Fight Parkinson's Disease With Turmeric

Hey, this is Dr. Oz with a quick tip to prevent Parkinson's disease, and it lies in a little box on you spice rack. Curry, why curry? Because curry spice which is 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. Parkinson's' disease works slowly, destroying the brain neurons that make dopamine, that can have a wide range and effect because your muscles need dopamine to function smoothly. When they don't get it, everything from walking, to talking, to breathing becomes more difficult, that's where a curcumin, a compound in turmeric comes into play. Curcumin helps protect dopamine producing brain cells by clamping down on a mutant parkinson protein that tends to harm those cells.

More research is needed to determine whether eating curry and other turmeric containing dishes helps protect brain cells. But, if you are a fan of this tasty spice, it can't hurt to add a little more to your diet. For more ways to eat smart and live better, watch all of our Health Smarts, right here.