoning powers and keeping your arteries functioning properly.

Foods High in Beta-Carotene & Vitamin C:

Mangos Oranges Carrots Broccoli

Tomatoes Cantaloupe Rainbow chard Green, Red & Yellow Peppers

Vegetables and fruits also contain natural sugars that keep you alert. Your brain needs natural sugars to function at its best. Avocados are rich in good fat and vitamin E, while whole and sprouted grains are rich in fiber. Both are good for your circulatory system. And what’s good for your blood flow, is great for your brain.

The Importance of Essential Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids are also necessary for maximum brain power, as well as promoting normal brain growth and development. Studies show that eating foods that are high in Omega Fatty Acids can reduce the risk of some disease, too. These fatty acids also help boost memory and your ability to learn new things!

Other sources of good Omega fatty Acids are marine plants, such as blue-green algae, and nut or seed oils.

All nuts, particularly walnuts, “feed your brain” because they keep your arteries clear and boost serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that controls sleep, depression, memory, and other neurological processes. Raw unprocessed Organic Olive oil, Coconut Oil and hempseed oil also contain brain healthy fats, fibers, and proteins. I recommend 1-2 tablespoons daily.

Foods High in Folic Acid

Okra Spinach Lentils Collards Asparagus

Black Beans Garbanzo Beans Romaine Lettuce Black-Eyed Peas Sunflower Seeds

Did you know that flaxseed, and real organic chocolate are brain food, too! They’re filled with vitamin E which keeps your brain healthy later in life. Real chocolate also releases dopamine, to enhance cognition and mood.

Be sure to eat chocolate that is minimally processed and retains the most pure cacao bean. That means either 100% organic cocoa powder or a dark chocolate bar with at least 75% cacao content. You’ll need to be careful of the chocolate you buy because some chocolate manufacturers use unhealthy and unethical practices.

Vitamins & Herbs that Boost Your Brain Power

These vitamins and minerals help your memory and reasoning powers while slowing down the signs of aging.

Vitamin A Vitamin C

Vitamin E Folic Acid

B Vitamins Magnesium

Some researchers suggest that the herbs ginseng and gingko have a positive impact on your brain, keeping you alert and improving memory.

Did you know? Body cleansing can help boost your brain power, too. By eliminating the toxic chemicals and heavy metals that build up in your body from your environment and diet, you can rid your brain of dangerous free radicals that may contribute to disease and poor health.

Eating the proper foods enhances your brain functions. And, using your brain for reading and learning new skills, such as a musical instrument, a new language, or computer skills — even conquering crossword puzzles regularly will keep your brain quick and nimble.

Note: Processed foods are often too starchy, fatty, and sugary and will do more harm than good for your body and brain. You want raw, organic fruit and vegetables as often as possible. Live foods present your body with beneficial energy as well as their natural nutrients.

I also recommend getting a cellphone protector for your phone to reduce any harmful radiation leaking into your brain tissue.

References:

1. Leigh Erin Connealy MD. The importance of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables. Natural News. 2008 Novermber 05.

The post Foods, Vitamins And Herbs That Boost Your Brain Power appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

What Is Shilajit?

Hailing from the Caucasus and Himalayan mountains, Shilajit (pronounced shi-lah-jeet) is a naturally-occurring substance that’s rich in beneficial nutrients. Although it’s somewhat unknown today, it is still prominent in many natural health practices, including Ayurveda. This blackish, smooth substance can be found in high concentrations in the Altai Mountains. One of the main constituents of the material is fulvic acid, which has shown some promise in heavy metal protection and brain support.

What is Shilajit?

Shilajit is a sticky resin that oozes from rocks in the mountains in response from the heat of the sun. It is often referred to as “rock sweat” and “stone oil” for its tar and sap-like texture. You’ll often see shilajit as a black color, but it typically ranges in hue depending on location. The substance is rich in nutrients, like humic acid, A, B, and C vitamins, and trace minerals, and it may be useful for supporting men’s health. While shilajit research is by no means large, there is some evidence that its compounds can provide many health benefits.

What are the Benefits of Shilajit?

