Can turmeric help to prevent cancer?
- Can this Indian spice help to prevent cancer?
As regular readers know, I am careful not to promote any claims that certain products can prevent or cure cancer. I have come to believe that while maintaining a healthy lifestyle through a sensible diet, exercise and mental well-being is of undoubted benefit, in the end, there is a certain lottery-type element to cancer. I usually deplore the eat this food, buy this supplement to prevent cancer type of claims, but I am interested in reports that the Indian spice, turmeric may have a role to play in cancer prevention.
The powdered spice is made from the dried stem of Curcuma longa , a member of the ginger family. The principal active ingredient is called curcumin, which has been used to treat numerous ailments, particularly stomach problems, sprains, arthritis and inflammatory diseases.
According to Dr Dónal O’Mathúna writing in yesterday’s Irish Times Health supplement, “several high-quality studies have found that curcumin has beneficial effects in various laboratory models used to inhibit cancer cells….Two studies have given curcumin to patients with early stages of cancer. Both were small studies (one with only five patients), using widely varying doses and did not have controlled groups to compare patients. A small percentage of patients showed improvements, but it was impossible to know if this was due to curcumin or the natural course of the cancer. Two studies are currently under way in the US examining curcumin’s role in preventing colon cancer.”
Dr O’Mathúna also goes on to point out some instances of negative side effects in some patients who used the spice. He concludes that curcumin, the ingredient of turmeric which has shown much promise in laboratory studies needs more research. Clinical trials should confirm whether curcumin will have a role in helping prevent or treat cancer. For the moment, turmeric can spice up your food and may bring some general health benefits as well and I am happy to add a dash to my stews, curries and soups in the meantime.
Salad dressing, too!
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I shared these studies with my husband earlier on in my recovery…yah, he thinks tumeric is his herb of choice and sneaks it into almost everymeal he can…I did read a study that tumeric is absorbed better when combined with pepper. Have you read that? Have you heard anything about taking tumeric as a supplement? What are your thoughts? After reading your post, I believe you and I have about the same thoughts on the “wonder claims” that are being promoted in the health world, myself, trying to keep more to the “balance” approach!
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Marie, interestingly tumeric is one of the foods listed as high in antioxidants by Holford.
Your opening paragraph to this post is very balanced.
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Marie, very interesting! Thanks for sharing!
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Yes, My husband and I use Turmeric in our Rice 2-3 days a week! We both believe that it can help to prevent Cancer recurrence too!
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Well I’m convinced to try it after reading this well balanced post!
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I really appreciate the balanced views you give on this blog – I abhor the miracle cure brigade, but that’s not to say that I am closed off either – so this was an informative article to read.
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I always use tumeric in my curries, just because I like the taste and color of the spice, but now that I read your post, I have an added reason to keep doing it.
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