Various traditional cultures have always known that food can be medicine, when used wisely. For example, Chinese and East Indian cuisine is loaded with heavenly spices that not only taste good but are also good for many common ailments. What’s more, science now suggests that these same spices may actually prevent many chronic diseases and possibly some cancers.

Turmeric, also known as coumerin, has a long history of use in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Used for centuries to treat inflammation and swelling, it found its way into East Indian cuisine as a major component of the region’s curries and spices. Quite strong, acrid and spicy in taste, it is popular even today in Western cultures. Western medicine has recently begun to study this yellow spice.

Turmeric and arthritis

Turmeric contains curcumin and curcuminoids, which are powerful anti-inflammatory phytochemicals that act as natural inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the body and inhibit the production of prostaglandins that cause inflammation and swelling. Indian researchers found that tumori relieved joint pain and swelling in people with arthritis just as well as prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without side effects such as abdominal bleeding or upset stomach. Unlike drugs, which are associated with significant toxic effects (ulcer formation, decreased white blood cell count, intestinal bleeding), curcumin does not cause toxicity.

Clinical studies have shown that curcumin also exerts very potent antioxidant effects. As an antioxidant, curcumin is capable of neutralizing free radicals, chemicals that can travel through the body and do extensive damage to healthy cells and cell membranes. This is important in many diseases, such as arthritis, where free radicals are responsible for painful joint inflammation and eventual joint damage. Turmeric’s combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects explains why many people with joint disease find relief when they use the spice regularly. In a recent study of rheumatoid arthritis patients, curcumin was compared to phenylbutazone and produced comparable improvements in shorter duration of morning stiffness, longer walking time, and reduced joint inflammation.

Turmeric and cholesterol

Curcumin can prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body. Since oxidized cholesterol is what damages blood vessels and builds up in plaques that can lead to heart attack or stroke, preventing the oxidation of new cholesterol can help slow the progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. Additionally, turmeric is a good source of vitamin B6, which is necessary to prevent homocysteine ​​levels from getting too high. Homocysteine, an intermediate product of an important cellular process called methylation, directly damages the walls of blood vessels. High homocysteine ​​levels are considered a significant risk factor for blood vessel damage, atherosclerotic plaque buildup, and heart disease; while a high intake of vitamin B6 is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

In research published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, when 10 healthy volunteers consumed 500mg of curcumin per day for 7 days, not only did their blood oxidized cholesterol levels drop by 33%, but their total cholesterol dropped by 11.63%, and his HDL (good cholesterol) increased by 29%! (Soni KB, Kuttan R).

Turmeric and neurodegenerative disease

Growing evidence suggests that turmeric may provide protection against neurodegenerative diseases. Epidemiological studies show that in elderly Indian populations, among whose diets turmeric is a common spice, levels of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s are very low. At the same time, recently conducted experimental research found that curcumin appears to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in mice. Preliminary studies in mice also suggest that curcumin may block the progression of multiple sclerosis. While it’s not yet clear how it may provide protection against this degenerative condition, one theory is that it may disrupt the production of IL-2, a protein that may play a key role in destroying myelin, the sheath that serves to protect the skin. most nerves in the body.

Turmeric and Cancer

Epidemiological studies have linked frequent use of turmeric with lower rates of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer; Laboratory experiments have shown that curcumin can prevent tumors to form; and research conducted at the University of Texas suggests that even when breast cancer is already present, curcumin may help slow the spread of breast cancer cells to the lungs in mice.

Curcumin, a phytonutrient found in the curry spice turmeric, and quercetin, an antioxidant in onions, reduce both the size and number of precancerous lesions in the human intestinal tract, published research shows in the August 2006 issue of Clinical Gasteroenterology and Hepatology.

Previous observational studies in populations that consume large amounts of curry, as well as animal research, have strongly suggested that curcumin, one of the main ingredients in Asian curry, might be effective in preventing and/or treating cancer in the lower part of the body. intestine. Similarly, quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid found in a variety of foods including onions, green tea, and red wine, has been shown to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cell lines in humans and abnormal colorectal cells in animals. .

Prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in American men with 500,000 new cases appearing each year, is a rare occurrence among men in India, the low risk of which is attributed to a diet rich in vegetables from the brassica family and the curry spice, turmeric. There is even evidence that a diet rich in turmeric may lower the risk of childhood leukemia.

While simply eating curry, broccoli, cauliflower, and onions may not be a diet for everyone to enjoy, you can now reap the benefits of turmeric by taking it as a supplement. Because it is a spice, it can be safely consumed in supplement form.

This spice is delicious on healthy sauteed apples and cauliflower and/or healthy steamed green beans and onions. Or, for a rich-flavored, low-calorie dip, try adding some turmeric and dried onion to creamy yogurt.

Whether you choose to take your turmeric as a supplement or as a food enhancement, spice up your life and improve your health!