Eat Indian food to boost brain power

Published: by Interim HealthCare

Indian food lovers rejoice: A new study conducted by a team of researchers at the University of California Los Angeles discovered that curcumin, the yellow spice that gives curry its bright color, can improve overall mood and brain function. Many suggest the spice could even be the reason why there are fewer cases of Alzheimer’s disease among senior adults in India.

How did they test the theory?

The UCLA researchers observed the effects of curcumin supplement on 40 participants between 50 and 90 years of age. While they weren’t all dementia patients, they all had mild memory complaints. Over the course of 18 months, half of the participants took a placebo while the others consumed 90 milligrams of curcumin twice a day.

The researchers conducted cognitive assessments on the participants at the beginning of the study, then again every six months. The results, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, showed significant enhancements in memory and attentiveness among those who had taken the curcumin supplement. Over the course of the study, their memory tests improved by 28 percent.

The researchers believe the positive results may be due to curcumin’s effect of reducing inflammation in the brain. This swelling in the brain is an early sign of depression and cognitive decline. Thus, frequent consumption of curcumin could reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

The researchers next steps will be to conduct another study with more participants. They plan to include people with mild depression to test the possible antidepressant effects of curcumin.

Are there other health benefits?

In addition to its wonderful taste and potential cognitive advantages, curcumin has positive effects on overall health. According to Healthline, these benefits include:

Antioxidant effects.

Lowered risk of heart disease.

Cancer prevention.

Reduced joint inflammation for arthritis patients.

Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric, so take advantage of cooking with this powerful spice. Here are some turmeric recipes from Bon Appetit that will not only make your tastebuds happy, but your brain as well.