Shilajit may support healthy aging, increase the body’s ability to rejuvenate tissue, increase metabolism, boost the immune system, promote digestive health, and even help strengthen bones. Its effects on brain health should also be noted. Research shows that compounds in shilajit may be helpful for reducing Alzheimer’s disease risk. ^[1] According to some spiritual traditions, shilajit may also be helpful for cleansing chakras, or energy centers at various points of the body. ^[2]

Shilajit contains at least 85 substances and minerals that are essential for the human body, including vitamins A, B, and C, and essential minerals like iron, zinc, and magnesium. Due to its mineral content, some research suggests it may be helpful in cases of anemia. ^[3] It’s incredible as an antioxidant and helps neutralize harmful free-radicals. The antioxidants may explain why shilajit is so beneficial for brain health. Review of the literature on shilajit also shows the substance to be a powerful adaptogen. ^[4] Perhaps its best feature though is its rich concentration of fulvic acid.

What is Fulvic Acid?

Fulvic acid–also known as humic acid–is like an octane booster for your body. It is a mixture of a number of different acids and is composed from degraded organic matter. Fulvic acid helps makes nutrients more absorbable, supports brain health, and makes it easier for your body to cleanse itself of chemicals, toxic metals, and harmful compounds that negatively affect your health.

Supplementing With Shilajit

Shilajit can be taken as a standalone supplement, and it’s also sometimes added to herbal formulations to supercharge their effect. In fact, that’s why we’ve added it to several of our products, including Zeotrex, our solution for chemical and toxic metal cleansing.

Have you ever used shilajit? What were your experiences?

References:

1. Carrasco-Gallardo Carlos, Guzmán Leonardo, and Ricardo B. Maccioni. Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Procognitive Activity. National Center for Biotechnology Information. USA.Gov, 2012.


2. Ayurvedic Living. Shilajit: A Cure For All Weakness. AyurvedicLiving.org. AyurvedicLiving.org, 2015.


3. C. Velmurugan, B. Vivek, E. Wilson, T. Bharathi, and T. Sundaram. Evaluation of safety profile of black shilajit after 91 days repeated administration in rats. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012 Mar; 2(3): 210-214. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60043-4.


4. Agarwal SP, Khanna R, Karmarkar R, Anwer MK, Khar RK. Shilajit: a review. Phytother Res. 2007 May;21(5):401-5.

The post What Is Shilajit? appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Do Pomegranates Protect Against Neurodegeneration?

The CDC estimates around 5.3 million Americans are living with some form of Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to double by 2050. ^[1] Dementia, a generalized term used to describe neurodegeneration, is a disabling issue that have definitive roots in lifestyle and nutritional habits. While genetics may play a role in brain health, it’s lifestyle that is the driving force behind the progression of hereditary variables. A recent study is suggesting pomegranate, a red deciduous fruit rich in polyphenols, may be a potent protector against mental degeneration.

The Wonder Power of Pomegranate

One of the main factors in Alzheimer’s disease is the formation of amyloid plaque in the brain. This plaque divides irregularly and leads to beta amyloid, proteins that clump together and prevent proper cell-to-cell signaling. Certain metals–aluminum in particular–have been strongly implicated in the deposits of beta amyloid. ^[2] Research shows that exercise may reduce the extracellular accumulation of this plaque in the frontal cortex, possibly slowing or preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia. ^[3]

A recent study looking at the effects of freeze-dried pomegranate found the fruit inhibited the formation of these plaques as well as the swelling of irritation in the brain normally accompanying Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. ^[4] Pomegranate is a highly-concentrated source of antioxidants, and it’s this fact that may be one of the contributing factors to the fruit’s neuro-protective properties. Pomegranate extract may provide even more benefit than the whole fruit, since it’s much more concentrated. This is one of the reasons we added pomegranate extract to Cell Fuzion™, choosing only the highest quality extract with a condensed source of polyphenols.

