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Turmeric Medical Benefits: Do
You Know What You're Missing?
You're right to be interested in turmeric
medical benefits. This spice is a hot
topic in today's medical world and with
good reason. Traditional Indian and
Chinese medicine have used it since
600 B.C. as everything from a
disinfectant to a digestion cure.
In Western medicine, turmeric is
studied in hospitals around the country
for its role in reducing inflammation,
protecting against cancer and a host of
other medical benefits.
A Powerful Anti-Inflammatory
You probably know about the dangers of chronic inflammation. Left unchecked it can lead to heart disease, arthritis and virtually every
other serious disease.
While some inflammation is necessary-after all, it's your bodies' defense system--chronic inflammation is a sign that your immune system
is out of control.
At least one prominent doctor recommends turmeric as the best natural anti-inflammatory available.
An Italian study found osteoarthritis patients who took turmeric supplements experienced a "significant reduction" in pain. Other studies
have found it can be as effective as a cortisone shot at pain relief and experience less morning stiffness because of it.
The reason it's such an effective anti-inflammatory is because it's a Cox-2 inhibitor just like Celebrex and Vioxx-without the side effects.
A study conducted at the University Of Arizona College Of Medicine, found the active ingredient of the spice-curcumin-blocks a protein
called NF-KB from flaring up in the joint and attacking it. Turmeric could help in other inflammatory diseases such as irritable bowel
system (IBS) and asthma.
Protect Your Brain
It's also effective at blocking beta amyloids. These are the proteins associated with Alzheimer's. A study at UCLA found mice that ate food
that included turmeric protected the mice as well as any of the major Alzheimer's drugs available today.
Researchers say Indians 70-79 years old; have a 4.1 lower incidence in Alzheimer's disease than most Americans. They now trace this to
the high levels of turmeric in their diet.
Other studies show turmeric medical benefits extend to cancer prevention, cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis among other diseases. It
may even help you lose weight.
Turmeric Medical Benefits
This miracle spice is native to India and is made from the root of the curcuma longa plant. Its active ingredient is curcurmin. If you want to
get more of this healthy spice in your diet you can eat a lot more Indian curry. Though scientists say it can be a bit hard to digest this way.