It’s revered in one of the world’s most ancient health systems as a
miracle healer: curcumin – the bright yellow ingredient found in the spice turmeric. In the 5,000 year old system of Indian Ayurvedic medicine, practitioners prescribed curcumin for a host of health problems, believing it could cleanse the body of disease. Other folk medical traditions use curcumin for treating infections and wounds. Now, modern scientific research shows its
beneficial properties for treating a variety of diseases. Curcumin is shown to act as an antioxidant, antibiotic and antiviral ingredient. 
Curcumin and Cancer
An intriguing fact about Indian health is that the most common cancers found in North America (colon, prostate, breast and lung) are ten times lower in India, where curcumin is widely used
in food. Could this be an indication of curcumin’s therapeutic effect on cancer? As scientists have conducted more research into this ingredient, it would seem there is a likely connection.
Curcumin may play a role in the regulation of hormones as they relate to cancer. Scientists researching colon cancer discovered that a gastrointestinal hormone called neurotensin accelerates the growth and spread of colon cancer cells.
Experiments with curcumin show that it may inhibit neurotensin and help stop cancer cells from travelling to other parts of the body.
Postmenopausal women who have undergone certain hormone replacement therapies are at greater risk of developing malignant progestinaccelerated breast tumors. Research conducted by the University of Missouri indicates that curcumin may lower the risk of this cancer for women who have undergone hormone replacement therapy.
Aside from hormones, curcumin also acts on other biological functions to prevent cancer from developing. It’s believed curcumin represses a pro-inflammatory protein in the body
that is linked to cancer.
And curcumin may actually be able to instruct cancer cells to kill themselves, as scientists uncovered while studying the deadly skin cancer melanoma.
There is one big disadvantage with natural curcumin – it’s difficult for your body to fully absorb because gastric juice in your stomach destroys almost all of it.
But scientists are experimenting with placing curcumin in tiny sacs called lipsomes, which consist of matter similar in structure to cell membranes
Researchers discovered this process helps quadruple the absorption rate of curcumin by the body.
Other cancer researchers delivered curcumin in nanoparticles during an in vitro study involving ovarian cancer. This method allowed a better delivery of curcumin to cancerous tumors. It
made the tumors less resilient against chemotherapy and radiation so these traditional treatments became more effective in treating this type of cancer.
Pure Gold for the Brain
But cancer is not the only disease were curcumin may provide a bounty of health benefits. There’s some intriguing research into this ingredient’s impact on neurological problems like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
When combined with vitamin D, curcumin slashed the levels of amyloid plaques, harmful substances found in patients suffering from these brain diseases.
Scientists believe curcumin actively stimulates the immune system. Specifically, it increases the ability of scavenger
white blood cells known as macrophages to absorb more of the
dangerous amyloid plaques.
Stops Liver Damage
In a study released earlier this year, curcumin helped delay liver damage caused by progressive inflammatory diseases, such as cirrhosis. When affected by these diseases, the liver’s bile ducts become inflamed and blocked. The researchers looked at
blood and tissue samples from mice with this type of liver problem before and after the study. Mice that were given curcumin had significantly less inflammatory damage to the liver
compared to mice that were not given the ingredient.
Safe for Most People
Curcumin seems to have few side effects, although it may cause diarrhea and nausea in dosages higher than 2 grams. It may also interfere with iron absorption in people with certain health conditions. Curcumin may provide maximum health effects as an oil solution rather than in powder form, which seems to be destroyed more quickly by stomach acid.
Disclaimer: Information contained in this Wellness Express newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.
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