The world’s most extensively researched spice continues to prove itself capable of remarkable therapeutic properties, with the latest study showing it may compensate for one of the plant-based diet’s most heavily debated shortcomings: DHA omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.
A fascinating new study on the golden-hued polyphenol found in turmeric root known as curcumin reveals a new mechanism by which this extensively studied phytocompound may alleviate cognitive disorders, especially in vegetarians and vegans.
In the National Institutes of Health funded study titled, “Curcumin boosts DHA in the brain: Implications for the prevention of anxiety disorders,” researchers found that curcumin enhances the biosynthesis of the essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the rat brain. DHA deficiency is quite common and can have a wide range of adverse consequences to the optimal functioning of the brain. If this animal study’s results are applicable to human physiology and metabolism, it may contribute significantly to validating the role of vegetarianism or a more plant-centric diet in human nutrition.
