1. It's An Anti-inflammatory
Turmeric is a spice found in curry powders in Asian and Indian cooking. Turmeric is what gives mustard its striking yellow color and is a staple ingredient in Asian soups and vegetable dishes. Although it adds little flavor to food, its shocking orange color adds kick to otherwise bland food like cauliflower. Turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory properties which may explain its success in research for the treatment and prevention of prostate cancer. Several studies now show that turmeric, also known as curcumin, slows the growth of a number of cancer types and may also slow the rate at which hormone responsive cancers become resistant to hormone therapy.
2. Turmeric Slows Tumor Growth
Turmeric helps slow the growth of cancerous tumors by inhibiting blood flow. Turmeric slows the growth of new blood vessels to tumors. Without new blood vessels tumors can't nourish themselves and can't grow. Current clinical trials are under way to test what level of turmeric produces these results and what amount is safe for treatment purposes.
3. Spice Up Food For Cancer Prevention
Prostate Cancer isn't the only thing turmeric is good for. Used as a spice and food coloring, regular ingestion of turmeric helps prevent colon cancer and stomach cancer. Some men also use fresh turmeric to prevent enlarged breasts which is a side effect of prostate cancer treatment. It's also on trial for in the fight against breast cancer. Current studies show it inhibits the growth of breast tumor cells.
4. How Much Spice?
Studies are inconclusive as to the amount of turmeric necessary to prevent colon cancer and what dosage will treat it. One of the best indicators are the cultures who use turmeric regularly. In Indian and Asian countries where turmeric is an everyday ingredient, incidence of prostate cancer is very low, while in the US, it remains the second leading cause of cancer in men.
5. Turmeric in Vegetables
You don't have to shake the spice bottle to get your daily dose of turmeric. Turmeric is a naturally occurring substance in many vegetables. Watercress, cabbage, broccoli, winter cress, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi and turnips all have turmeric. Even adding small amounts of these foods to soups, salads and vegetables dishes bumps up the level of turmeric in your diet. Since much of the Asian diet consists primarily of these antioxidant rich vegetables, this might explain their overall resistance to certain types of cancers.
