Curcumin and Turmeric 500 mg, 60 capsules
Curcuminoids are the most studied and important substances in the spice
turmeric root. Curcuminoids include curcumin,
demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxy-curcumin. Curcumin
is the major important component of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and extensive
scientific research on curcumin has demonstrated its potent antioxidant
properties. Through its various mechanisms, curcumin supports colon
health, exerts neuroprotective activity and helps maintain a healthy
cardiovascular system.
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Benefits of
Indian curry spice
Many human trials are needed before we can know
with any certainty how we can best use curry powder in medicine. But one
thing is certain: most doctors are not, at this time, aware of the
potential benefits of curry and many Americans are not aware of delicious
curry dishes or curry recipes.
Curry as a supplement
The actual yellow color of curry is mostly from curcumin and other
curcuminoids, which have been getting
much attention by the press regarding positive research on their various
health benefits.
Cognitive
Function, mental health, brain function
Curry consumption and cognitive function in the elderly.
Am J Epidemiol. 2006. Department
of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore, Republic of
Singapore.
Curcumin, from the curry spice turmeric, has been shown to possess potent
antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties and to reduce beta-amyloid and
plaque burden in experimental studies, but epidemiologic evidence is
lacking. The authors investigated the association between usual curry
consumption level and cognitive function in elderly Asians. In a
population-based cohort of nondemented elderly Asian subjects
aged 60-93 years in 2003, the authors compared Mini-Mental State
Examination (MMSE) scores for three categories of regular curry
consumption, taking into account known sociodemographic, health, and
behavioral correlates of MMSE performance. Those who consumed curry
"occasionally" and "often or very often" had significantly better MMSE
scores than did subjects who "never or rarely" consumed curry. The authors
reported tentative evidence of better cognitive performance from curry
consumption in nondemented elderly Asians, which should be confirmed in
future studies.
Curry may help protect the aging brain. It's known that long-term users of anti-inflammatory drugs have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, although these agents can have harmful effects in the stomach, liver and kidney, limiting their use in the elderly. In a study, Dr. Tze-Pin Ng from National University of Singapore and colleagues compared scores on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) for three categories of regular curry consumption in 1,010 nondemented Asians who were between 60 and 93 years old. Most of the study subjects consumed curry at least occasionally (once every 6 months), 43 percent ate curry at least often or very often (between monthly and daily) while 16 percent said they never or rarely ate curry. People who consumed curry "occasionally" and "often or very often" had significantly better MMSE scores than did those who "never or rarely" consumed curry. Even with the low and moderate levels of curry consumption reported by the respondents, better cognitive performance was observed. These results, they note, provide "the first epidemiologic evidence supporting a link between curry consumption and cognitive performance that has been suggested by a large volume of earlier experimental evidence." American Journal of Epidemiology, 2006.
Curry Powder Research, Alzheimer's disease and
dementia
Curry, curcumin, and turmeric may be helpful in
rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.
Curcumin inhibits formation of Abeta oligomers and fibrils
and binds plaques and reduces amyloid in vivo.
J Biol Chem. 2004. University of California Los
Angeles, North Hills, CA
Alzheimer's disease involves amyloid (Abeta) accumulation, oxidative damage and
inflammation, and risk is reduced with increased antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory consumption. The phenolic yellow curry pigment curcumin has
potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and can suppress oxidative
damage, inflammation, cognitive deficits, and amyloid accumulation. These data
suggest that low dose curcumin effectively disaggregates Ass as well as prevents
fibril and oligomer formation, supporting the rationale for curry powder use in
clinical trials preventing or treating Alzheimer's disease.
I really like Indian cuisine and visit local Indian restaurants frequently.
It now appears
that curcumin may be able to break up the "plaques" that mark the brains
of Alzheimer's disease patients.
Scientists found that curcumin was able to reduce deposits of beta-amyloid proteins in the
brains of elderly lab mice that ate curcumin as part of their diets.
Furthermore, when the researchers added low doses of curcumin to human
beta-amyloid proteins in a test tube, the compound kept the proteins from
aggregating and blocked the formation of the amyloid fibers that make up
Alzheimer's plaques.
Accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain is one of the hallmarks
of Alzheimer's disease that leads to damage to nerve cells and the
resulting loss in memory and cognitive function. Long used as part of traditional Indian medicine, curcumin is
known to have some anti-cancer properties, and animal
research suggests it might serve as a treatment for
multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis.
Interest in curcumin as an Alzheimer's therapy grew after studies found
low rates of the disease among elderly adults in India, where curry spice
is a dietary staple. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and has
anti-inflammatory properties. And since oxidative damage and inflammation
mark a number of diseases of aging - such as arthritis and the buildup of
plaques in the heart's arteries - curcumin eventually may
prove to be useful for a range of age-related conditions.
My comments: For those who prefer to take a capsule of curcumin
rather than cook with curry or turmeric, curcumin supplements are
available.
Curry ingredient fights skin
cancer, anti tumor effect
The compound that makes curry yellow could help fight skin cancer.
Curcumin, found in the spice turmeric, interferes with melanoma cells. Tests in
laboratory dishes show that curcumin made melanoma skin cancer cells more likely
to self-destruct in a process known as apoptosis. The same research team has
found that curcumin helped stop the spread of breast cancer tumor cells to the
lungs of mice. The curcumin suppressed two proteins that tumor cells use to keep
themselves immortal. People who eat plenty of turmeric have lower rates of some
cancers.