| Everyone seems to be excited about the health | | | | But, the health benefits of curcumin are not |
| benefits of curcumin. It is currently being studied | | | | strictly limited to its antioxidant activity. It also has |
| as a possible treatment for several types of | | | | anti-inflammatory activity. Chronic inflammation |
| cancer and as a treatment for Alzheimer's. If | | | | plays a role in many painful degenerative diseases, |
| you're like most people, your hope is to prevent | | | | but it also plays a role in heart disease and cancer. |
| those diseases. It might be beneficial for that, too. | | | | Other known antioxidants have anti-inflammatory |
| Some studies indicate that it reduces the risk of | | | | activity, too. Chronic inflammation is another of |
| colon cancer, a very common form of the | | | | the causes of cellular aging. |
| disease. If you pay much attention to the news, | | | | Some anti-aging supplements contain extracts |
| you may have seen that eating lots of fruits and | | | | from turmeric and other plants that are known to |
| vegetables reduces your risk of colon cancer by | | | | address the causes of cellular aging. Many people |
| 20-25%, as long as you don't smoke. | | | | see some interesting results when they increase |
| Older studies indicated that high blood levels of | | | | their nutrient intake through supplementation. |
| vitamin A and E were associated with a | | | | Several people have reported that their gray hair |
| decreased risk of lung cancer. But, studies of | | | | turned back to its original color. |
| smokers found that the vitamins actually seemed | | | | If you do some research, you will see that there |
| to increase their risk of lung cancer. Obviously, the | | | | is lots of science to support the idea of increasing |
| key to reducing your risk of all kinds of cancer is | | | | nutrient intake, without increasing caloric intake. |
| first to avoid known carcinogens and there are | | | | Supplementation is the only way to do that. |
| lots of carcinogens in cigarette smoke. | | | | The health benefits of curcumin seem almost too |
| For non-smokers the health benefits of curcumin | | | | good to be true, when you look at the entire list. |
| are similar to those that accompany a diet rich in | | | | Scientists have found that it has antibacterial, |
| fruits and vegetables. Scientists believe that the | | | | anti-viral and anti-parasitic, too. The benefit related |
| primary benefits of plant foods are due to their | | | | to Alzheimer's has to do with its anti-amyloid |
| antioxidant content. | | | | activity. Amyloid-beta proteins compose the |
| Curcumin is an antioxidant found in the spice plant | | | | plaque that strangles and kills brain cells in |
| turmeric. There are different antioxidants in other | | | | Alzheimer's patients. Laboratory studies indicate |
| plants. For example, ginger, a different spice, | | | | that curcumin breaks up those plaques and |
| contains gingerol. Green tea contains catechins. | | | | prevents new ones from forming. |
| Grape skin contains resveratrol. Grape seeds | | | | Other age-related diseases, including heart disease |
| contain proanthocyanidins. Bilberry contains | | | | and degenerative eye diseases are caused by |
| anthocyanins. All of these are antioxidants that | | | | plaque accumulation. So, basically, the health |
| are important to health, because they address | | | | benefits of curcumin apply to all areas of the |
| one of the causes of cellular aging. That is free | | | | body. It is one of the many plant compounds that |
| radical damage. | | | | could help you live a longer, healthier life. |