DON’T FORGET TO GO FOR A HOT CURRY
Jan 20 2004
(It helps fight Alzheimer’s)
By Mark Mcgivern
EATING curries could help people fend off Alzheimer’s disease, according to research out yesterday.
Scientists have hailed curcumin an extract of turmeric which is a key ingredient in the spicy dishes as a ‘‘natural antibiotic’’.
A team from the University of California in Los Angeles believe curries such as kormasandvindaloos reduce the amount of amyloid plaques, which build up around brain cells and cause Alzheimer’s.
They claim that in some cases, turmeric reduces thenumber of these plaques by a half.
The findings may explain why rates of Alzheimer’s are much lower among the elderly in India than in the West.
Other studies have found Alzheimer’s affects only one per cent of over-65s in some Indian villages.
An Alzheimer’s Society, spokesman said: ''Cur cumin has anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory properties.
''Drugs with similar properties could potentially be used as preventative treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
''Turmeric is found in everything from mild kormas to the hottest vindaloos.
‘‘Cur cumin is an excellent natural antibiotic but it could be many years before such drugs are made available.’’
Turmeric has other medical advantages, say experts.
It makes ligaments more flexible and also helps to lower cholesterol levels and cuts down on fatty deposits in the arteries which can lead to heart attacks.
It can also soothe asthma and coughs.