Curcumin, a derivative of turmeric, is a pigment that gives the curry spice its distinguishable yellow-orange color. But this spice also has powerful medicinal properties. A study in the July issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry revealed that curcumin may potentially stop glioblastoma (GBM), a fatal brain cancer.
Nine out of 11 study animals (81 percent) were found to have decreased brain tumors after taking curcumin, which selectively targets cancer cells. Furthermore, there were no signs of toxicity (link). Curcumin also worked synergistically with two chemotherapy drugs, which may possibly enhance the extermination of cancer cells.
The Cancer-Fighting Benefits of Curcumin
Dr. Joseph Mercola says that Chinese and Indians have long recognized curcumin’s beneficial properties. In India where turmeric is a part of the diet, the prevalence of four common cancers found in the U.S.–namely breast, colon, lung, and prostate—is 10 times lower. Prostate cancer, which is common among males in the U.S., rarely occurs in India.
Curcumin combats cancer by:
- Inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells
- Helping your system destroy mutated cancer cells to prevent them from spreading
- Preventing cells from transforming from normal to tumor
- Inhibits a particular protein synthesis believed to be a factor of tumor formation
- Stops the development of additional blood supply, which is necessary for cancer cell growth
Curcumin affects more than 100 different pathways in a human cell. Its cancer-fighting benefits are confirmed in numerous studies:
- A 2008 study in Cancer Prevention Research revealed that curcumin may be an effective therapeutic agent in tumors that overexpress alpha6beta4, which is associated with cancer progression. This inhibits breast cancer cell motility and invasion (link).
- A 2009 study in Molecular Pharmacology said that curcumin prevents pancreatic cancer cell growth and works as a chemosensitizing agent (link).
- A 2010 study concluded that curcumin may potentially target cancer stem cells (link).
Curcumin may also help fight chronic inflammation, which is an underlying factor for many chronic diseases.
Tips in Using Curcumin Effectively
The benefits of curcumin are the reason why turmeric has become a popular supplement today. Every 100 grams of turmeric contains at least three to five grams of curcumin. However, Dr. Mercola recommends using only a 100-percent certified organic turmeric extract with 95 percent curcuminoids. It should go through safe production practices and be free of excipients (substances added as processing or stability aids), fillers, and other additives.
At present, there are no available formulations that are recommended for use against cancer. Dr. Mercola says a typical anti-cancer dose can be as high as three grams of high-quality curcumin extract taken three to four times daily. But even though high doses are required, you must be cautious with using curcumin because it is not absorbed by your body very well.
Here are two tactics you can try:
- Make a microemulsion from curcumin powder. Get one tablespoon of the powder and mix it with one to two egg yolks. Add a teaspoon or two of melted organic coconut oil, and then use a high-speed hand blender to emulsify the mixture.
- Add a tablespoon of curcumin powder to a quart of boiling water. Boil this mix for 10 minutes to create a 12 percent solution, which you can drink. Just remember to add the powder to boiling water because the solution will not work well if you put it in tepid water. This concoction will have a slightly woody taste. The curcumin will gradually fall out of the solution, so drink the water within four hours of boiling.
Dr. Mercola also recommends cooking with pure and organic turmeric powder instead of curry powder. Turmeric powder contains more curcumin than curry powders.