How to Protect Your Brain

Other than consuming pomegranate and small, antioxidant-rich berries, there are certain lifestyle habits you should adopt to protect the long-term health of your brain. As previously mentioned, exercise is essential for preventing amyloid plaque buildup. Getting enough sleep and managing blood sugar levels also appears to have beneficial effects on brain health. In fact, research shows Alzheimer’s disease is another type of diabetes, where the brain has a difficult time utilizing glucose for energy. ^[5] Reducing your grain and refined sugar carbohydrates could be helpful in this regard. Also, keeping your heart health in check may be helpful, as studies indicate atherosclerosis significantly raises dementia risk. ^[6]

What are you concerns with dementia? What steps have you taken to protect brain health?

References:

1. Hebert LE, Scherr PA, Bienias JL, Bennett DA, Evans DA. Alzheimer disease in the US population: prevalence estimates using the 2000 census. Arch Neurol. 2003 Aug;60(8):1119-22.


2. Exley C, House E, Polwart A, Esiri MM. Brain burdens of aluminum, iron, and copper and their relationships with amyloid-β pathology in 60 human brains. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;31(4):725-730.


3. Paul A. Adlard, Victoria M. Perreau, Viorela Pop, and Carl W. Cotman. Voluntary Exercise Decreases Amyloid Load in a Transgenic Model of Alzheimer’s Disease. The Journal of Neuroscience, 27 April 2005, 25(17): 4217-4221; doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0496-05.2005.


4. Velagapudi R, Baco G, Khela S, Okorji U, Olajida O. Pomegranate inhibits neuroinflammation and amyloidogenesis in IL-1β-stimulated SK-N-SH cells. Eur J Nutr. 2015 Jul 10.


5. Kaushik Shah, Shanal DeSilva, and Thomas Abbruscato. The Role of Glucose Transporters in Brain Disease: Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2012; 13(10: 12629-12655. doi: 10.3390/ijms131012629.


6. Silvestrini M, Viticchi G, Falsetti L, et al. The role of carotid atherosclerosis in Alzheimer’s disease progression. J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;25(4):719-26. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2011-101968.

The Link Between B-12, Brain Function and Memory

Due to vitamin B-12’s association with energy metabolism, you might wonder what purpose it serves in your brain’s health and memory. There are a few complex roles that this B vitamin participates in—beyond releasing energy—that play a role in neurological function. This article will shed light on the primary reasons B-12 is indispensable to healthy brain aging.

Vitamin B-12 primarily functions as an enzyme cofactor. This role includes the production of red blood cells, the synthesis of myelin (a protein that coats nerves), genetic expression, amino acid balance, and the detoxification of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other chemicals. These activities are essential to maintaining brain function and preventing memory loss and cognitive decline.^[1, 2]

B-12 Deficiency and Cognitive Impairment

A number of brain diseases are associated with low B-12 status, particularly conditions characterized by cognitive difficulties like muddled thinking and forgetfulness. But the precise mechanism wasn’t identified until relatively recently. Researchers and doctors are beginning to see that cognitive issues associated with advanced age might be due, at least in part, to undiagnosed low B-12 status.^[1, 3]

Brain atrophy is a normal part of the aging process, but years of unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices can worsen the decline. Nearly 23% of Americans who reach their 70s will develop at least some degree of cognitive impairment. For far too many, this is an irreversible, progressive decline that requires specialized care by family members or costly facilities.^[4, 5]

One study found that low B-12 status was associated with poor memory. Remarkably, older adults with insufficient B-12 had structural anomalies in the region of the brain most associated with memory, the hippocampus.^[2] Emerging research has found that B vitamin supplementation—specifically with folate, B6, and B-12—slows the progression of brain tissue loss and cognitive impairment. These benefits are limited to those with a low B vitamin status. If you already have normal serum levels of these B-vitamins, adding extra doesn’t seem to have any beneficial effects on brain health.^[3, 6] That said, a variety of factors increase the likelihood of poor nutritional status in aging populations.

