Popular Asian spice can cure Alzheimer's disease

(NaturalNews) Nature is full of various herbs and spices that protect against disease and even treat and cure it. And according to Chris Kilham, an ethnobotanist and Fox News' "Medicine Hunter", turmeric root -- also known in its extract form as curcumin -- is one such powerful spice that appears to both prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and even cure it.

"People who develop Alzheimer's disease get a sticky plaque in the brain called amyloid beta," explained Kilham to Dr. Manny Alvarez in a recent Fox News interview. Such plaques either develop as a result of Alzheimer's, or they are the direct cause of it. But either way, they are directly related to the degenerative process.

However studies show that turmeric actually eliminates these plaques, both when they are first starting to form and even during the late stages of their advancement.

"What we have in turmeric is something that appears to inhibit the development of Alzheimer's disease…and actually help to reduce the occurrence of plaque in the brain if you have it," noted Kilham. "We know in animal studies, when animals actually have amyloid beta plaque in their brains and they're given turmeric root…that plaque is reduced."

Observational studies have also shown that people groups who eat large amounts of turmeric virtually never get Alzheimer's.

"In countries where people consume a lot of [turmeric], there's a very low incidence of Alzheimer's disease," emphasized Kilham. "In India and Southeast Asia, it's a rare disease. And [in the U.S.] it's very, very common."

According to Kilham, drug companies are hard at work trying to develop drug versions of turmeric, but he recommends eating real turmeric whenever possible, and taking turmeric extract supplements if eating the spice in food is not an option.

"A challenge that we face is that drug companies…can't patent turmeric root," he said. "So they will continue to try to develop something else. [But] eating turmeric, eating its extracts…appears to be protective against one of the most horrific and debilitating diseases we know."

Sources for this story include:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4337733/...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...

"However studies show that turmeric actually eliminates these plaques, both when they are first starting to form and even during the late stages of their advancement."

I have a rule of thumb I live by. Whenever I'm reading something, or I hear someone say - "...studies show that...", and they don't cite the study, the researchers or the study's benefactor - my reflexive reaction is to call BS.

If "studies show" it, then let us read them for ourselves, evaluate the CV of the researchers and fully understand who paid for the study. Then the reader can make an informed decision, rather than just taking the story's word for it. Just saying.

??? Are you for real, the article is talking about Tumeric. FOLKS CURRY IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE.

Turmeric is an ingredient of curry powder, which is based largely on four spices: coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and turmeric. Different types of curry powder contain different proportions of these four ingredients, and may contain other spices as well.

I eagerly await the announcement that naan bread also has curative powers.

"“In India and Southeast Asia, it’s a rare disease.”

Of course, in India and most of the rest of Southeast Asia, their public health reporting systems are virtually non-existent. These kinds of third world countries have notoriously unreliable health statistics.

In countries without reliable or competent health care delivery mechanisms, its virtually impossible to say hat their rates of infection or affliction might be. IOW, how many "crazy uncle Pashtuns" are stuck in some closet someplace, never to receive even a moment of medical care?

Western countries have higher rates of behavior, or mental illnesses not because they "have higher rates", but because their health reporting systems are more robust and distributed, and the stigma that is associated with mental illness (or illnesses like Alz. that diminish mental capacity) doesn't exist. So, people are much more likely to get treatment, there's much more opportunity to get treatment, and once diagnoses is made and treatment is given, its more likely to be captured by the public health system.

Anyone with even a remedial understanding of how health care is delivered in India, knows that the statement "In India and Southeast Asia, it’s a rare disease.", is facially absurd and wholly unreliable.

We would buy from a large Pakistani wholesaler in Seattle — the owner was actually a very fair and nice man.

Unfortunately, my stomach and esophagus are a little weak for much of the cuisine from that part of the world — except plain rice LOL. Has always been a bit of a disappointment to Martha but saves her a lot of work cooking.

She dues cook the exotic stuff for relative’s get-togethers in the community center (and they love it).

As powerful as it is, tumeric is not readily absorbed, and most of it washes out through the digestive tract without being utilized.

Consequently, several manufacturers are now pairing it with Bioprene, which increases absorption:

http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-71753-source-naturals-turmeric-1000-healthy-inflammatory-response-support-1000-mg-60-tablets

The Life Extention folks have been all over this for years.

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