Is tumeric the same as curcumin?
Curcumin is a naturally-occurring chemical compound found in the spice turmeric. Turmeric, on the other hand, is the root of a plant which is scientifically known as Curcuma Longa and that’s probably where curcumin gets its name from.
Turmeric is the primary ingredient found in the curry powders that are used to season the foods of Middle Eastern, Asian, and Indian cuisines. Accumulating evidence also reveals that this brightly colored relative of ginger is a powerful disease preventive as well as an effective cancer-fighting agent.
Curcumin is the most active constituent of turmeric. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-carcinogenic and has been shown to reverse the tendency for bad genes to express themselves. It is a promoter of apoptosis (or cancer cell death) and can halt angiogenesis (which is the development of new blood supply for cancerous tumors), and it can reduce the inflammatory cancer micro-environment. In addition, it has the ability to block estrogen mimicking chemicals and increase overall immunity of the body. One of the powerful things that curcumin has the ability to do that chemotherapy and radiation cannot, is to specifically target cancer stem cells, which is where all cancer begins.
One of the most comprehensive summaries of turmeric studies to date was published by the respected ethnobotanist James A. Duke, PhD., in the October, 2007 issue of Alternative & Complementary Therapies. In reviewing some 700 studies, Duke concluded that turmeric appears to outperform many pharmaceuticals in its effects against several chronic, debilitating diseases, with virtually no adverse side effects.
Some of the diseases that curcumin has been found to prevent or alleviate:
· Alzheimer’s disease: Duke found more than 50 studies on turmeric’s effects in addressing Alzheimer’s disease. The reports indicate that extracts of turmeric contain a number of natural agents that block the formation of beta-amyloid, the substance responsible for the plaques that slowly obstruct cerebral function in Alzheimer’s disease.
· Arthritis: Turmeric contains more than two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds, including six different COX-2-inhibitors (the COX-2 enzyme promotes pain, swelling and inflammation; inhibitors selectively block that enzyme). By itself, writes Duke, curcumin – the component in turmeric most often cited for its healthful effects- is a multifaceted anti-inflammatory agent, and studies of the efficacy of curcumin have demonstrated positive changes in arthritic symptoms.
· Cancer: Duke found more than 200 citations for turmeric and cancer and more than 700 for curcumin and cancer. He noted that in the handbook Phytochemicals Mechanisms of Action, curcumin and/or turmeric were effective in animal models in prevention and/or treatment of colon cancer, mammary cancer, prostate cancer, murine hepatocarcinogenesis (liver cancer in rats), esophageal cancer, and oral cancer. Duke said that the effectiveness of the herb against these cancers compared favorably with that reported for pharmaceuticals.
Studies regarding curcumin and cancer
· In 2001, scientists discovered that turmeric dampens the inflammation cascade that can occur within the body, thereby stopping the proliferation of cancer in its tracks.
· In 2002, scientists began unraveling how turmeric selectively worked against cancer cells. They found that cancer cells produce “transcription factors” which protect them against cell death. Turmeric’s active ingredients include a host of compounds known as curcuminoids. Collectively, they attack the cancer’s transcription factor, and restore the cells’ natural ability to commit suicide (apoptosis). Unlike conventional treatments, turmeric strengthens healthy cells, while removing cancerous ones with laser-like precision.
· Early in the 1990s, the University of Texas’s M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston, reported that the anticancer effects of turmeric were found to be “staggering.” After sprinkling a pinch of the spice on cancer cells in the lab, researchers found that it blocked a crucial pathway required for the development of skin cancer, prostate tumors, as well as other cancers.
· Further studies at the University of Wisconsin reported that turmeric blocks a type of cancer fertilizer known as VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). Without this growth factor, cancer cells are unable to thrive and eventually commit cell suicide.
· Epidemiology studies reveal that populations who consume the most turmeric also have the lowest rates of prostate cancers. India has twenty-five times less incidence prostate cancers than men in the United States. The average intake of turmeric in the Indian population is 2-2.5 g/day, providing about 60-200 mg of curcumin.
In regards to supplementation with curcumin
The standard dose for curcumin is 400 to 600 milligrams daily, but when dealing with cancer or other chronic illness, this dose can go as high as 4, 6 or 8 grams daily. As reported, “phase I clinical trials, using massive doses of curcumin (up to 8 g/day for four months) in human volunteers, “did not result in discernible toxicities”
Unfortunately, many supplemental formulations of curcumin are unable to cross from the digestive tract into the bloodstream, so when purchasing look for a Bio-available form of Curcumin, which allows for the highest available absorption rates (up to 96%) into the bloodstream.
Contraindications- curcumin may cause mild gastrointestinal distress in some individuals so taking the supplements with food should help to minimize this. Check with your doctor if you are on chemotherapy, are taking blood thinners, or are pregnant or nursing. Precautions should be observed if you are suffering from blood clotting disorders, obstructive jaundice, acute bilious colic, hepatitis or have gallbladder obstructions.
Cancer is the result of an overly toxic body with an overwhelmed and collapsed immune system. The links below provide details on an anticancer diet and supplement plan, along with methods to detox the body so you can begin to address a cancerous situation using a multifaceted approach.
Curcumin Helps Raise Low Dopamine in Major Depression and Other Neurological Disorders.
Dopamine is an important chemical in your body that influences many brain-related functions, such as mood, motivation and memory. Generally, your body regulates dopamine levels well on its own, But some medical conditions and diet and lifestyle choices can lower your levels. Along with eating a balanced diet, many possible supplements may help boost dopamine levels, including vitamin D, magnesium, and others. This, in turn, could help improve brain function and mental health.
