Skirt Parkinson's with This Thai Spice

If you want a future that is free of Parkinson's disease, the smart choice for dinner tonight may be curried vegetables.

Why? Because curry spice -- a staple of Thai and Indian dishes -- is rich in turmeric. And in a recent lab study, turmeric appeared to help protect the brain against Parkinson's damage.

Brain-Shielding Spice
Parkinson's disease affects about 1 million people in the United States, and researchers are actively seeking a cure. The disease works slowly over time, destroying the brain neurons that make dopamine. And that can have wide-ranging effects because muscles need dopamine to function smoothly. When they don't get it, everything from walking to talking to breathing becomes difficult. Enter curcumin. In a lab study, curcumin helped protect dopamine-producing brain cells by clamping down on a mutant Parkinson's protein that tends to do in those cells. (Related: Get a list of other RealAge doctor-recommended brain foods.)

Curried Brain Protection
Because this was just a lab study, more research is needed to determine whether eating curry and other turmeric-containing dishes could help protect brain cells. But animal research already suggests that curcumin in the diet may help guard against other inflammation-induced conditions, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and even some cancers. And if Indian dishes with curry are done right, they can be not only tasty but downright good for you, too. Here are a few delicious curry recipes from EatingWell to get you started:

• Sugar Snap Pea & Shrimp Curry
• Red Curry with Vegetables
• Curried Chicken Pita

Not a fan of curry? Then give your mind a boost by having a glass of this each morning.

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References

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