Alzheimer's Prevention in Your Pantry

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.aftau.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=14797

Alzheimer's Prevention in Your Pantry

Monday, June 27, 2011

TAU researcher discovers a cinnamon extract to inhibit progression of Alzheimer's disease

…

An extract found in cinnamon bark, called CEppt, contains properties that can inhibit the development of the disease, according to Prof. Michael Ovadia of the Department of Zoology at Tel Aviv University. His research, conducted in collaboration with Prof. Ehud Gazit, Prof. Daniel Segal and Dr. Dan Frenkel, was recently published in the journal PLoS ONE.

Taking a cue from the ancient world

Prof. Ovadia was inspired to investigate the healing properties of cinnamon by a passage in the Bible. It describes high priests using the spice in a holy ointment, he explains, presumably meant to protect them from infectious diseases during sacrifices. After discovering that the cinnamon extract had antiviral properties, Prof. Ovadia empirically tested these properties in both laboratory and animal Alzheimer's models.

The researchers isolated CEppt by grinding cinnamon and extracting the substance into an aqueous buffer solution. They then introduced this solution into the drinking water of mice that had been genetically altered to develop an aggressive form of Alzheimer's disease, and fruit flies that had been mutated with a human gene that also stimulated Alzheimer's disease and shortened their lifespan.

After four months, the researchers discovered that development of the disease had slowed remarkably and the animals' activity levels and longevity were comparable to that of their healthy counterparts. The extract, explains Prof. Ovadia, inhibited the formation of toxic amyloid polypeptide oligomers and fibrils, which compose deposits of plaque found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

…

Don't rush to your spice cabinet just yet, however. It would take far more than a toxic level of the spice — more than 10 grams of raw cinnamon a day — to reap the therapeutic benefits. The solution to this medical catch-22, Prof. Ovadia says, would be to extract the active substance from cinnamon, separating it from the toxic elements.

…

[roguevalley]

1. cinnamon helps keep your blood sugar level if you have diabetes.

I take four capsules a day. So I am helping against Alzheimers? Sweet. literally. :)

[Ratty]

2. The cinnamon we use today is not cinnamon

It's cassia bark. I think I learned that on America's Test Kitchen. You can of course buy true cinnamon but it is said the taste is quite different than what most of us think of as cinnamon and many of us probably wouldn't even like it.

[bvar22]

4. Thanks!

We're going to check that out.
Would Cinnamon Sticks from Sri Lanka be true cinnamon?
We have a SIL who lives there and sends us the sticks which we grind/grate for use in our house.

[eShirl]

7. yes, the true cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka & other nearby countries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon#Species

A number of species are often sold as cinnamon:<18>

Cinnamomum verum ("True cinnamon", Sri Lanka cinnamon or Ceylon cinnamon)
C. burmannii (Korintje or Indonesian cinnamon)
C. loureiroi (Saigon cinnamon or Vietnamese cinnamon)
C. aromaticum (Cassia or Chinese cinnamon)

-snip-

Due to the presence of a moderately toxic component called coumarin, European health agencies have recently warned against consuming large amounts of cassia.<20> This is contained in much lower dosages in Cinnamomum burmannii due to its low essential oil content. Coumarin is known to cause liver and kidney damage in high concentrations. Ceylon cinnamon has negligible amounts of coumarin.<21>

[bvar22]

3. bowl of steel cut oatmeal,

with fresh BlueBerries, a spoonful of organic honey from the backyard hives, healthy sprinkle of cinnamon,
and an aspirin for breakfast....good to go!

Fresh Free Range Organic Poached egg over multi-grain toast with a side of melon for lunch,

and something with lots of homegrown organic Garlic & Onion for supper,

...who could ask for more?

:hippie:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. stop eating nitrites

they break down the barriers in your brain and let toxins in.

at least that's what Dr. Oz says. I figured it wouldn't hurt to cut them out, so no more hot dogs, sausages or lunch meats that contain them. It was tough cutting down on the ham though. :(

[phylny]

6. I have eaten this product from Hormel, and the ham is delicious

http://www.hormelnatural.com/products/categories/sandwichmeat.aspx

[supernova]

8. Yes, I stopped buying luncheon meats

in the late 80s due to the nitrites and nitrates. Ditto regular bacon that's available on your average supermarket shelf.

I'm glad there are now deli meats without them, because I do love liverwurst. :9

If you can afford it Whole Foods and other organic groceries also sell nitrite free deli meats and other preserved meats.