Thrive to 105

It’s Wednesday…and you know what that means!  Information Junkie Day!

This morning I was perusing the May/June issue of AARP Magazine…okay, yes, I admit I am a card-carrying member of AARP!  Believe me, I fought it for a long time after I started getting those darn mailings when I turned 50.  But then I saw one of the magazines (I’m an information junkie, remember?), and it really was pretty good…and informative!  So I joined.  Anyway, one of the first things I read about in this issue had to do with spices that can help your brain.

If you read my post from Monday, that also had to do with the brain as we age.  It’s one of those challenges that we need to learn to accept (note yesterday’s post)…the fact that as we age we just don’t remember “stuff” like we used to.  However, this was more than information on improving your memory.

The first spice mentioned is Turmeric (accent on the first syllable).  A research study at the University of California, LA, found that curcumin (which is the “active” ingredient in turmeric) was quite effective in destroying that nasty amyloid beta brain plaque that is found in Alzheimer’s patients.  Now the study was done on mice, not humans, but it’s still a promising find, I’d say.  In fact, it seems that in India, where they eat a lot of curry (which contains turmeric), the rate of Alzheimer’s is only one-fourth of the rate of that found in the U.S.  Personally, I’ve been using turmeric in my home made salad dressing for the past couple of months; because it is also a good cancer-fighting spice.

You may want to try their chicken salad recipe: Toss 2 tsp curry powder w/2 cups cubed chicken. Saute’ in olive oil until cooked, then cool.  Add raisins, diced apples, chopped almonds, chopped celery, and low-fat yogurt to taste.

Second on the list is saffron.  I LOVE saffron!  It is nostalgic for me.  Being the daughter of a first-generation Spaniard, I was raised eating chicken and yellow rice (arros con pollo).  Saffron is what turns the rice yellow.  In 2007, the University of Tehran did a study showing that getting a dose of saffron twice a day can be as effective on mild to moderate depression as Prozac! You can add ½ tsp of saffron to the water you cook your rice in.  Of course, last time I checked, saffron cost a fortune; in fact, I think they keep it behind the customer service desk at the grocery stores so it doesn’t get ripped off!  Plus your insurance (if you even have insurance) isn’t going to cover that purchase.  I don’t have a problem with depression, but I may just ask how much it would set me back to buy a small supply of it the next time I shop.

This next research study I found very interesting, since I am constantly researching alternative treatments for cancer so I can pass the information on.  The study was referenced in the 2007 Cancer journal.  In the study it seems that garlic compounds were shown to eliminate brain cancer cells!  WOW!  Wouldn’t that be wild and wonderful if new treatments for brain cancer would be composed of garlic compounds rather than chemotherapy drugs?!!!  One suggestion for getting your healthy dose of garlic on a regular basis is to make marinara with tomatoes, a couple cloves of garlic, and basil.

For all you jocks out there, you might want to try chewing cinnamon gum when preparing to battle your opponents.  Apparently, cinnamon helps to regulate blood sugar levels, which helps you to stay focused.  This in turn helps your brain process visual cues at a faster rate.  If you don’t like to chew gum, try adding cinnamon to a bowl of oatmeal before you get out on the raquet ball court or pick up the controller on your Wii.

One last note on the spices you use.  Store them in glass jars, rather than plastic; they will last longer (6-12 months).

Okay, that’s it for Information Junkie Wednesday.   Go season up your brains; feel better; play better!  Adios!

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