Tag Archives: spices

Curcumin may help repair brains of dementia sufferers

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Curcumin, a derivative of the aromatic spice turmeric, may help repair the brains of people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Curcumin

In recent scientific tests on rats, turmerones – botanical compounds in curcumin that enhance its absorption – promoted the proliferation of brain stem cells and their development into neurons.

It could now help scientists develop treatments for conditions in people in which brain cells are lost, including Alzheimer’s and stroke, according to an article in Stem Cell Research and Therapy.

Lead researcher Dr Adele Rueger, from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Julich, Germany, said: “While several substances have been described to promote stem cell proliferation in the brain, fewer drugs additionally promote the differentiation of stem cells into neurons, which constitutes a major goal in regenerative medicine.”

At certain concentrations, the turmeric compound boosted the proliferation of rat foetal NSCs by up to 80 per cent, and increased the speed at which they matured.

In living rats, injections of aromatic turmerone led to the expansion of two key brain regions, the subventricular zone (SVZ) and hippocampus.

Facts about curcumin

  • One of today’s most promising natural disease-fighting agents is curcumin. Derived from the curry spice turmeric, curcumin has been used for millennia to target disease and promote good health.
  • Most commercially available preparations of curcumin have very poor bioavailability, impairing their ability to confer life-sustaining properties.
  • Scientists have recently discovered a novel curcumin preparation with exceptional bioavailability. In a human study, this advanced curcumin preparation—termed BCM-95®—delivered up to seven times more curcumin to the bloodstream than a standard curcumin product. This increased bioavailability should greatly enhance curcumin’s benefits.
  • Curcumin promotes health by diverse mechanisms. Scientists have documented curcumin’s anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, neuroprotective, cancer-fighting, and immune-enhancing abilities.
  • Studies suggest that curcumin may help prevent or fight prostate, pancreatic, breast, and colon cancers.
  • Curcumin may help protect the brain against the devastating consequences of stroke and exposure to toxic heavy metals.
  • Individuals who consume more curcumin-rich curry are less likely to experience cognitive decline, suggesting curcumin could help protect the nervous system against aging. In laboratory and animal models, curcumin shows promise in preventing the pathological changes seen in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease sufferers.

Advanced Bio-Curcmin with Ginger & Turmerones contains BCM-95, a patented bioenhanced preparation of curcmin that has been shown to reach up to 7 times higher concentration in the blood that standard curcumin.

 

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What is dementia? The Alzheimer’s Society explains in this video:

Moroccan Chicken with Tomato Dressing

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Moroccan Chicken with Tomato Dressing

FB-Moroccan-Chicken-w-Tomato-Dressing_p [640x480].jpgServes 4
Preparation time: 25 minutes, plus overnight marinating
Cooking time: 12-15 minutes
4 chicken breasts, skin on if preferred (healthier without because most of the fat is within the skin).

Moroccan Marinade:
1 tsp cumin seeds
Large handful of fresh coriander, chopped
1 small onion, very finely chopped
1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
2 plump garlic cloves, crushed
120ml/8 tbsp Filippo Berio Olive Oil
1 lemon, juice only
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Tomato Dressing :
100 ml/3½ fl oz Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 tbsp roughly chopped chives
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
350g/12oz vine-ripened tomatoes, halved
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:
1. Slash the chicken breasts 3 times with a sharp knife and put into a glass dish.
2. To prepare the Moroccan marinade, heat a small heavy-based pan on the hob and add the cumin seeds. Shake them around for a few seconds until their aroma rises. Remove from the heat and crush roughly using a mortar and pestle. Put the seeds into a bowl with the coriander, onion, chilli, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix all the ingredients together well. Pour over the chicken, cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. To make the tomato dressing, pour the olive oil into a blender or food processor,
add the chives and vinegar and blend until smooth. Scrape the mixture into a bowl.
4. Remove the seeds from the tomatoes then chop. Add to the dressing and season.
5. Cook the chicken on a fairly hot barbecue for about 6-7 minutes on each side
or until cooked through, brush with the marinade during cooking. Serve with the
tomato dressing.

Turkish delight in Istanbul – the Ritz-Carlton Spa

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by Avril O’Connor

There really is no other city like Istanbul. Uniquely straddling both Asia and Europe, it is frenetic melting pot of cultures and peoples. It is architecturally breathtaking with the greatest examples of Byzantine and Ottoman art and architecture anywhere in the world today.

At the same time it is a city undergoing an economic revival with entrepreneurs opening up trendy shops, bars and restaurants. It has one of the youngest populations of any city. In the numerous cafes you are more likely to find yourself sitting next to Prada-clad locals than anyone wearing a Fez.

So whether you want to marvel at some of the world’s greatest buildings or shop till you drop, Istanbul will have something wonderful and enchanting for you. Another reason to visit now is that Istanbul has been named European City of Culture next year – so get there before the crowds!

One of the most luxurious and romantic places to stay is the Ritz-Carlton Hotel right in the centre of the city. There are not many hotels where you can watch a giant supertanker pass by your bedroom window! And don’t be fooled by the skyscraper exterior, inside this hotel is seriously sumptuous. It is decorated in Ottoman-style splendor with service to match. All rooms have flat screen TV, broadband Wi-Fi internet access, Bulgari toiletries, huge marble bathrooms and terry bathrobes.

