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Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric is a herb that looks rather like ginger & is actually part of this family. Aside from its medicinal uses, turmeric is famous as a culinary spice used in Indian curry dishes.

The secret to the long list of turmeric benefits is the presence of its most active ingredient, curcumin.

 

The main focus here is on it's superior cancer fighting properties.

Turmeric Ancient Uses

The Medicinal Power of Turmeric

Traditional Uses of Turmeric

Turmeric grows wild in forests of Southern Asia, including India, Indonesia, Indochina, nearby Asian countries, and some Pacific Islands including Hawaii. Each of these areas has medicinal & culinary uses for the spice which go as far back as pre-history.

Just a few of the well known ancient uses are as follows;

Cosmetic, as a Tonic/Stimulant, an Antiseptic/deworming
agent, for Sprains & Joint pains, Skin infections, Hepatic
ailments & Jaundice, Dyspepsia/Peptic ulcer & intestinal disorders, Asthma, Cough, Cold relief, Anaemia, Emmenagogue/Lactogogue & Wound healing.

Chemical Composition of Curcuma longa

                                       (%)
Essential Oils      -      2 - 4
Fatty Oils             -      2 - 3
Ash                       -      4 - 8
Curcuminoids     -      2 - 5
   Phytosterols       -      0.82 *
         Linolenic acid     -       0.6 - 1 **
  Moisture             -        3 – 7

 

Nutrient Composition per 100g

 Proximate Principles
Energy - 354 Kcal* Protein - 7.83g * Carbohydrate - 64.9g *
Fat - 9.9g*

Micronutrients
Carotene - 0.03 mg         Iron - 15.000 mg               Calcium - 150 mg
Thiamin - 0.03 mg          Copper - 0.394 mg            Phosphate - 280 mg
Riboflavin - 0.19 mg       Manganese - 8.380 mg      Magnesium - 190 mg
Niacin - 2.30 mg             Zinc - 2.720 mg                 Sodium - 30 mg
Vitamin B6 - 1.8 mg *      Chromium - 0.069 mg      Potassium - 250 mg
Vitamin C - 50.00 mg     Selenium - 0.067 mg        Fibre - 21.1 gm*
Folic acid - 18.00 μg       Vitamin E - 0.07 mg *

Gopalan et al., 1989, Pruthi, 1980, * USDA

Antioxidant Power of Curcumin

Damage from free radicals can be a contriburory factor in the cause of cancer & it is important to tackle any free radical damage to cells in order to keep healthy, non-cancerous cells strong, as well as to remove free radicals from the body.

Environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke etc. can be the source of free radicals, which when become excessive, or if there are no antioxidants available to deal with them cause damage to our cells. Free radical damage also accumulates with age.

Curcumin blocks free radicals directly, then stimulates the body’s own antioxidant mechanisms.

As one of the most potent antioxidants, curcumin protects the cells of the body from oxidative damage brought by free radicals. 

Signal transduction

Cell proliferation mitogenesis cyclin D1

Oxidant enzymes

DNA damage

Inflammation

Vascularity spread

Telomerase

Epidermal growthfactor

Proteinkinases

ANTI CANCER ACTIVITY OF CURCUMIN MOLECULAR MECHANISMS

Detoxification

P53 /Programmed cell death

How to Maximise the Benefits of Curcumin

In order to gain maximum benefit, a form of curcumin extract would be the best choice, thereby a far higher dose of curcumin is consumed. The supplement containing highest Curcumin content available is Curcumin X400.

 

As when supplementing the diet with any vitamins, minerals etc. these are always best taken in their natural form, as provided in Wholefood Supplements.

Aside from eating authentic Indian curry dishes, you can get curcumin from turmeric supplements. There are turmeric supplements and curcumin supplements commercially available, the most potent of which is Curcumin X400.

Keep it Natural

Studies have shown how curcumin can assist in the repair of a damaged liver, causing  regeneration & repair into healthy & normal characteristics.

 

Curcumin is a powerful, natural  anti-inflammatory

The body uses inflamation in ridding its self of pathogens like bacteria, infection & in repairing damage to cells. What is of specific relevance here is how the immune system uses inflamation in the removal of dead cancer cells from the body, initially, when killing cancer at a rapid rate this can cause swelling of the tumor. This is not an issue as such unless the tumor is located in areas where swelling could cause pain & discomfort.

While some short term inflammation is beneficial, long term/ chronic inflammation which is deployed against the body’s own tissues is a serious issue. Curcumin is a bioactive substance that fights inflammation at molecular level & hasd proven to be more effective at fighting inflammation than many pharmacutical drugs & has no such side effects.

Curcumin Fights Cancer

 

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one of the most extensively researched plants of all time. It's medicinal properties, mainly from Curcumin, 'we have revealed 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications, as well as 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects', according to one 5 year experiment.

 

The sheer density of research on this plant has even concluded it compares favourably in results to many conventional medicines, including Metformin (diabetes drug), Anti-inflammatory Drugs; aspirin, ibuprofen, sulindac, phenylbutazone, naproxen, indomethacin, diclofenac, dexamethasone, celecoxib & tamoxifen, Corticosteroids (steroid medications) & Oxaliplatin (chemotherapy drug), to name but a few.

"Turmeric qualifies as a Superfood"

Turmeric is so nutrient dense that Turmeric qualifies as a Superfood. Superfoods, at their most basic, are rich in nutrients such as antioxidents, healthy fats, fibre & phytochemicals.

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