livius drusus
09-10-2004, 08:14 PM
(And oranges and bananas.) (http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996384)
Childhood leukaemia rates are much lower in Asia than in western countries – and this could be due to differences in diet. The cancer is the most common childhood cancer in the west, afflicting at least one child in every 100,000. But in India, if affects only 1 child in 1,000,000. The consumption of turmeric is high in India – some estimates suggest each adult eats an average of 3 to 5 grams a day.
Nagabhushan’s work has shown that curcumin and other turmeric extracts can block the mutagenic effects of cancer-causing agents called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from smoke emissions. In animal studies, it inhibited the formation of stomach and skin tumours. And curcumin can also mop up cellular molecules involved in tumour development.
Good thing this study didn't come out 20 years ago or I would have been force-fed even more curry than I was.
Childhood leukaemia rates are much lower in Asia than in western countries – and this could be due to differences in diet. The cancer is the most common childhood cancer in the west, afflicting at least one child in every 100,000. But in India, if affects only 1 child in 1,000,000. The consumption of turmeric is high in India – some estimates suggest each adult eats an average of 3 to 5 grams a day.
Nagabhushan’s work has shown that curcumin and other turmeric extracts can block the mutagenic effects of cancer-causing agents called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from smoke emissions. In animal studies, it inhibited the formation of stomach and skin tumours. And curcumin can also mop up cellular molecules involved in tumour development.
Good thing this study didn't come out 20 years ago or I would have been force-fed even more curry than I was.