The Laveda Spa, offering both Western and Eastern therapies using Carita of Paris products is the best in the city. There is a spacious pool surrounded by Byzantine columns and a painted ceiling to recreate the Istanbul sky. You can try a Turkish Haman – a traditional ritual of exfoliation and cleansing with a total body wash, followed by a massage.

In summer the open air spa allows you to feel the gentle breezes while indulging in a massage or other therapy as you gaze across the Bosphorus. One particular sumptuous and relaxing treatment is the Sultans Royal Six Hands Massage which is carried out by three therapists. Beware this spa is so relaxing that you may not want to leave –  but it does have a poolside bar!

Fact Box Ritz-Carlton Istanbul FROM $452, 290 £229, per room per night (+ 8%VAT) Breakfast: $43, €28, £22 (+VAT)

Traditional Hamam Treatment 30 mnts: $83, €53, £42
Laveda Signature Body Massage 60 mnts: $142, €91, £72
Sultan’s Royal Six-Hand Massage 50 mnts: $375, €240,£190 T: +90 (0) 212 334 44 44. www.ritzcarlton.com

Turkish Airlines: www.thy.com Reservations: 0844 800 6666 (from the UK)
Economy return to Istanbul from the UK (inc tax and charges prices may vary ): From Stansted $276, €177, £140; from Heathrow $393, €252,£199: Business return to Istanbul from (inc tax and charges) – from Stansted $889, €570, £450; from Heathrow $966, €619,£489

Don’t Miss

Visit the Blue Mosque is famous for its slender minarets and blue tiles made by craftsmen from the town of Iznik. Afterwards walk through the gardens to Haghia Sophia another of the city’s splendid mosques. Inside is a marvelous array of mosaics, friezes and more Isnik blue tile decorations. Spend the afternoon at Topkapi Palace which was home to Selim the Sot, who drowned in the bath after drinking too much champagne; Ibrahim the Mad, who lost his reason after being locked up for four years and Roxelana, consort of Süleyman the Magnificent. Must sees are the harem and the jewels.

The Spice Bazaar where you can buy all kinds of exotic foodstuffs including handmade Turkish Delight and the finest Persian saffron. Follow with lunch at Pandeli which is above the main waterside entrance to the market – fantastic mezze including caviar, followed by aubergine pastry and steamed sea bass. There are three salons covered in stunning turquoise glazed tiles and on the walls are the photos of celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn, who have dined there over the years. Misir Çarşi 1, Eminönü, 36420. T: +90 (0)212 527 3909

The Grand Bazaar is a huge Ottoman shopping complex where you can buy everything from carpets, leather goods, to ceramics, jewellery and the finest pashminas.

There are bargains to be had but you must haggle. Buy beautiful diamonds and brown topaz earrings at Jewels Edel– Kapaliçarşi Kalpakçilar Cad no 73. T+ 90 212 527 9797. Email akurtulmus@edeljewels.com

Topaz Restaurant & Bar This is a new restaurant, with walls of glass, perched on a hill in the Gurnussuyu district with spectacular views, particularly at night, of the city and the Bosphorus. Sophistictated Mediterranean and Turkish menu. T + 90 (0)212 249 1001. www.topazistanbul.com

Kanyon Shopping Mall

The place to buy designer labels. A modern shopping emporium with a Harvey Nichols store, and boutiques such as Dolce & Gabanna, Gucci and Banana Republic, Mango, Next and Max Mara www.kanyon.com.tr

Ismail Acar’s Gallery

One of Istanbul’s most famous artists has a rather unusual gallery spread across several floors of a wooden house. Ismail works across several different mediums, incorporating traditional historical themes into contemporary works of art including portraits and even kaftans. He has exhibited in galleries in New York, London and Strasbourg. Karaköy, Lüleci Hendek Cad. No: 116/1 Beyoğlu. +90 (0) 212 252 03 88 Email: ismail@ismailacar.com.tr www.ismailacar.com.tr

Bosphorus cruise
– hire a motor yacht with butler to see the waterside summer residences of the Ottoman aristocracy and foreign ambassadors built in the 17th,18th and 19th century. The rates for private boat tour (min. 2 hrs) on an 18-metre motor yacht accommodating 12 passengers starts from $780, €500, £395 (+18% VAT). $390, €250, £197 (+18% VAT) for each additional hour. Arrange through your hotel concierge.

HERBS & SPICES

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Aromatheraphy

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Highly-concentrated oils from spices and plants are combined with a carrier oil usually almond, and used to massage or inhaled to give relief from all kinds of ailments from coughs and colds to stress and breathing problems, as well as chronic fatigue, back pain and menstral complaints.

The essential oils, usually in a combination, are massaged into the body with light strokes or inhaled in steam, depending on the condition to be treated. The oils are absorbed by the body and enter the bloodstream – which is why pregnant woman and anyone with diabetes, epilepsy and heart problems should consult their doctor prior to any treatment. Each oil may have several therapeutic uses. For instance lavender and thyme can be combined to reduce inflammation:lemon oil is an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. See guide to oils.

Information:

The International Society of professional Aromatherapists
82 Ashby Road
Hinkley
Leicestershire LE1U 1SN. UK
Tel: ++ 44(0)1455 637987
www.ifparoma.org
email: admin@ifparoma.org

Also Aromatherapy Council
PO Box 355
Croydon, Surrey CR9 2PQ. UK.
Te: ++44 (0)20 8251 7912