The health benefits of turmeric’s principal compound, curcumin, are being studied at UCLA, the University of Texas, Loyola University and other research centers around the world. It is one of the most researched of all spice compounds and is cited as one of the top five antioxidant foods you can eat to help prevent conditions associated with free radical damage. Scientific evidence indicates turmeric’s powerful antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anti-tumor properties have potential for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of health issues including breast cancer and other cancers, as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, arthritis, MS and high cholesterol.
Turmeric and Alzheimer’s
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is showing great potential in its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and inhibit the accumulation of beta amyloid plaques and possibly even break up existing plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. Curcumin’s chelating properties enable it to assist in the removal of toxic metals from the brain which are also associated with Alzheimers
and other diseases. Turmeric has a long history of medicinal uses in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. It is emerging in Western medicine as one of nature’s most powerful healers.