|  | Diet Nutrition | Nutritional Supplements

Curcumin Extract Benefits

Curcumin is the active ingredient in the popular Indian spice tumeric, which is a member of the ginger family. Aside from being a crucial curry ingredient, curcumin has been used in traditional Indian and Asian medicine for thousands of years. Many of these medicinal uses have to do with preventing chronic and life threatening diseases often associated with aging. Many recent studies have been performed on the benefits of curcumin extract.

  1. Alzheimer's Prevention

    • According to the July 2009 issue of the "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease," curcumin has been shown to reduce the amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer's diseases. Curcumin may also help maintain memory function and act as an inflammatory agent to Alzheimer's-related inflammation in neurologic tissue.

    Cancer Prevention

    • Curcumin has been shown to have a positive effect in preventing and curing certain types of cancer including: Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, oral cancer, hepatic cancer, lymphoma, colon cancer and several others. Curcumin prevents cancer in all stages by causing infected cells to kill themselves, but allowing the healthy cells to live, according to a group of researchers (D.R. Siwak et. al) in an article published in the medical journal, "Cancer" (2005 Jul 11).

    Antioxidant

    • Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals, which are damaging and come from chemicals, injury and other infections and processes. Curcumin is a very powerful natural antioxidant, comparable to vitamins C or E. Curcumin does a good job of regulating nitric oxide formation, which is an inflammatory free radical and carcinogen, according to researchers Toda S, Miyase T, Arich H, et al (Chem Pharmacol Bull 1985;33:1725-1728).

    Low Cholesterol

    • Curcumin has been shown to lower cholesterol even when taken in low doses. High cholesterol can lead to strokes or heart attacks, according to researchers reporting study results in an article published in "Atherosclerosis" (1999;147:371-378).

    Detoxification

    • Curcumin has been shown to have a detoxifying effect on the body. Curcumin enhances liver function, which allows the body to work better and more easily process potentially toxic or harmful elements, say researchers K.B. Soni, A. Rajan and R. Kuttan in an article published in "Cancer" (1992;66:115-121).

Nutritional Supplements - Related Articles