Friday, February 22, 2008

Turmeric is a wonder spice: May prevent heart disease, cancer, alzheimers and more


Curcumin from Turmeric Extract
The spice found in most Indian curry dishes might also help prevent the ravages of heart failure, a new Canadian animal study has concluded.

Researchers at Toronto's University Health Network found that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, both prevents and dramatically reverses enlargement of the heart in mice.

According to Dr. Weil, Turmeric is useful for all inflammatory disorders and for autoimmune conditions. It also may have a role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. (Elderly villagers in India appear to have the lowest rate of Alzheimer's in the world, perhaps due to the fact that Indians eat turmeric with almost every meal. Some animal studies have shown that curcumin blocked the formation and accumulation of the plaque that characterizes Alzheimer's.)

Overall, turmeric appears to have significant anti-inflammatory and cancer-protective effects. These seem most evident at doses well below pharmaceutical strength, which suggests that it would be wise to consume more foods spiced with turmeric.

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