A Primer on B-12 Absorption

From food to cell, B-12 meanders through a complicated, multi-step route, meaning that adequate intake isn’t the only factor that determines whether you have enough in your body. Your B-12 status is determined by how much you get in your diet, how well your digestive system frees the vitamin from food, how much you can absorb from your small intestine, and how easily you can convert dietary B-12 to an active form your cells can use.^[7]

B-12 attaches and detaches itself to and from several carrier proteins along this route with the aid of digestive juices. Essentially, it needs to catch several different buses to reach its destination, i.e., before it can be absorbed from the digestive tract into your body. It first attaches to R-factor (haptocorrin) in your saliva and is then cleaved from this complex by the hydrochloric acid in your stomach. From here, B-12 binds to intrinsic factor (IF) at the beginning of the small intestine. The last stretch of the small intestine absorbs the IF/B-12 complex, transporting it across the intestinal wall and inside the body. Before the vitamin circulates in your blood, it has to decouple from IF and join another carrier protein called transcobalamin. Once attached to transcobalamin, it travels to where it’s needed in the body. Once it makes its way inside individual cells, it may require further processing if it’s not in its active form.^[7]

Absorption of B-12 in Older Adults

As we age, we begin to slow down in more ways than one. Organ function becomes less efficient, a consequence that extends to the stomach. As many as 30% of older adults develop a condition called atrophic gastritis, or achlorhydria. This condition means that the stomach secretes less acid with which to digest food. Without gastric acid, B-12 is not able to separate from R-factor and bind to IF for absorption, preventing B-12 absorption despite sufficient dietary intake. To analogize, the B-12 you ate can’t get off the bus (R-factor), as it drives past the exit for the airport and misses its flight from the digestive system into the blood.^[8, 9]

Elderly populations also manifest a lifetime of damage and immune and organ decline that leads to decreased B-12 absorption. The specific health issues that contribute to low B-12 status include intestinal inflammation, autoimmune disorders that prevent the production of B-12 carrier proteins, damage to the wall of the intestine, hostile gut organism overgrowth, pernicious anemia, and certain medications.^[9]

Age-associated Factors That Affect B-12 Status

With age, the body’s ability to absorb and use vitamin B-12 can change. Below are common, age-associated factors that affect B-12 status.

• Insufficient gastric acid output


• Chronic H. pylori overgrowth


• Imbalance of the gut microbiota


• Taking medications such as proton pump inhibitors and Metformin


• Folate deficiency


• Decreased production of intrinsic factor (IF), usually associated with autoimmune disorders


• A prolonged history of inflammation in the intestine


• Decreased appetite associated with aging or illness

How Low B-12 Status Harms Brain Health

B-12 status intersects with brain health a few different ways. Inadequate B-12 in the body promotes brain shrinkage and atrophy (similar to muscle wasting), harms cardiovascular health, and decreases your brain’s ability to break down hormones and neurotransmitters.

The Neurological Effects of B-12 Deficiency

According to the NIH, B-12 deficiency manifests as the following neurological symptoms:^[2]

• Difficulty balancing


• Unhappy mood


• Confusion


• Poor memory


• Developmental delays in infants

Accelerates Brain Aging

Low B-12 status accelerates mental decline by inhibiting the methionine cycle, a process that converts the essential amino acid methionine into other amino acids to build proteins. You need folate, B6, and B-12 to convert the nonessential amino acid homocysteine into methionine. Homocysteine is a normal metabolic product, but it also comes from diets that contain excess animal protein. With inadequate B-12, the homocysteine levels build up in your blood and brain, leading to nerve damage, delayed communication between nerves, and brain shrinkage.^[4, 10]

Low B-12 status also decreases the production of a prolific detoxifier called SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine), a cosubstrate involved in the modification of other molecules. SAMe donates a piece of itself, its methyl group, to other molecules. Estrogen, neurotransmitters, and other chemicals require this methyl group to break down into safer molecules for recycling or elimination. When you don’t have adequate B-12, you cripple the production of SAMe; impeding this detoxification process contributes to a buildup of unnecessary molecules in the brain and degraded neural tissue.^[10]

Inhibits Production of Neurotransmitters

Low B-12 status appears to significantly depress production of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. It acts as a coenzyme during the synthesis of these neurotransmitters, so a deficiency limits your brain’s ability to produce these important chemical signallers. This effect disrupts emotional stability and can affect your sleep quality.^[1, 11]

Reduces Blood Flow to the Brain

As if homocysteine didn’t cause enough damage to your brain, it also targets your vascular health. Elevated levels of homocysteine contribute to arterial thickening, stiffness, and the development of atherosclerosis. All of these effects reduce blood flow to the brain and contribute to stroke risk, which compounds damage to the brain.^{[12, 13, 14]}

