I really love it when natural substances become the source of modern medicinal research. It gives some reassurance that drug development hasn’t fallen entirely into the realm of synthetic chemicals.
A recent study conducted by the Cork Cancer Research Centre in the UK has shown that curcumin, an active ingredient in the yellow tumeric spice found in curry powder and some teas, can kill esophageal cancer cells and may lead to a new treatment for cancer of the throat.
This is not the first time curcumin has been investigated for its medicinal properties — the extract has been researched by entities including the American Institute for Cancer Research and M.D. Anderson as a possible treatment for a variety of cancers and other ailments such as dementia and arthritis.
Now, granted, these studies use concentrated doses of such substances and don’t necessarily indicate that eating curry-spiced foods will help treat or prevent cancer. But hey, if you like spicy foods, it can’t hurt to add some to your diet.
Cork Cancer Research Centre is not in the UK. it is in Ireland.
Pat
Curcumin is indeed a powerful natural agent. The ingredient is being researched for a number of practical uses ranging from disease treatment to use as preservative for fresh fruit.
Turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory. It has helped me greatly with the pain caused by my anti-cancer medications that give me arthritis.