Benefit: Prevent Cancer

Turmeric is a spice that when taken in quantities of 1-3 grams a day can be a multi-targeted therapy that helps prevent and treat a broad spectrum of cancers by two main mechanisms:

• encourages Apoptosis (programmed cellular self-destruction) and
• inhibit’s Angeiogenesis (formation of blood vessels to feed cancerous cells and tumors).

There are over 2000 published studies focused on the use of Turmeric and one of its primary constituents, Curcumin, as a tool against cancer. Much of the work has focused on the isolated compound Curcumin, but many recent studies have broadened their scope to include the whole food Turmeric, even some human trials of Turmeric with Curcumin removed. The finding are impressive and point to Turmeric as a tremendous option for those looking to prevent and/or battle many different forms of cancer

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One of the key findings of this research across the broad spectrum of cancers is that Turmeric has been found to trigger Apoptosis. Apoptosis is a natural phenomenon where cells within the body are programmed to self-destruct at the end of their lifespan. This is the body’s natural way of ridding itself of damaged cells. Cancer short circuits this process and leads to the development of tumors, etc. Key compounds within Turmeric essentially reprograms the self-destruct mechanism back into the cancer cells.

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A second key finding with broad spectrum effect is that Turmeric has been found to inhibit Angiogenesis in Cancer. For cancer to grow, it needs a constant blood supply to feed it. Cancer cells start by hijacking nutrients form existing capillaries & tissue. As it grows, it requires a dedicated supply and are able to start a process called Angiogenesis, the development of new dedicated blood vessels.

Turmeric can inhibit this process and prevent the formation of blood supply to cancerous cells and tumors.

• It blocks the proteins that support the formation of new blood vessels.
• Prevents ‘hijacking’ of existing blood vessels to the cancerous cells by inhibiting the migration of two key proteins; UPA (urokinase plasminogen activator system) and MMP (matrixmetalloproteinase) to the cancerous cells. Both these proteins stimulate production of growth factors which lead to formation of new capillaries and blood vessels.

Unlike chemotherapy, Turmeric has the ability to kill only cancer cells where Apoptosis has been short-circuited and leave healthy cells unharmed.

Preventing Cancer: Curcumin was given to 25 patients with pre cancerous changes in different organs. This study seemed to show that curcumin could stop the precancerous changes becoming cancer.  

Research has also shown that there are low rates of certain types of cancer in countries where people eat curcumin at levels of about 100 to 200 mg a day over long periods of time.

Treating Cancer: From the site CenecerResearchUK.org; “A number of laboratory studies on cancer cells have shown that curcumin does have anticancer effects. It seems to be able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing. It has the best effects on breast cancer, bowel cancer, stomach cancer and skin cancer cells.

Colon, Breast, Prostate Pancreatic Osteosarcoma Glioblastoma, MGUS & Myeloma, the list goes on !

For your binge watching pleasure we've attached a number of video's that do a great job of discussing various aspects of Turmeric's effect on preventing and treating cancer;