Turmeric Benefits

posted fall 2008

Okininawan Centenarians consume ginger, mugwort, and turmeric everyday. These have proven medicinal qualities that help protect against illness.

From Cancer.org: "Animal and laboratory studies have found that curcumin (an antioxidant which is an active ingredient in turmeric) demonstrated some anti-cancer effects."

Curry powder contains Turmeric and is used to season rice, soups, and many other dishes....

From Ladies Home Journal: Curry Powder http://www.lhj.com/recipes/healthy/eating/5-spices-with-health-benefits/

Potential health perk: "Curry safeguards your brain. The yellow curry pigment curcumin may fight Alzheimer's by thwarting development of the disease's signature amyloid brain plaques, says a study. Hot way to dish it: Whisk 1 1/2 teaspoons mild curry powder into mayonnaise to dress up sandwiches."

From the Mayo Clinic site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/curcumin/AN01741

Curcumin, a substance found in the spice turmeric, has long been used in Asian medicine to treat maladies ranging from heartburn to arthritis. Now some recent research suggests that curcumin may help prevent or treat cancer.

Curcumin is thought to have antioxidant properties, which means it may decrease swelling and inflammation. It's being explored as a cancer treatment because inflammation appears to play a role in cancer.

Lab research suggests that curcumin may slow the spread of cancer and the growth of new tumor blood vessels. It may also cause cancer cells to die. In the lab, curcumin has been studied for use in treating or preventing colon, skin and breast cancers.

At this time, there isn't enough evidence to recommend curcumin for preventing or treating cancer, but research is ongoing. As always, talk with your doctor before using any herbal supplement."

There's absolutely no money in proving that Turmeric (curry) is good for us! So don't look for the EVIDENCE to be presented to the FDA. There's no funding for this project, but hundreds of years of anecdotal evidence supported use in Asia.