Cancer is known to be a medical condition that is responsible for taking the lives of thousands of people each year. More and more people are suffering from cancer because of genetic and environmental factors. With curcumin, there can be a way to prevent or treat certain types of cancers today. Curcumin, the turmeric root extract has shown to play a role in cancer treatment as well as prevention.
Reports by the American Cancer Society show that 1 out of every 4 deaths is as a result of one kind of cancer or another. While there are many cancer survivors, there are also those who eventually succumb to the disease.
As for the treatments for cancer, in addition to chemotherapy and radiation, research studies prove that turmeric can be used to fight this deadly disease. This is good news for people who are fighting this disease. They now have more options when it comes to various treatments.
Without adequate medical care, cancer cells spread fast in the body causing unfavorable symptoms like pain, nausea, and fatigue, worsening the condition of the individual with cancer. Studies show that curcumin can help prevent the spread of cancer cells from the infected part to the other body parts.
Researchers at the University of Texas found out that when curcumin was added to cultures containing myeloma, it stopped the cells from progressing. This means that curcumin can have a tremendous effect in treating cancer by stopping the cells from growing and spreading.
An American study done in 2007 shows that when chemotherapy was combined together with curcumin to treat bowel cancer, the treatment yielded better results than when chemotherapy was used alone. The reason behind this is that curcumin has the ability to kill different types of cancer cells.
Curcumin also blocks the progression of cancer. Laboratory tests show that it interferes with the different molecular pathways that cause spread and growth of cancer. Curcumin activates the release of human glutathione. This is an antioxidant in the body that maintains normal cellular activities. It is the only antioxidant that is found inside the cells.
Turmeric has also been proven to shrink tumors and prevent cancer. Some of the cancers that can benefit from turmeric include skin, breast, colon, prostate, bowel, mouth, esophageal, tongue and intestines. Turmeric is being advocated in the treatment and prevention of breast and cervical cancer. This information alone can encourage those people with cancer to learn more about turmeric and its many health benefits, especially in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
These two types of cancers, breast and cervical cancer, are among the leading causes of death in women. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it is able to block the factors that bring about the human papilloma virus.
Turmeric can also cause the death of cancer cells in the lining of the uterus. Curcumin is absorbed well in the colon lining, and thus acts very effectively on cancerous tissue in the colon. For prostate cancer, it works by lessening the expression of sex hormone receptors.
The potent components of turmeric can alter the prevalence and help in treatment of cancer patients. As you can see, turmeric is very promising, especially in the aspects of health and cancer treatment.
However, before consuming turmeric, especially the pills, it is advisable to consult with your doctor first to make sure that it will be one of the best options for you.
Though it is a safe food product, it may produce unfavorable side effects especially for those with certain health problems. So don’t forget to see your doctor first before consuming any turmeric products.
Maggie Martin is Ph.D. in Cell Biology. She is very passionate about healthy living and has been writing about Food and Healthy Lifestyles. When she is not busy, she takes interest in a variety of things such as lifestyle, food, health, herbal medicine, and the benefits of turmeric. Follow her on Twitter @Maggiemartink