Spices that build brain power

I found this in my AARP magazine:
(YES I AM THAT OLD)

TURMERIC
In India, where people eat curry almost every day, the Alzheimer's disease rate is one-fourth the U.S. rate. Now researchers think they may know why. A University of California, Los Angeles study in mice showed that curcumin the active ingredient in turmeric, which gives curry that distinctive yellow color—broke up brain plaques of amyloid beta, the abnormal protein buildup that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's. Healthy way to dish it up For a brain-boosting chicken salad, toss 2 teaspoons curry powder with 2 cups cubed chicken. Sauté in olive oil until cooked, then cool. Add raisins, diced apples, chopped almonds, chopped celery, and low-fat yogurt, to taste.

GINGER
A recent study found that more than 80 percent of migraine-prone patients with mild headaches who were treated with a combo of ginger and the herb feverfew staved off migraines. After two hours, 48 percent were pain free; for another 34 percent, the pain stayed mild."If a headache doesn't go to full-blown migraine, that's success:' says Roger Cady, M.D., study author and director of the Headache Care Center in Springfield, Missouri. Healthy way to dish it up Stir 3 teaspoons grated ginger into a cup of boiling water; steep for 10 minutes, strain, and drink.

SAFFRON
Got a case of the blues? Before popping an antidepressant, try eating more of this pungent herb. A 2007 University of Tehran study discovered that a twice-daily dose of saffron works as well as Prozac in treating mild to moderate depression. Healthy way to dish it up Add 1/2 teaspoon saffron to the water while cooking 2 cups of rice

GARLIC
Long touted for its heart- healthy benefits, garlic
may also fight brain cancer. A 2007 study in the journal Cancer noted that garlic compounds eliminated brain- cancer cells, leading some experts to predict that garlic based treatments for brain cancer aren't far behind. Healthy way to dish it up Mix 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder on to 2 cloves fresh garlic with tomatoes and basil for a cancer-fighting marinara

CINNAMON
If you want to react faster during your next tennis game, chew cinnamon gum. Doing so, a recent study found, speeds the rate at which your brain processes visual cues. One reason the gum may help: cinna¬mon regulates blood- sugar levels, and this helps you stay focused. Healthy way to dish it up Sprinkle 1 teaspoon cinnamon on oatmeal for a brain- healthy breakfast.
—Daniel G. Amen, M.D.

*Most spices will last 6 to 12 months—if they're stored properly. The longer they sit in the cupboard, the more likely they will lose their health benefits. So always store spices in glass jars, says —and transfer those that come in plastic to glass. ... Phil Lempert
(aka the Supermarket Guru)

AARP Magazine MAY/JUNE 2010