How can turmeric help reinvigorate your health?
in curries the spice is also an ancient remedy for a variety of ailments.
While this natural approach won’t work for everyone the Londoner’s cancer-cell count is now negligible.
As Dieneke’s doctors hail the remarkable results we take a look at turmeric and the ways in which it may boost health.
The spice, recognizable by its golden color, is ground from the dried root of a plant called Curcuma longa. A relative of ginger it thrives in warm, moist conditions and has long been used as a medicine in Chinese and Indian cultures.
Turmeric’s healing powers are attributed to phytochemicals, compounds which are present in many plants.
Curcumin, which is found in turmeric, is claimed to be one of the most powerful remedies in nature’s medicine cabinet.
People who swear by turmeric don’t simply swallow it straight from the spice rack.
To get the high doses of curcumin that may benefit health it is necessary to take extracts, which are available in health food shops.
Curcumin could be a natural weapon against several types of cancer.
Although the jury is still out, research has shown that there are low rates of some forms of the disease in countries where people eat curcumin at levels of about 100mg to 200mg a day over long periods.
A study in Ireland in 2009 also found that curcumin killed off esophageal cancer cells in the lab within just 24 hours. Similar results have been found with breast, skin and bowel cancer cells.
Some scientists believe combining curcumin and chemotherapy could be an effective treatment. According to Cancer Research UK the use of curcumin is ‘promising’ but more clinical trials are needed.
It is suggested that taking curcumin could slow the progress of liver damage.
The belief is that the compound works like a detox so it could prove effective in treating conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatitis.
Taking curcumin could also give your heart a boost. It is known to improve the lining of blood vessels in the body which can help to regulate blood pressure and prevent blood clotting.
One study suggested that curcumin works as well as the cholesterol-lowering drug Atorvastatin.
In addition to improving the lining of blood vessels curcumin reduces inflammation and oxidation both of which are factors in heart disease.
In trendy cafés turmeric mixed with almond, cashew or coconut milk is being served as an alternative to coffee. It is sometimes known as ‘golden milk’.
The condition often develops as people age, but nicotine’s constriction of blood flow and promotion of inflammation are believed to contribute to the process, the study authors wrote.
The researchers examined data on 331,941 construction workers who were part of a nationwide occupational health registry in Sweden.
Workers were followed for an average of more than three decades, starting when they were typically in their 30s, and 1,623 of them eventually had surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.
Compared to people who never smoked, heavy smokers who went through at least 15 cigarettes a day were 46 percent more likely to have this spinal surgery, the study found.
For moderate smokers who had up to 14 cigarettes a day, the increased risk was 31 percent, while ex-smokers had 13 percent higher odds of surgery.
Senior study author Dr. Arkan Sayed-noor, a researcher at Umea University, said, “Smoking appears to be a risk factor for developing lower spine space narrowing that can lead to surgical treatment. “Quitting smoking can reduce the risk. “While some previous research has linked smoking to worse outcomes from spinal surgery, the current study offers fresh evidence that it can also increase the odds that back pain will require surgery.”
Overall, 44 percent of the study participants were non-smokers. Another 16 percent were former smokers, while 26 percent were moderate smokers and 14 percent were heavy smokers.
The connection between smoking and spinal surgery persisted even after researchers accounted for other factors that can increase the odds of lower back pain such as aging and obesity.
Smoking damages the spine in several ways, researchers note in The Spine Journal. Nicotine can damage spinal tissue, weaken bones and make back pain worse.
Heavy smoking is also often accompanied by a sedentary lifestyle that may lead to muscle weakness and increase strain on the lower back.
One limitation of the study is that researchers lacked data on exercise habits, the authors note. Most of the construction workers in the study were men, and the results might be different for women.
Dr. Jean Wong, a researcher at the University of Toronto who wasn’t involved in the study, said, “Still, the findings add to evidence linking cigarettes to disc damage and back pain.
“There are multiple short and long-term health reasons for smokers to quit, and by quitting smoking, smokers can reduce their risk of back pain due to disc degeneration and spinal stenosis — which can be a debilitating problem in smokers.
“Although it may take multiple attempts, quitting smoking is the best thing a smoker can do to minimize the risk of spinal stenosis and other health problems.”
Another drink, known as turmeric tea, can be brewed by mixing the spice with boiling water and a little honey.
There is no known cure for the degenerative brain disease Alzheimer’s but it is claimed that curcumin may offer hope.
Studies show that it could prevent the build-up of amyloid plaques, which are known to cause Alzheimer’s, from forming.
The disease is less common in Asia but it is not yet known if turmeric in the diet is one of the reasons.
The Alzheimer’s Society said, “The way that curcumin could work within the brain is still unclear.”
It is claimed that eating a few black peppercorns at the same time as consuming curcumin helps the body absorb it.
Curcumin has been used in Ayurveda (a traditional Indian medicine) for centuries as an anti-inflammatory to relieve pain and inflammation in the skin and muscles.
One study found that curcumin was just as good as Ibuprofen when it came to relieving painful knees in those suffering from osteoarthritis.
A study in Thailand suggested curcumin may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. It found that over nine months a daily dose of the supplement seemed to prevent new cases among certain people at risk.
Turmeric extract appears to work by stabilizing blood-sugar levels.
Another benefit of turmeric may be combating depression, stress and anxiety. It is claimed curcumin can be used as a natural alternative to drugs such as Prozac, working by inhibiting an enzyme in the brain that is responsible for depression.
There may be a double whammy as it is claimed curcumin can also increase levels of serotonin and dopamine — chemicals that boost happiness.