Healthy Brain Aging With Adequate B-12

B-12 supplementation offers promise for supporting normal brain health and may even lead to limited cognitive improvement in B-12 deficient older adults. One Oxford study on older adults found that B vitamin supplementation over the course of two years slowed brain atrophy by an astonishing 30% compared to the group that didn’t receive any vitamin supplementation. Participants with the highest levels of homocysteine responded with a remarkable 53% reduction in brain atrophy, compared to their placebo-controlled counterparts.^[3, 4]

Staying Sharp at Any Age

Taking your B vitamins isn’t the only way to keep your brain healthy throughout your lifetime. A healthy diet and regular exercise keep your arteries strong and flexible so that they can carry necessary nutrients to your brain. If you smoke, keep in mind that you’re not only harming your lungs; the effects of smoking also extend to your brain. One study found that smoking has debilitating effects on memory, processing speed, and general brain function.^[15]

You can also try a low methionine diet, a plant-based diet that specifically limits methionine intake to prevent high homocysteine levels before they cause any damage. Consuming animal protein contributes to high homocysteine levels, along with the additional deleterious effects of a high meat diet.

Meditation and stress management are—pardon the pun—a no-brainer when it comes to your cognitive health.^[16] I also highly recommend lifelong learning as another way to delay age-associated cognitive decline. Challenging your mind, even well into adulthood, forms new neural connections in the brain that safeguard against these kinds of difficulties.^[17]

Do you have any suggestions for protecting your brain? Share your tips in the comments!

References (17)

1. Gröber, Uwe, Klaus Kisters, and Joachim Schmidt. “Neuroenhancement With Vitamin B12—Underestimated Neurological Significance.” Nutrients 5.12 (2013): 5031-5045. Web. 31 May 2017.


2. Köbe, T., et al. “Vitamin B-12 concentration, memory performance, and hippocampal structure in patients with mild cognitive impairment.” Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Apr;103(4):1045-54. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.116970. Epub 2016 Feb 24.


3. Smith, A. David, et al. “Homocysteine-Lowering By B Vitamins Slows The Rate Of Accelerated Brain Atrophy In Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” PLoS ONE 5.9 (2010): e12244. Web. 31 May 2017.


4. Vogiatzoglou, A., et al. “Vitamin B12 Status And Rate Of Brain Volume Loss In Community-Dwelling Elderly.” Neurology 71.11 (2008): 826-832. Web. 31 May 2017.


5. Plassman, Brenda L., et al. “Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment without Dementia in the United States.” Annals of Internal Medicine 148.6 (2008): 427–434. Web. 31 May 2017.


6. Douaud, Gwenaëlle, et al. “Preventing Alzheimer’S Disease-Related Gray Matter Atrophy By B-Vitamin Treatment.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110.23 (2013): 9523-9528. Web. 31 May 2017.


7. Stanger, Olaf. “Water Soluble Vitamins.” 1st ed. Dordrecht [etc.]: Springer, 2012. Web.


8. Russell, Robert M. “Gastric Hypochlorhydria And Achlorhydria In Older Adults.” JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 278.20 (1997): 1659. Web. 31 May 2017.


9. “Office Of Dietary Supplements – Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12.” Ods.od.nih.gov. N.p., 2017. Web. 31 May 2017.


10. “Vitamin B12.” Linus Pauling Institute. N.p., 2017. Web. 31 May 2017.


11. Valizadeh, Nasim, and Maryam Valizadeh. “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder As Early Manifestation Of B12 Deficiency.” Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine 33.2 (2011): 203. Web. 31 May 2017.


12. Woo, Kam, Timothy Kwok, and David Celermajer. “Vegan Diet, Subnormal Vitamin B-12 Status And Cardiovascular Health.” Nutrients 6.8 (2014): 3259-3273. Web. 31 May 2017.


13. Haynes, William G. “Hyperhomocysteinemia, Vascular Function And Atherosclerosis: Effects Of Vitamins.” Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy 16.5 (2002): 391-399. Web. 31 May 2017.


