Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A natural yellow chemical compound you can find in grocery stores could help fight cancer, diabetes
Business Insider ^ | 08/01/2018 | Hilary Brueck, Business Insider

Posted on 08/06/2018 11:49:21 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

turmeric in food, curry
Many curries and stews around the world are made with turmeric, which gives them a yellowish hue and a peppery, ginger-like taste. Shutterstock


Doctors are increasingly embracing the idea that the food we eat may be as good as any disease-fighting, immunity-boosting drug.

This isn't a new strategy. The cancer researcher Siddhartha Mukherjee recently told Business Insider that "for centuries, diet was the only kind of medicine."

Lately, Mukherjee and other doctors have started leaning into using more targeted diets as medicine for everything from improving longevity to developing better cancer care.

It turns out that one such healthful food comes from a root we pull right out of the ground.

It's a bright yellow, inexpensive plant called turmeric. You could probably it buy in the grocery store right now, either ground up, in the spice aisle, or whole, near the onions, garlic, and ginger.

Turmeric has been consumed by massive swaths of people for centuries around the world. It's baked inside many curry dishes and slurped down in turmeric teas and creamy, golden milks. But it's not just a spicy flavoring.

Turmeric root, a member of the ginger family, gets its yellow coloring from a chemical called curcumin. Shutterstock

"It's probably, to the best of my knowledge, the most potent naturally occurring anti-inflammatory," Ajay Goel, a biophysicist who researches cancer, told Business Insider.

Goel, who grew up in India but started his research in the US over two decades ago, wondered why, in the medical-research capital of the world, cancer and disease rates were so much higher than in his home country. His research here over the past two decades suggests that curcumin, the bright yellow chemical that gives turmeric its characteristic hue, has serious health-promoting properties that can play a key role in keeping people disease-free.

Turmeric has been found to reduce inflammation and nix free radicals in the body that can damage our cells. But that's not all.

What turmeric does for your body and your brain

The curcumin compound found in turmeric is powerful enough that it can help relieve arthritis pain, break up tumors, and control diabetes. It promotes good blood flow, which helps protect against heart disease. The plant may even keep some brain plaques from forming, though more research on that front is needed.

Some of Goel's studies, in both animals and humans, suggest that curcumin can also help kill stubborn treatment-resistant cancer cells and might make some cancers less resistant to chemotherapy in the first place. In some instances, patients can reduce their toxic chemotherapy doses as much as tenfold simply by coupling their treatment with curcumin, Goel said. In one 2008 study, he even suggested we start calling it "cure-cumin" for its wide-ranging health benefits, promoting healing and improving conditions as diverse as osteoporosis, chronic kidney diseases, and Alzheimer's.

Goel isn't the only one who's picked up on the medical effectiveness of the spice. The National Institutes of Health says research on the chemical compound is "limited" but acknowledges that turmeric and the curcumin inside "may help with certain digestive disorders and arthritis."

In 2016, a team of scientists from North Carolina and South Korea (not including Goel) completed a systematic review of evidence to date and found that a 1-gram dose a day of turmeric could help treat arthritis. That's the same dosage Goel recommends to his patients.

It's a much better track record than other popular supplements on the market today, including multivitamins, which many recent scientific studies suggest are essentially useless.

"Show me a single study ever done saying people who took a multivitamin pill ... did better? There's no study," Goel said.

Still, many Americans pop non-herbal supplement pills like multivitamins and fish oils. The unregulated US market for these non-herbal supplements is roughly $11.3 billion a year, according to Euromonitor International, while the herbal-supplement market in the US, largely composed of botanical ingredients (including roots like turmeric) is much smaller, at about $3.8 billion.

There is growing evidence that people are starting to come around to turmeric's benefits. Today, BioSchwartz's 1/2-gram turmeric-curcumin pill is the No. 2 bestseller among vitamins and supplements on Amazon (behind collagen but more popular than probiotics, fish oil, or multivitamins).

Supplements will never be as good as the real thing

Taking supplements won't ever be as good as eating whole foods. Studies have found that whole turmeric provides an extra anti-inflammatory boost over curcumin alone. But Goel says that taking a 1-gram supplement is a lot better than nothing, and he's a realist — he knows Americans won't ever eat yellow curries every single day. That's not the case in India.

Turmeric powder Consumer Reports

"Every meal is yellow," Goel said. It's simply part of the traditional Indian diet, as ubiquitous as salt and pepper.

"They don't even recognize," he said, "but it's protecting them from a lot of disease."

The yellow root is also in many other foods across Asia. The Chinese call it jiang huang, and it's in tons of Thai dishes too, from chicken soups to fried fish.

Goel suggests that every adult could probably stand to get a little daily dose of turmeric or a curcumin supplement, after consulting their physician. It's an even more important ingredient for aging populations as a potent antioxidant that helps protect cells. It's anti-microbial too.

At home, Goel gives it to his 13- and 15-year-old boys. He says he doesn't want to sound like a turmeric salesman — "I am not!" he emphasized — but he acknowledges that the health benefits of the yellow-orange stuff cannot be denied.

"Its super safe. There's no toxicity," Goel said. "It's dirt cheap. It comes from food. So why not?"



TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: almonds; cancer; curcumin; diabetes; diet; laetrile; nutrition; turmeric
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 last
To: freepertoo

This seems to be the easiest. Thanks.


