Turmeric: Nature's miracle spice
 |
| health benefits of turmeric, a spice used in many traditional Indian dishes. |
Traditionally known as 'Indian Saffron', Turmeric has been used in cooking for centuries, particularly in curries and other Indian cuisine. It is also used as a fabric dye due to its deep orange-yellow color, and potential to stain.
But it is the health properties of Turmeric which are a relatively new discovery in the western world, with more and more research being done into the medicinal qualities of the mildly fragranced, gentle-tasting spice.Prostate Health/Prostate Cancer:Combine with cauliflower, or other certain cruciferous vegetables (sprouts, watercress, broccoli, etc), Turmeric has been scientifically proven to prevent cancer, and even halt cancer in its tracks, preventing it from spreading. Turmeric and onions have been studied for their potential to stop colon cancer.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Turmeric (extracted from the root of the Curcuma longa plant) has been clinically proven to work as an antioxidant by neutralizing the harmful free-radicals which travel through the body, and cause inflamed joints. When used regularly, Turmeric can be as effective in reducing arthritis pain as well as prescription medications, but without the potentially harsh side-effects.Childhood Leukemia: Researchers discovered a very low rate of leukemia in Asia, where Turmeric is used frequently in foods. The spice works by acting as an antioxidant, blocking harmful chemicals from cigarette smoke, and processed foods.
ESOPHAGEAL CANCER-turmeric as effective as 14 drugs.
Alzheimer's Disease: Research has been done in Asia, where incidents of neurodegenerative diseases are extremely low compared to other parts of the world that do not use Turmeric on a regular basis. Ethnobotanist James A. Duke, Phd, published a comprehensive study on Turmeric in the October, 2007 issue of Alternative & Complementary Therapies.
Duke found more than 50 studies on turmeric's effects in addressing Alzheimer's disease. The reports indicate that extracts of turmeric contain a number of natural agents that block the formation of beta-amyloid, the substance responsible for the plaques that slowly obstruct cerebral function in Alzheimer's disease.
Breast Cancer: Curcumin (an active ingredient in Turmeric) has been shown to kill cancer cells in laboratories, and prevent more from growing. A 2007 American study that combined curcumin with chemotherapy to treat bowel cancer cells in a laboratory showed that the combined treatment killed more cancer cells than the chemotherapy alone. A 2007 American study in mice seemed to show that Curcumin helped to stop the spread of breast cancer cells to other parts of the body.
Painkiller: A natural painkiller, Turmeric can be taken as supplements, in cooking, and in infused into a tea to bring pain relief which has been shown to be as effective as most OTC painkillers
Health Benefits of Turmeric:
The wide range of turmeric health benefits come mainly from its main ingredient, curcumin. This widely researched component of turmeric is highly therapeutic and is used in various drugs and pharmaceutics mainly because of its immunity boosting and anti-oxidant properties. Apart from therapeutic uses, turmeric is also used as an important spice, in beauty products and in spiritual ceremonies.
Blocking cancer:
Doctors at UCLA recently found that curcumin, the main component in turmeric, appeared to block an enzyme that promotes the growth of head and neck cancer.
In that study, 21 subjects with head and neck cancers chewed two tablets containing 1,000 milligrams of curcumin. An independent lab in Maryland evaluated the results and found that the cancer-promoting enzymes in the patients’ mouths were inhibited by the curcumin and thus prevented from advancing the spread of the malignant cells.
Powerful antioxidant:
The University of Maryland’s Medical Center also states that turmeric’s powerful antioxidant properties fight cancer-causing free radicals, reducing or preventing some of the damage they can cause.
While more research is necessary, early studies have indicated that curcumin may help prevent or treat several types of cancer including prostate, skin and colon.
Potent anti-inflammatory:
Dr. Randy J. Horwitz, the medical director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, wrote a paper for the American Academy of Pain Management in which he discussed the health benefits of turmeric.
“Turmeric is one of the most potent natural anti-inflammatories available,” Horwitz states in the paper.
He went on to cite a 2006 University of Arizona study that examined the effect of turmeric on rats with injected rheumatoid arthritis. According to Horwitz, pretreatment with turmeric completely inhibited the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in the rats. In addition, the study found that using turmeric for pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis resulted in a significant reduction of symptoms.
No comments:
Post a Comment