Substance in beets may be the key to preventing Alzheimer’s

Could this be a way to beat Alzheimer’s?

If you’re putting all of your eggs in Big Pharma’s basket when it comes to finding a way to beat Alzheimer’s disease, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.

Because after many decades of research, it still doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.

Drugmakers have spent billions, tested experimental meds on thousands… and yet, no pharmaceutical that actually works has appeared on the horizon yet.

But while you may not be able to go down to your local drug store and get a bottle of pills to prevent this memory-stealer, you CAN stop by Mother Nature’s pharmacy.

That’s where you’ll find what new research is telling us may be your best bet for keeping your memories intact, your mind sharp, and your brain working as it should.

And the best part is… there’s no doctor visit, no co-pay, no insurance, and no prescription required!

The power of red

Here’s what a doctor of the future might be telling you: “Take two beets and call me in the morning.”

Yes, beets — the root veggie that you either love or love to hate!

But when you hear what researchers from the University of South Florida have just found out about the powerful “medicine” contained in a substance found in beets, you may see them in a whole new light!

Research presented last week at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society found that the compound that gives the veggie its dark red color (a.k.a. betanin) appears to be able to “inhibit certain chemical reactions in the brain” that are now thought to be the main cause of Alzheimer’s.

By “reactions,” the scientists mean the creation of misfolded, sticky protein fragments called “beta-amyloid” plaques that are found in the brains of those known to have the disease.

In fact, developing a drug to inhibit those plaques has been Big Pharma’s holy grail for some time now.

The real damage happens when these beta-amyloids “attach” to iron or copper in the brain and start to oxidize and “misfold,” rusting like that steel wrench you left outside last fall.

And that’s where beets come to the rescue.

When betanin was added to plaques that had already “bound” to copper, it halted the oxidation process by a whopping 90 percent. And that, in turn, prevented them from becoming misfolded.

Of course, this didn’t lead these scientists to recommend you add some beets to your salad or mix up a juice blend with the red root. Of course not!

Instead, they concluded that hopefully these findings will encourage others to “synthesize drugs” based on betanin for the disease.

But as we know from past experience, that doesn’t always work out so well.

Take resveratrol, the compound found in red grape skin and a plant called Japanese knotweed that’s well known for its ability to control blood sugar and even prevent diabetes. Some years ago, Big Pharma attempted to “synthesize” that into a drug with such poor results that it gave up the ghost. (Real resveratrol, however, is quite easily found as a dietary supplement!)

Whether drugmakers are more successful with betanin remains to be seen. But seriously, why wait to find out when beets are readily available in many forms, including fresh bunches, right in the produce aisle? (Fresh raw beets are said to have more of these valuable compounds than their cooked counterparts.)

Aside from what it can do against Alzheimer’s, other beet benefits include findings that show that beetroot juice (which you can find ready-to-drink in the supermarket) can improve oxygen flow to your brain, lower your blood sugar and blood pressure, help get your digestion back on track, benefit your heart health, and potentially even prevent cancer!

And beetroot juice is so powerful in its ability to lower blood pressure that experts warn that taking it along with blood pressure meds can bring your readings down too low.

If you do start drinking and eating beets daily, know that they can turn your urine from pink to dark red (depending on how much you ingest) and darken your bowel movements.

The only caution with beets, however, is if you’re especially prone to kidney stones or gout: Remember that these veggies are high in oxalates, something that anyone who suffers from those conditions are told to avoid in excess amounts.

“Vegetable compound could have a key role in ‘beeting’ Alzheimer’s disease” American Chemical Society, March 20, 2018, ScienceDaily, sciencedaily.com