A neurosurgeon’s hearty recipe fights dementia and brain disease

Here’s a recipe to feed your brain.

For Dr. According to Jonathan J. Rasouli, a board-certified spinal neurosurgeon at Northwell Health, keeping your mind sharp doesn’t just happen in the operating room—it can happen in your kitchen, too.

The doctor has shared one of his favorite meals to stave off brain disease thanks to its anti-inflammatory ingredients, and he promises it’s also great for easy meal prep.

His Spinach and Turmeric Curry Lentils are made with lots of things shown to have brain benefits.

“This concoction contains turmeric, known for its potential to prevent dementia, along with spinach and lentils that promote overall brain health,” Rasouli told The Post. Plus, he added, it’s easy to make and “super tasty.”

“A lot of this on Sunday afternoon and should last all week as a snack or quick meal,” he said.

Curry lentil stew with spinach and turmeric

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried red lentils (plant-based fiber and protein)
• 2 cups spinach (rich in folate and vitamin K)
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder (anti-inflammatory properties)
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander
• 1 small diced onion
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon EVOO
• 3 cups of vegetable soup

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and sauté the onions and garlic until fragrant.
2. Add the turmeric, cumin and coriander and cook for another minute.
3. Add the lentils and stock, then simmer for 20 minutes until the lentils are tender.
4. Add the spinach in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
5. Serve with a squeeze of lemon for brightness.

Brain benefits

This lentil stew will not only spice up your winter—it’ll also boost some serious brain power.

“It’s hearty, warming and packed with nutrients that protect against oxidative stress and inflammation, which are major contributors to neurodegenerative diseases,” Rasouli said.

One of those key nutrients: Turmeric, specifically its active ingredient curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. A 2018 study found that daily curcumin supplements improved memory, attention, and mood in older adults by reducing accumulation in the brain — both hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

Curcumin also increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein vital for memory, learning and mood regulation. Low levels of BDNF have been linked to conditions such as depression and dementia.

Several other ingredients in the decoction support overall brain health:

Spinach is packed with nutrients like vitamin K, lutein and beta carotene, which protect brain cells from damage and help prevent cognitive decline.

Garlic, widely considered a superfood, contains sulfur compounds that studies suggest protect the brain from disease and aging.

Olive oil helps reduce brain inflammation, a known cause of cognitive decline.

And lentils also provide a brain boost – just one cup gives you 90% of your recommended daily intake of folate, a vitamin that helps produce neurotransmitters that regulate mood and mental clarity. Small legumes also provide a steady supply of glucose, which feeds brain cells.

If you’re hungry for more brain food, Rasouli previously shared his Mediterranean quinoa bowl and his mother’s famous recipe for Ghormeh Sabzi, a Persian herb stew.