Turmeric, the bright yellow root that is ground and put in foods for its deep flavor and beautiful color, is not only a tasty addition to curries and salads, but is also a known cancer-fighter. Turmeric is most often found in cuisines of the Middle East, Northern Africa, and Southeast Asian regions, but as the health benefits of this classic spice become more widely known, its popularity is growing.
Responsible for many of its benefits, curcuminoids are the active components of turmeric. Curcumin, one of these specific compounds, is frequently cited as the most potent component of the spice, though the term is also used applying to cucuminoids as a whole.
As Anthony Guicciardi reported more than three years ago, scientists studying the effects of curcumin found it to be a potent medicine when used against brain cancer cells. Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal form of brain cancer. The study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found that curcumin was able to decrease these tumors by 81 percent in 9 out of the 11 studies.
Another study in 2008 looked specifically at the effects of curcumin on breast cancer cells. The researchers found the compound was able to inhibit the spread and growth of these cells by altering the function of alpha-6 beta-4.
Read: Doctor Explains How Cooking with Turmeric Leads to Amazing Health Benefits
In addition, scientists revealed that curcumin is able to also go to the source of the cancer—inhibiting cancer stem cells.
As far back as 1996, scientists were reporting on the anti-cancer properties of turmeric, finding that “even low doses of turmeric inhibit the accumulation of DNA mutations, reduce DNA damage, repair precancerous lesions, lower the urine concentration of mutagenic chemicals in smokers and inhibit formation of tumors in the breast, gut, mouth and skin,” according to NaturalNews.
Few studies have been carried out in a clinical setting. Instead, these benefits are being revealed in labs, where curcumin is directly applied to cells. Still, if the spice is working at a cellular level, it isn’t a stretch to imagine that it would have similar benefits when working on the body as a synergistic system.
“Curcumin is an amazing natural compound that has profound effects on cancer and hundreds of other diseases,” said Gucciardi. “While it has been widely studied compared to many other nutritional substances, studies are only beginning to recognize the healing effects of curcumin and turmeric.”
So how do you take it? I can’t cook curries all day, and taking it by the teaspoon with water just tastes so awful I avoid it. And that method I heard is not very effective either.
I gots some inflammation to cure. A some tips?
What my family does is we add it to potatoes when we stir fry them on their own. We mix it with some other spices when we make a vegetable pilau rice.
What I do is by empty 00 capsules from the health food store fill them with turmeric and a little black pepper to increase the effectiveness and take 4 in the morning and 4 in the evening
Exactly how does black pepper increase it’s effectiveness? Please, do share the chemical and physiological pathways by which the effect is enhanced.
What ratio do you use
You can purchase empty pill capsules at the Vitamin shop. Fill them with turmeric and take two in the morning. That is approx 1 tsp
Oh, I see. Decreases tumor cell count in a petri dish. Decreases. In a petri dish. Not rids. Not cures. Not in the body. Doesn’t work that way.
Some quick facts:
1) India consumes more turmeric and curcumin than any other nation by leaps and bounds. Exponentially more.
2) India has the highest cancer rates on Earth. Again, exponentially more. Oops.
not so….they have about half the cancer deaths of the US and are one of the lowest in the world… Where are you getting your stats from?
I add Tumeric to all soups,delicious with broths, but especially in creamy soups! Also, in scrambled eggs, a bit added to my sauces, add some to mayonnaise for making tuna salad sandwiches, or as a dip for fries or pan fried potatoes..the list is endless!
Reality Check should check the statistics.
According to http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com India is 178 out of 189 countries.
In other words 177 countries have a higher death rate from Cancer than India.
Me thinks Reality Check is a Big Pharma corporate shill
Agreed