A healthy immune system is an important part of preventing or fighting Alzheimer’s. Curcumin is an easy and effective way to boost your immune system and stay healthy — while also benefiting your brain health.
Curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice Turmeric, has a number of brain health benefits:
- Ability to modulate the immune system
- Inhibits the formation of amyloid plaques
- Promotes the breakdown of amyloid plaques
- Inhibits tau and enhances its clearance
- Binds copper
- Modifies microglial activity
- Inhibits acetylcholinesterase – the primary function of this enzyme is to breakdown the neurotransmitter responsible for memory called acetylcholine.
- Mediates the insulin signaling pathway
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
Curcumin also helps boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that plays a key role in memory and learning. Many common brain disorders have been linked to decreased levels of the BDNF protein, including depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Because curcumin boosts BDNF levels — which, in turn, increases the growth of new neurons — studies show it helps fight degenerative processes in your brain.
All of these are powerful when it comes to preventing, reversing or managing Alzheimer’s. You can easily add curcumin to your diet by using it as a supplement and using turmeric in your meal preparation. Unfortunately, its usefulness may be hindered by its low bioavailability. In other words, it’s hard to absorb.
Because curcumin is poorly absorbed into your bloodstream, you need to boost its effectiveness when you use it in meal preparation by combining it with black pepper that contains piperine and fat/oil. Coconut oil is a good one to use.
In general, the best curcumin supplements are those that are liposomal because liposomal supplements have better bioavailability. They are absorbed directly into the bloodstream without going through digestion.
It’s easy to incorporate turmeric into your daily diet by using it as one of your go-to spices when cooking. You may also want to consider a supplement.
Angela Chapman is a Bredesen ReCODE Practitioner, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Functional Health Educator. If you’re searching for practical ways to protect your brain health and avoid Alzheimer’s disease, her Sunday email is a great resource for you.