- Can curcumin help fight breast cancer?
- Curcumin is the trio of “curcuminoids” pigments in turmeric root and is responsible for its yellow color along with the rest of the curcuminoids. Curcumin has very strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Preliminary studies and experiments on curcumin suggest that it strengthens the immune system and promotes brain health in very exclusive ways.
- Now it shows promises to fight breast cancer.
- Review papers of the curcumin studies stated: “Extensive clinical trials over the past quarter century have addressed the efficacy of curcumin and promising effects have been observed in patients with various pro-inflammatory diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease and arthritis.”
- These studies are being performed at Indiana University and Purdue university, where they are finding that when omega-3 DHA and circumin are combined, they have the ability to slow down the growth of breast cancer cells. These compounds worked best when combined, than when tested separately.
- The DHA+curcumin slowed down the growth of all five breast cancer lines. The genes that promote breast cancer development were deactivated, and the genes that suppress cancer cell development were activated. The reason these compounds worked so well together is because the DHA helped the breast cancer cells absorb the effects of curcumin.
- To aid with the absorption of curcumin, we recommend using turmeric with the following:
- 1. Fatty wild fish like Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon
2. Combine turmeric with black pepper. You can do so in salad dressing, juice, smoothie and soup recipe. - 3. Oils with low omega-6 fat content such as organic olive oil and organic macademia oil.
- 2. TIPS:
1. Try drinking raw turmeric milk. This recipe combines turmeric with the healthy fats in almonds to make it more potent.
2. Sprinkle some organic turmeric powder on to an avocado. This helps the body absorb turmeric because avocados are full of healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids. - If you wish to select curcumin supplements, do so carefully:
- It is important to know that curcumin is not well-absorbed after it has been extracted from turmeric, unless it is accompanied by fats or turmeric’s own volatile oils.
- Therefore, make sure the curcumin supplements are combined with omega-3s or turmeric’s own volatile oils.
- As always: Check with your health practitioner before you change your diet and see if this is right for you. This is not meant to replace any treatment or drugs you are taking.
- For tips on how to enhance turmeric absorption and boost its benefits.
- For the health benefits of turmeric.
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Aggarwal BB, Harikumar KB. Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009 Jan;41(1):40-59. Epub 2008 Jul 9. Review.
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Altenburg JD, Bieberich AA, Terry C, Harvey KA, Vanhorn JF, Xu Z, Jo Davisson V, Siddiqui RA. A synergistic antiproliferation effect of curcumin and docosahexaenoic acid in SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells: unique signaling not explained by the effects of either compound alone. BMC Cancer. 2011 Apr 21;11:149. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-11-149.
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Anand P, Kunnumakkara AB, Newman RA, Aggarwal BB. Bioavailability of curcumin: problems and promises. Mol Pharm. 2007 Nov-Dec;4(6):807-18. Epub 2007 Nov 14. Review.
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