Most people know Turmeric as an ingredient of curries, and as a staple ingredient of south Asian cuisine. But there are health benefits to the spice as well. The turmeric benefits that currently have been identified make turmeric look like an amazing cure-all.

The turmeric that you are familiar with is the root of Curcuma Longa plant. It has been used for centuries as a condiment, and as a dye for textiles.

However, the ingredient that makes this plant so valuable from a health perspective is identified as curcumin. This substance, that is contained in turmeric, is responsible for turmeric being long recognized for its medicinal properties, as well as its other uses.

China and India have traditional systems of medicine that have recognized turmeric as being an important, and effective, treatment of a whole host of ailments and conditions, including colic, rheumatoid arthritis, flatulence, chest pain, jaundice, toothache, and hemorrhage.

But, the more that curcumin is studied, the more valuable it becomes.

It is now believed to help in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, a lung disease that is contracted by the mutation of a gene. The gene manufactures a mis-folded protein, which is called DeltaF508. The disease is characterized by a layer of mucus that coats the lungs. Most sufferers of the disease don’t live past the age of thirty.

But it is believed now that, curcumin actually corrects the mutation of the gene that causes the disease. This has been proven in studies that were conducted in 2004 at Yale University. Doses of curcumin were injected into mice in amounts that were replicating a ratio that would be analogous to the human body. After tests were conducted, the protein turned out normal.

More tests are needed to isolate the proper doses of curcumin. But, this is certainly encouraging news for sufferers of Cystic Fibrosis.

Another study highlights the efficacy of curcumin on battling cancer, specifically breast, colon, prostate, lung cancer, and childhood leukemia. Curcumin has long been known to have antioxidant capabilities, and these properties are thought to protect the cells from the free radicals, which can cause cells to mutate into cancerous cells.

This idea came to light when, studies of cancer rates in south Asians turned up significantly lower rate of these types of cancers in the general population, than other areas of the world.

Curcumin also enhances the functional efficiency of the liver, which helps the body rid itself of these cancerous cells.

Now, studies are even suggesting that, turmeric and onions can prevent colon cancer. Quercitin is an antioxidant that is contained in onions. When it is paired with curcumin, it has been shown to reduce the pre-cancerous polyps that can develop in people, whose families have a known history of the disease. Five patients that had a family history of colon cancer, and who had begun to develop these precancerous polyps, were treated with curcumin and quercitin over a period of approximately six months. The average number of polyps that developed was over 60% less than normal, and the polyps that did develop were over 50% smaller than normal.

Childhood leukemia is becoming one of the scourges of the modern world. The instances of this disease have risen by more than 50% in the twentieth century. There isn’t a clear indication of what is causing this increase. However, environmental factors, along with lifestyle, may play roles in the increase.

But, the incidences of childhood leukemia are much lower in southern Asia than the rest of the world, and diet, particularly the ingestion of turmeric on a regular basis, may be playing a role in reducing the occurrences of this disease.

For much of the same reasons that curcumin has been showing promise in the treatment of other cancers, namely, its ability to inhibit the mutation of cells into cancerous cells, this miracle substance is showing promise in the treatment of childhood leukemia.

The ability of Curcumin to work as an antioxidant also shows promise in the treatment of people who are at risk of stroke and heart attacks from cholesterol.

Curcumin has shown that it is effective in acting as a messenger molecule, that works in concert with the liver in getting that organ to produce a greater amount of proteins that create the receptors, that inhibit the production of LDL cholesterol, which is the bad type of cholesterol.

The liver works to rid the body of this cholesterol, before it moves into the arteries, where it becomes a danger in clogging the arteries. And, as we all know by now, this clogging is what leads directly to stroke and heart attacks.

An increase in your consumption of turmeric can lead to a healthier future for you and your family. Just be sure to use turmeric, and not just curry powder. Curry powder is a mixture of turmeric, cumin, pepper, and other spices, and as such, the percentage of curcumin is lower than in pure turmeric. Although, turmeric and curry powders are both delicious spices, you’ll want to reap the benefits of turmeric’s health attributes as well its flavor.