The Wonders of Turmeric

Turmeric, which comes from the root of a plant (Curcuma longa L.) from the ginger family, has long secured its place in Ayurvedic medicine as a "cleanser of the body." The bright yellow-orange powder ground from the root is used mainly as spice and an ingredient of curry in traditional Southeast Asian cuisine. In the battle against cancer, this humble plant root is gaining new and fortified grounds. Scientists report that curcumin, the potent agent in turmeric, effectively slows down growth of cancel cells, especially that of prostate, skin, breast, and colon. It also inhibits angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that nourish cancer cells, and at the same time, triggers the body’s heat-shock stress response thereby boosting the immune system. It may be too early though for a conclusive word on turmeric as the new panacea, but it is well worth including in your diet just the same.