14. Saposnik, G., et al. “Homocysteine-Lowering Therapy And Stroke Risk, Severity, And Disability: Additional Findings From The HOPE 2 Trial.” Stroke 40.4 (2009): 1365-1372. Web. 31 May 2017.


15. Durazzo, Timothy C., Dieter J. Meyerhoff, and Sara Jo Nixon. “Chronic Cigarette Smoking: Implications for Neurocognition and Brain Neurobiology.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI), Oct. 2010. Web. 15 June 2017.


16. Gard, Tim, Britta K. Hölzel, and Sara W. Lazar. “The Potential Effects of Meditation on Age-related Cognitive Decline: A Systematic Review.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2014. Web. 15 June 2017.


17. Antoniou, Mark, Geshri M. Gunasekera, and Patrick C.M. Wong. “Foreign Language Training As Cognitive Therapy For Age-Related Cognitive Decline: A Hypothesis For Future Research.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 37.10 (2013): 2689-2698. Web. 31 May 2017.

1 Gram Of Turmeric Boosts Working Memory In Just 6 Hours

Need a caffeine-free, memory-boosting alternative to coffee? Just one dose of turmeric powder (1 gram) was found to improve working memory in pre-diabetics in hours. 

Interest in turmeric as a tonic and regenerative agent for brain conditions is growing rapidly. Given the increased prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, as well as an alarming uptick in brain cancer and the cognitively impairing metabolic dysregulations associated with type 2 diabetes.

Turmeric and its primary polyphenol curcumin hold great promise as an alternative to pharmaceuticals, none of which have been shown to address nor resolve the root causes of disease.

A recent study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition titled, “Turmeric improves post-prandial working memory in pre-diabetes independent of insulin“, reveals the unique therapeutic profile of this ancient Indian spice in preventing cognitive impairment linked to pre-diabetes and dementia.

The study enrolled 48 60-year olds with newly recognized yet untreated pre-diabetes. They were randomized to receive either a placebo, turmeric (1,000 mg), cinnamon (2,000 mg) or both (1,000 mg & 2,000 mg respectively), ingested at a white bread (119 g) breakfast.

The researchers observed the participants’ metabolic responses over a 6 hour period for the following parameters:

·      Pre- and post-working memory (WM),

·      Glycemic and insulin responses

·      Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)(measured at 0, 2, 4 and 6 hours):

o   amyloid precursor protein (APP),

o   γ-secretase subunits presenilin-1 (PS1),

o   presenilin-2 (PS2),

o   glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3β).

The study results were reported as follows:

“We found that a modest addition of 1 g turmeric to a rather nutritionally-bland breakfast of white bread improved working memory (WM) over 6 hours in older people with pre-diabetes. This was not the case for 2 g cinnamon.”

Moreover, they observed that body fatness and insulin resistance modulated the effect that turmeric had on improving working memory, “suggesting that the benefits of turmeric might be enhanced where these characteristics were less abnormal.”

While the study found the Alzheimer’s biomarkers “showed active correlations among themselves during the 6 hour study, these did not account for the link between turmeric and WM.” In other words, the researchers surmised that while the spice components access and modulate traditional Alzheimer’s biomarker pathways, no definitive mechanisms of action explaining how they affect working memory could be discerned in the study.

Interestingly, the study intentionally selected whole turmeric powder instead of extracts of curcuminoids, as is normally the case, in order to simulate real-world culinary exposure to the spice:

“We deliberately used whole turmeric rather than curcuminoids or turmeric extracts. We wanted to examine the commodity used in daily life and with which there are generations of experience and presumptive safety across Asian food cultures – south, north-east and south-east Asia, albeit in a range of cuisines. The amounts used were also within the usual household range.”

This study adds to a growing body of literature showing that turmeric/curcumin is both an excellent intervention for pre-diabetics (with up to a 100% prevention rate, according to a Diabetes Care study published two years ago), as well as anti-dementia agent, as evaluated in greater detail in previous reports we have done on the subject:

Learn more by visiting the world’s largest turmeric database on Greenmedinfo.com: Turmeric Health Guidetionally recognized as the largest and most widely referenced health resource of its kind.

© July 1, 2017 GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.