How Curcumin And Vitamin D Can Help Fight Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is an age-old brain disorder that currently afflicts millions of individuals in the United States and abroad. Up to now, researchers have not found the cure for this debilitating disease, which affects memory, coordination, judgment, physical coordination and mental awareness.
However, there’s a positive side to all the research being conducted about this disorder. A number of studies have indicated that some medications, supplements and types of food show promise in slowing down the progression of the disease, as well as in delaying the onset of full-blown Alzheimer’s. Among the herbs and nutrients that show promise in the fight against Alzheimer’s is curcumin, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid.
What Exactly Is Curcumin?
If you’ve eaten chicken curry or other curry dishes before, then you’ve already tasted curcumin. Curcumin is an herb that’s been used for centuries in most Asian countries, notably India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. It is a food spice which has been proven to have a number of positive health benefits, ranging from protecting against cancer to producing mild and beneficial psychological effects. Curcumin is also being used for reducing pain and swelling. Some of its other benefits include cancer-prevention and anti-inflammatory properties, high cholesterol reduction, cardiovascular and anti-rheumatoid arthritis benefits.
The Benefits Of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an element that’s found in a lot of dietary sources. It’s found in fish, fortified milk, cod liver oil and eggs. Two forms of vitamin are vital for humans, and these include ergocalciferol or Vitamin D2, and cholecalciferol or Vitamin D3. While vitamin D2 is produced by plants, D3 on the other hand is synthesized in the skin, once it is exposed to ultraviolet or UV rays from the sun.
Vitamin D helps in maintaining normal blood levels, and also assists in the absorption of calcium, as well as for maintaining strong bones. Recent studies have also indicated that vitamin can help provide protection against hypertension, osteoporosis, cancer, some autoimmune diseases, and Alzheimer’s disease.
A number of studies have also indicated that Vitamin D3 is an important part of the diet, because it helps strengthen the body’s defenses against cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, dementia and other Alzheimer’s-related signs and symptoms.
A recent article in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease stressed that promising results were obtained in studies using Vitamin D3 and curcumin. Curcumin was found to be potent in reducing the risks of developing dementia, which is primarily caused by a build-up of plaque from amyloid-beta deposits in the brain.
Vitamin D3 and curcumin have also been noted to further reduce oxidized damage to the brain, as well as reduce brain inflammation. Vitamin D3 and curcumin were either used together and alone. The study indicates that these two naturally-occurring substances greatly boost the body’s immune system, and clears the brain of plaque-producing materials which lead to the onset of Alzheimer’s and other related-symptoms.
While it’s too early to recommend which doses of curcumin or vitamin D3 are suggested, the findings show an exciting trend towards finding the solid cure for Alzheimer’s. While the cost of treating the disease has gone up to hundreds of billions of dollars, the findings about curcumin’s wonderful benefits are already enough to send cheers across the medical community.