Can Turmeric’s Curcumin Help You Stay Healthy? By Darrell Miller At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Curcumin is the major component of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). It is an herbaceous perennial that is a native of India and southern and eastern Asia and thrives in loose, alluvial, well-drained soil in full sun. This Plant grows to a height of about three feet. Curcumin is the active ingredient in Turmeric, has been well documented to aid in the prevention of a large range of disease.

Turmeric is what gives curry its brilliant yellow color and provides the rich flavor in Indian cuisine. Turmeric has been safely consumed for thousands of years and it can be taken as a simple daily supplement if Indian cuisine isn’t your forte. Turmeric has the ability to lower blood pressure and may therefore have an additive effect if taken with drugs that also lower blood pressure. Turmeric should be used with caution in people with diabetes or hypoglycemia or people taking drugs that lower blood sugar, because it can increase insulin sensitivity which lowers blood sugar levels.

Turmeric’s active ingredient inhibits enzymes which participate in the synthesis of inflammatory substances in the body. It is considered a potent non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory that has been very beneficial for the relief of the temporary discomforts caused by rheumatism, arthritis, and disease related to inflammation. Curcumin also appears to reduce inflammatory agent associated with Alzheimer’s related inflammation in neurologic tissue. Women in India are often praised for their beautiful skin, and they, in turn, praise Curcumin as the reason for it due to its antioxidant properties. This herb is also good for fighting various cancers.

Curcumin has demonstrated its ability to Inhibit cancer cells from growing which prevents the over production of an enzyme that contributes to the development of tumors. It also reduces irritation caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapies, and inhibits formation and cancerous growth factors. Curcumin helps prevent the DNA mutations that can lead to cancer through its antioxidant properties.

More importantly, Curcumin is now the subject of several studies that show great promise in the treatment of malignant disease, including prostate, colon and breast cancers. Curcumin can stop the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells, according to a study in the journal Cancer, pancreatic cancer can be terminal if diagnosed. Beside cancer, curcumin is considered a promising herb for the treatment of other diseases, most of which are related to the aging process.

Furthermore, curcumin also demonstrates in vitro its ability to inhibit COX-I and COX-II enzymes, which are involved in the body’s inflammatory reaction. It is known to increase bile production and boost the production of enzymes that digest sugar and fat which may inhibit cholesterol from crystallizing into gallstones. Dietary supplementation of curcumin enhances antioxidant and phase II metabolizing enzymes in male mice. This demonstrates its ability to protect against chemical carcinogenesis and toxicity.

In a recent rat study that was conducted to evaluate the effects of turmeric on the liver's ability to detoxify toxic chemicals, levels of two very important liver detoxification enzymes showed increased activity demonstrating that curcumin can boost liver detox in animal studies.

It makes good sense to use a lot of curry in your cooking. If that isn’t possible due to culinary preferences, one should seriously consider taking supplemental Curcumin on a regular daily basis for its antioxidant properties alone. However, most importantly for those with arthritis, curcumin supplements have been found to be most effective for treatment of inflammation especially in the area of arthritis.

In Conclusion, no toxic side effects have been linked to the use of curcumin, but with all herbs, people taking blood thinners should not use this herb medicinally, as it may increase the action of these medications thereby further thinning the blood. For those taking OTC drugs, curcumin was found to be as effective as ibuprofen in combating inflammation in some individuals with zero side effects. Have you had your curry today?

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