Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric helps with inflamation and more.

I keep hearing more and more about turmeric and with the benefits for inflammation and arthritis being shown in studies. I just can’t over look all the amazing health benefits of something that is a food easily eaten and added into dishes we make. I am always looking into things that have potential anti inflammatory benefits since that is something many of our clients deal with along with injuries and sports.

From my research it seems that the best way to get more turmeric into your diet is approach it from all sides. Take it in capsule form to insure you get some every day. Also include the ground spice in food. Especially soups, stews, meats and vegetables. It has a strong color but mild flavor, it is traditionally used in curry of course. And I just saw it raw at Whole Foods, it looks like orange ginger (also a great anti inflammatory) you can grate it over dishes, add to sauces or salad dressings. Pair it with some ginger and you will have beautiful, tasty and healthy super foods!

• It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects, Dr. Randy J. Horwitz, the medical director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, wrote a paper for the American Academy of Pain Management in which he discussed the health benefits of turmeric.

• Curcumin seems to delay liver damage that can eventually lead to cirrhosis, according to preliminary experimental research at the Medical University Graz in Austria.

• Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Kansas State University research found that adding certain spices, including turmeric, can reduce the levels of heterocyclic amines — carcinogenic compounds that are formed when meats are barbecued, boiled or fried — by up to 40 percent.

• Rodent studies at the University of Texas indicate that curcumin inhibits the growth of a skin cancer, melanoma and also slows the spread of breast cancer into the lungs.

• Researchers from the University of South Dakota have found that pretreatment with curcumin makes cancer cells more vulnerable to chemo and radiotherapy

• Doctors at UCLA recently found that curcumin, the main component in turmeric, appeared to block an enzyme that promotes the growth of head and neck cancer.
  In that study, 21 subjects with head and neck cancers chewed two tablets containing 1,000 milligrams of curcumin.  An independent lab in Maryland evaluated the results and found that the cancer-promoting enzymes in the patients’ mouths were inhibited by the curcumin and thus prevented from advancing the spread of the malignant cells.

• Epidemiologists have hypothesized that the turmeric that is part of daily curries eaten in India may help explain the low rate of Alzheimer’s disease in that country. Among people aged 70 to 79, the rate is less than one-quarter that of the United States.

• This research, from Italy, was a three-month trial involving 50 patients diagnosed by x-ray with osteoarthritis of the knee. The Italian team was investigating the effect on arthritis symptoms of a curcumin-based preparation optimized for better absorption. Participating patients took the formulation in addition to standard medical treatment; those in the second group continued following their physicians’ recommendations.After 90 days, the researchers found a 58 percent decrease in overall reported pain and stiffness as well as an improvement in physical functioning among the curcumin group compared to the controls. They also found, via a standardized testing procedure, a 300 percent improvement in the emotional well being of the curcumin patients compared with the others. And blood tests showed a 16-fold decline in C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation. Patients in the curcumin group were able to reduce their use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by 63 percent, compared to the other group.

I’m very excited to add more turmeric to my diet. It will inspire me to be more creative in my recipes!

Massage Works Los Gatos offers massage therapy that does just that, it works, to help you get relief from chronic or acute pain as well as stress and strain. Our mission is to help active women and men incorporate massage as part of a healthy lifestyle to live with positive energy and vitality. Our skilled massage therapists help you get relief from problems such as headaches, carpal tunnel, knee pain and sciatica.

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