61 posted on 08/06/2018 7:53:28 PM PDT by hsmomx3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

It does work. BUT. Researchers have found that it stays in your system longer for greater effect if taken with black pepper. Just a very little bit is fine. That combo is now on the market, I get mine on Amazon. I have auto-immune hepatitis, an inflammatory condition, and the tumeric/pepper combo SIGNIFICANTLY decreased the amount of steroid I have to take. Dogs can use it also, look for something called Lyfe Spyce by Nutro. There’s pepper in it.


62 posted on 08/06/2018 8:06:51 PM PDT by STEELRAPTOR (STEELRAPTOR)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

It does work. BUT. Researchers have found that it stays in your system longer for greater effect if taken with black pepper. Just a very little bit is fine. That combo is now on the market, I get mine on Amazon. I have auto-immune hepatitis, an inflammatory condition, and the tumeric/pepper combo SIGNIFICANTLY decreased the amount of steroid I have to take. Dogs can use it also, look for something called Lyfe Spyce by Nutro. There’s pepper in it.


63 posted on 08/06/2018 8:09:50 PM PDT by STEELRAPTOR (STEELRAPTOR)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STEELRAPTOR

That’s interesting about the pepper withthe tumeric. Im on the keto diet and have enjoyed making a variety of “bullet proof coffees”. You put a tbsp. Of bitter or ghee in the blender along with a tbsp. Of another good oil like avacado oil or cocoanut oil. I add pumpkin pie spices such as a shake or two of cinnamon,clove,ginger,nutmeg and a quarter teaspoon of tumeric. Add very hot coffee and blend for about 15 seconds. A tbsp. Of grounf flax works well withot too.

You end up with a frothy energy booster (for those who derive their energy from fats rather than sugars and starches) which is also very desert-like..a real treat for us diabetics with vascular disease. I’ll try it with a shake of pepper also.

Whats interesting is that theflavor of tje tumeric works well with all the otjer spices. It doesn’t stand out or try to take over the flavors.

I knew tumeric was supposed to begood for us, but hadn’t really read up on it much. Thanks for all the info!


64 posted on 08/07/2018 12:34:56 AM PDT by PrairieLady2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Gonna get me some turmeric.


65 posted on 08/07/2018 12:56:40 AM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tinamina

Of course, everyone used to know this..somehow:) My Grandparents, G Grandparents (all of whom lived well into their 90’s) had pickles of some sort on the table at every meal. Many types of veggies used to be pickled - and most of them included a healthy dose of turmeric.

They also had cottage cheese on the table at every meal (breakfast, too). Just sayin’


66 posted on 08/07/2018 12:58:31 AM PDT by garandgal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

bkmk


67 posted on 08/07/2018 3:41:01 AM PDT by glock rocks (... so much win!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o
Black pepper and a good fat like ghee...

Ghee...isn't that just melted butter with some solids strained out?

68 posted on 08/07/2018 8:59:26 AM PDT by JimRed ( TERM LIMITS, NOW! Build the Wall Faster! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
A good handfull of raisins sultanas or other chopped dry fruit.

How 'bout sundried tomatoes and a little garlic?

69 posted on 08/07/2018 9:02:36 AM PDT by JimRed ( TERM LIMITS, NOW! Build the Wall Faster! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: JimRed

That’s exactly what it is. Clarified butter.


70 posted on 08/07/2018 9:11:17 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Ghee, that's funny.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: JimRed

You don’t need my permission. Sounds yummy too. The fruit version goes great with curries. Your version sounds like it would go well with Italian dishes or what to cover in stew.


71 posted on 08/07/2018 11:54:22 AM PDT by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget (TRUMP TRAIN !!! Get the hell out of the way if you are not on yet because we don't stop for idiots)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

bookmark


72 posted on 08/07/2018 11:56:18 AM PDT by thesearethetimes... (Had I brought Christ with me, the outcome would have been different. Dr.Eric Cunningham)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

Clarified butter and ghee are not exactly the same. Ghee is clarified butter that has been cooked longer to remove all the moisture, and the milk solids are browned (caramelized) in the fat and then strained out.


73 posted on 08/07/2018 12:01:31 PM PDT by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget (TRUMP TRAIN !!! Get the hell out of the way if you are not on yet because we don't stop for idiots)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
Oh! Thank you, I didn't know there was a difference.

But you're right, all the moisture is evaporated out, and the solids skimmed. What remains is pure butterfat, great for frying, high smoking point, pretty good Vitamin A (if it's from grass-fed cows), no lactose (if that's an issue) and no refrigeration needed.

74 posted on 08/07/2018 12:22:08 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (I'm ignorant! But I learn something new every day.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: garandgal

You are so right. In the days before refrigeration food still had to be stored.
I make kefir, the turmeric ginger bug and kombucha every day. I also make fermented pickles and various batches of sauerkraut also.saurkraut with cabbage, beets, onion, garlic and ginger, for instance. I also like to ferment cloves of garlic and keep them on hand for salad dressings or whatever.


75 posted on 08/07/2018 2:04:41 PM PDT by tinamina
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Save for later


76 posted on 08/07/2018 6:50:27 PM PDT by Lawgvr1955 ( Sic Semper Tyrannis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson