Curry Spice 'Kills Cancer Cells'

[NashVegas]

Source: BBC

An extract found in the bright yellow curry spice turmeric can kill off cancer cells, scientists have shown.

The chemical - curcumin - has long been thought to have healing powers and is already being tested as a treatment for arthritis and even dementia.

Now tests by a team at the Cork Cancer Research Centre show it can destroy gullet cancer cells in the lab.

Cancer experts said the findings in the British Journal of Cancer could help doctors find new treatments.

Dr Sharon McKenna and her team found that curcumin started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8328377.stm

---

This would seem to confirm reports we first saw about a year ago (?). In related news, the FDA has begun lobbying congress to outlaw naturally-grown turmeric from retail stores. :sarcasm:

http://www.naturalnews.com/025606_pyridoxamine_the_FDA_vitamin_B6.html

[phantom power]

1. Yeah, but it also kills regular cells!

[Richard D]

3. Just in case you're not being sarcastic . . ..

. . . no, it doesn't.

[Richard D]

2. There are a lot of wonderful herbs out there . . .

. . . and Turmeric is up there on the list.

[alfredo]

9. Use Turmeric on cuts.

[NashVegas]

27. Interesting ...

[alfredo]

58. Honey also works.

[RadiationTherapy]

135. I use cayenne for cuts and sore throats.

[Zhade]

72. Marijuana's another scientifically-confirmed cancer-killer herb.

NT!

[TwilightGardener]

4. Interesting. Wonder if they've looked at cultures who eat a lot of curry

for lower rates of esophageal cancer.

[Zoeisright]

14. They do have lower rates of Alzheimer's Disease.

Eat curry!

[TwilightGardener]

20. Well, maybe that has more to do with life span and genetics--

but if it can help at all, might as well make turmeric part of the ol' spice rack.

[Zoeisright]

99. Curry powder is so delicious anyway.

There are studies showing it can reduce the plaque formation in the brain typical of Alzheimers:

http://www.montefin.com/diet/health/spices/curry-turmeric-curcumin-alzheimers.html

http://www.mid-day.com/opinion/2009/jun/050609-Turmeric-curry-curcumin-Alzeihmer-cure-Khalidoscope-Prof-Doraiswamy.htm

The curcumin in turmeric binds to plaque and it's also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

[TwilightGardener]

101. Thank you for the links!

[sui generis]

5. it is the secret ingredient

in my personal biological assault weapon, and these weapons are so deadly you won't have time to light a match . . . :silly:

I like curry but it doesn't like me. I keep trying though. :P

[a la izquierda]

19. That sounds like lentils and me.

Good gawd, do they make my GI furious.

[closeupready]

65. Do you have a food allergy, perhaps?

I don't ever have a GI problem with lentils - but I typically spice them well - coriander, cumin, garlic, red chilies, salt/pepper and mustard oil. And maybe some black onion seeds. Top with a boiled egg, drizzle with sesame oil, serve with white rice, and yum! :)

I'm going to have to add curry powder now, though, in light of the story here. :)

[a la izquierda]

119. It's entirely possible, though as of now...

I don't think I'm allergic to any food. I'm going to have to do one of those cleanses to see if I do, though. Because damn, I love lentils...

[BonnieJW]

92. I take a turmeric supplement every day

and put mustard on just about everything. Love it.

[rcrush]

6. At the price of the most painful bowel movements!

[Barack_America]

15. Hardly. Tumeric is "spicy" but not "hot".

[OnionPatch]

154. Curry is hot, turmeric isn't. People get confused.

Probably because they don't realize that turmeric is just one ingredient in curry.

[intheflow]

24. The key ingredient seems to be turmeric.

I can't eat curries for the reason you mentioned, but I have no problem adding straight turmeric to stews and soup.

[ixion]

7. I knew there was a reason I loved curry

:woohoo:

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. My dermo MD told me to take tumeric and he's about as ...

establishment as can be. ( i.e. It's supposed to prevent melanoma recurrence).

[trotsky]

10. Science reporting really does suck donkey balls.

Could they at least report whether this was an in vitro or in vivo experiment? It seems pretty obvious that it's probably the former, however this kind of shoddy vague reporting makes people think that by eating curry they'll cure cancer, when nothing of the sort has been proven.

(LOTS of things kill cancer cells in a Petri dish. Few have the ability to be delivered in a potent form to a living tumor inside a body that won't otherwise harm healthy tissue.)

[NashVegas]

11. The Study's Doctor and Publisher of Origin Are Listed

For those whose curiosity demands further information and investigation. Also, as stated in my note, this is not the first study on the issue. Very Google-able.

[trotsky]

21. "For those whose curiosity demands further information and investigation"

Exactly my point. Pertinent and valuable information is missing, leading the uninformed and incurious to run around proclaiming eating curry will cure cancer.

[NashVegas]

23. Nothing's Stopping You

From looking further into the matter for yourself.

No one expects a general, mainstream news source to get into data minutiae.

I should think most of us would assume "in the lab" to indicate a dish.

[closeupready]

36. I have that person on ignore - he/she is not here to honestly discuss alternative

health treatment stories. Rather, he/she is here to derail such topics. Just an FYI. :hi:

[NashVegas]

38. Thanks

For the heads up. Shit, I wasn't even thinking this is remotely "alternative," after all, there are previous studies this simply reinforces.

As for the response below, about the other source, publishing a story with a whack title doesn't change the FDA's actions.

[closeupready]

41. Yes. Honestly, this is sort of old news. There have been

many other stories covering this topic. I guess this is a little different in terms of the FDA?

But yes, you're correct. Any topic that is remotely alternative sees DU's Medical Establishment Wannabe groupies attack hard and fast and en masse. :rofl: No blow is too low.

Suzanne Somers getting old? That's fair ground to attack her views on herbal treatments. :sarcasm:

Anyway, I'm going to leave this topic to the groupies. Cheers! :hi:

[trotsky]

45. And any effort to extract real, factual discussion...

is met with dismissive name-calling like "DU's Medical Establishment Wannabe Groupies."

[kimmerspixelated]

115. Well, you guys always seem to pack a big punch.

Shoe fits?

[trotsky]

123. Facts have that ability to be pretty powerful, it's true.

Maybe if you ever had some on your side you'd be able to hold your own in a discussion.

[NashVegas]

46. It Wasn't Really About That

I made the FDA comment and posted a link to a story about them taking an item off the shelves because of a bio-med company that lobbied, heavily, after finding out an ingredient they sunk millions of dollars into research over was commonly available.

Bio-med companies dabbling in agri-business are all about forcing their patents down our throats while they remove freely available food items from our farms, our supermarket shelves, and even our common knowledge.

See HamdenRice's #25 post.

[closeupready]

50. Of course, you know, Monsanto set that precedent.

So bio-med companies who are doing as you say are following a tried and true business strategy.

[NashVegas]

52. Yep

When I look at how well these "primitive" countries rebel against such tactics, while the US calmly accepts them, is it any wonder Nick Negroponte and his gang want a laptop for every child?

[defendandprotect]

82. Agent Orange by Monsanto -- Food by Monsanto !!!

MONSANTO SHOULD BE IN JAIL -- !!!

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Monsanto_and_Agent_Orange

[closeupready]

83. I presume you are aware they are being investigated for anti-trust violations?

>>Monsanto a focus of U.S. antitrust investigation

ST. LOUIS — The Justice Department is investigating whether Monsanto violated antitrust rules in trying to expand its dominance of the market for genetically engineered crops, the company says.

Monsanto (MON) has provided interviews and documents to the Justice Department over the past two months, company spokesman Lee Quarles said. He said the department has questioned Monsanto about its marketing tactics in the biotech seed industry, which have become a target of criticism.

---------------------

The department's investigation of Monsanto is part of a previously announced inquiry into consolidation in the seed industry. The department is looking into Monsanto's licensing agreements with seed companies.<<

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-10-08-monsanto-seed-antitrust-probe_N.htm

[defendandprotect]

84. Didn't know that -- It's about time . . . this is a criminally corrupt company ---

And, we frequently hear of "Monsanto's FDA" . . .!!

Thank you -- !!


:)

[trotsky]

39. Yeah, because asking for accuracy in reporting is derailing the topic.

Your false claims are duly noted.

[Zhade]

74. Nonsense. He simply doesn't allow woowoo bullshit claims to pass unremarked.

He's far more interested in reality than some around here.

[closeupready]

77. He's another medical Einstein, I'm sure.

:rofl:

[Zhade]

109. He clearly knows more than you.

NT!

[kimmerspixelated]

116. Anytime someone mentions the word woo,

I know they are a shill.

[closeupready]

122. Yup. (post drudge alarm gif here)

n/t

[trotsky]

125. And anytime someone has to call someone else a shill,

it's pretty clear they can't defend their own position with facts.

[kimmerspixelated]

114. Exactly, right.

Folks who would never dream of using food as medicine, or anything alternative because they don't see their mainstream doctor promoting it,don't have business discussing something they nix before even trying it.

LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE-Hippocrates-said it, isn't that good enough for them? The Father of Medicine.

[closeupready]

121. Exactly. And they sure are smug, but if they're so smart, why do they spend all day on DU,

posting barbs and insults? Shouldn't they be curing cancer or something? Or doing some sales, getting the quarterly numbers up?

[Maru Kitteh]

149. Thanks for your "Life is like a box of chocolates" medical theory

But we've actually worked on a few things since then, and some of them have come out quite well. Who is the last person the you know who died of smallpox? Oh. NOBODY?

Did everyone you know eat their way to immunity? No. They did not.

How many kids do you know who have contracted polio in the US in the last 20 years? Oh. NONE?

Did the children somehow eat their way to immunity? No. They did not.

Nutrition has *always* been recognized as an integral part of life and health. But food, and how we eat is a preventative measure against disease, not often (there are a *few* exceptions) a true medicine.

[beam me up scottie]

151. LMAO!

:thumbsup:

[greyl]

144. You have critical thinking on ignore, and are misinterpreting the OP's article.

The post you're replying to is clarifying a topic, not derailing it. If you read the OP article carefully, you should understand that it isn't about an "alternative health treatment". Sadly, many people will assume it is, just like you did.

[beam me up scottie]

35. From her other news source: "FDA, ADA Conspiracy to Poison Children with Toxic Mercury Fillings"

No agenda there.

Of course if you're stupid enough to think the FDA poisoned your kids you'll have no trouble believing eating curry will cure cancer.

They need to step up production on Darwin Awards, maybe even start a new line to honour Suzanne Somers' remarkable discoveries.;)

[katkat]

43. ref

One thing that annoys me frequently is a medical news article and they don't even mention the journal the news appears in. Okay, it's too much to hope for a link, but if I knew the journal I wouldn't have to sift through the web and paw through related papers by the same authors

[NashVegas]

48. Lines 3, 4, and 5 Of the Posted Article

Detail where the study was conducted, where it was published, and who led it.

[katkat]

106. No, man

I was talking about medical articles in general, not this one.

[Dogmudgeon]

97. Psst ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4122703#4122782">It took less than five minutes to find.

Peer-reviewed, but still reported with all the skill of a drunk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohel">mohel.

--d!

[WriteDown]

56. Curry won't kill cancer, but Ionic Silver is the secret to immortality....

:eyes:

[Ian David]

63. Absolutely smurfy idea! n/t

[kimmerspixelated]

117. Silver was used as an antibiotic before

the present group of drugs that are overused and responsible for the appearance of superbugs..

[truedelphi]

131. Thank you for clarifying. n/t

[Barack_America]

13. Looks like there's more to it...

There is a longer history of curcumin study than the article suggests.

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/curcumin/

[sinkingfeeling]

75. I agree the article doesn't even say what type of cancer cells were tested.

[trotsky]

87. Does it matter?

They're CANCER CELLS! Probably created by big pharma in the first place! :)

[sinkingfeeling]

95. Absolutely, it matters or all of today's treatments for the various types of cancer, don't matter.

[laughingliberal]

94. It is not well written but I did read they are looking into it as a possible treatment for

oesophageal cancer. From reading the information in a previous reply from the Linus Pauling institute of the concentrations of curcurmin found in malignant and normal cells in the colon, it would make sense to focus, at this point on cancers of the GI tract.

[laughingliberal]

89. Well, it did say in the lab which would suggest to me in vitro nt

[Barack_America]

12. As if I needed more reason to eat delicious Indian food!

[knixphan]

16. ditto!

(And Caribbean too)

[NashVegas]

17. Tell Me About It

I'm making a mental list of what's in my spice cabinet as we write.

[Berry Cool]

18. Wonder if that might have anything to do with this news:

FBD: Indian food processing industry to grow US$ 318 billion by 2020
By Sabyasachi Samajdar, FoodBizDaily.com Bureau Chief – New Delhi

October 27, 2009 – Indian food processing industry is likely to grow US$ 181 billion in 2015 and to US$ 318 billion by 2020, according to a study jointly conducted by Federation of Indian Chambers and Commerce (FICCI) and Ernst & Young published here yesterday.

http://foodbizdaily.com/articles/93540-indian-food-processing-industry-to-grow-us-318-billion.aspx

[NashVegas]

22. I Fear That Might Not Be What We Hope For

And rather, US and other Agri-business using India to push their GM crap.

[Sebass1271]

31. ugh, i don't like Indian food at all.. it has a funny smell...

however, I do LOVE jamaican food, especially their most famous dish, Curry Goat.. I visited Kingston once for work and was taken to eat at one of their hot spots for this delicious meal and was amazingly surprised. Their food is delicious.

By the way, jamaicans are lovely and welcoming people!!

[HamdenRice]

25. You wanna hear some foul shit about curry?

Not about curry, but about what big agra tried to do a few years ago. A US based biomedical company was looking at the health benefits of curry and realized that no one had patented it.

They tried to patent the combination of coriander, cumin and tumeric. Every curry eater in India (and Pakistan and Thailand and Britain and the US etc.) would have had to pay a royalty to them to eat curry.

India pushed in WTO talks and other forums including their own national laws, restrictions on patenting traditional recipes and remedies.

[NashVegas]

26. I Never Heard That, But It Doesn't Surprise Me

Considering the Meem tree business and Jasmine rice.

[closeupready]

53. Had they conferred with the medical geniuses here at DU, they would have realized how foolish

they were to believe that the combination of coriander, cumin and turmeric has any healthful properties. :sarcasm:

:rofl:

[Laelth]

28. Turmeric is orange, not yellow.

It's the coriander (curry) in a curry that makes it yellow.

But turmeric still rocks, and I use a lot of it it in all my curries.

:dem:

-Laelth

[enlightenment]

54. Curry is just a word for sauce.

Curry spices vary. The turmeric I use is orange when dry, but when added to food it turns the food (and everything else it touches) a beautiful, intense yellow - not orange. I'm not a huge fan of coriander and don't add as much to my dishes . . . so the yellow isn't coming from that.

But maybe your Turmeric turns things orange, so I won't disagree. :)

[Laelth]

90. Smile. :)

It's delicious regardless.

:dem:

-Laelth

[enlightenment]

104. Absolutely NO disagreement there!

:)

[muriel_volestrangler]

66. I'd call it yellow

and so do others:

Turmeric is widely cultivated for its rhizomes which are used as a bright yellow-orange culinary spice. It has been know as poor man's saffron because it offers a less expensive alternative yellow colouring.

Flavouring & Colouring

The rhizomes of turmeric plants can be cured for use as a spice by boiling and steaming. They can also be boiled in water, dried, peeled then ground. Turmeric is an important yellow food dye and is added to many Indian dishes including curries.
...
Turmeric – crafts:Turmeric rhizomes yield a bright yellow dye which is used as a colouring for foods, textiles, paints and even people! Its primary use is in crafts as a fabric dye.

Dyes :To prepare the yellow dye, the dried or fresh rhizomes are ground to a paste with water. The resulting dye has always been popular during the Hindu festival Holi, which people celebrate by covering themselves with bright dyes. Now synthetic dyes tend to be used instead, but these can be harmful to the skin. Making natural dyes from plants like turmeric is safer.
...
The colour of turmeric can vary depending on whether the liquid it is mixed with is alkali or acid. In an alkali solution it will turn red, but if acid is added to neutralise the alkali then the colour will change to yellow. This can be seen in traditional dyeing techniques where acid might be added at various stages. For one technique in Calcutta, turmeric and Fuller's earth was used. This makes an alkali solution, so acidic lime juice was added to neutralise it. Other acids which were used include sour milk, dried mango in water or tamarind water.

Turmeric is also mixed with other dyes to make different colours. Traditionally when dyeing silk yarn, the yarn would first be dyed with turmeric to give a richer colour. Orange colours can be made in different ways using yellow turmeric paste, red pigment from safflowers and acidic mango rind in water. To make green, cloth can be dyed yellow with turmeric and then blue with indigo or vice versa.

http://www.vasistaindia.com/turmeric.htm

and
http://www.turmeric.co.in/turmeric_powder.htm
http://spices.suite101.com/article.cfm/pigment_in_tumeric_fights_disease
http://www.edinformatics.com/culinaryarts/food_encyclopedia/turmeric.htm

and more.

[Dogmudgeon]

29. JOURNAL ARTICLE REF and PubMed Abstract

Google it, Baby!

"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19809435">Curcumin induces apoptosis-independent death in oesophageal cancer cells"
G O'Sullivan-Coyne, G C O'Sullivan, T R O'Donovan, K Piwocka, S L McKenna
British Journal of Cancer, Published 28 October 2009.
DOI:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605308

--d!

[Ignis]

137. Thanks for the link! (nt)

[NRaleighLiberal]

30. I take curcumin and boswellia daily for my terrible knees - heard from People's Pharmacy years ago.

I've got two torn ACLs, barely any cartiledge left in either - doc looks at my xrays and wonders how I can even walk. But I am very active, mostly pain free. I also add a Glucosamine and take one tab of each every morning. Was having arthritic pain in my fingers - that's gone as well.

[Sebass1271]

33. do you take them as pills?

you said you take curcumin and boswellia daily... are they pills?

[NRaleighLiberal]

42. Yes, you can google various mail order vitamin suppliers and find them -

GNC and Whole Foods also carries curcumin and boswellia pills (and you can find some combination products - with those two, plus glucosamine).

My view (and I am a PhD chemist, worked in Pharma, and very skeptical/cynical!) - if it IS a placebo effect, so what - it works for me!

[onehandle]

32. I just about lost my mind at the post office on Monday.

There's an Indian restaurant next door that wreaked of curry.

I mean that in a good way, I love Indian food and curry. Sadly, Indian food is pretty unhealthy, at least how it is prepared in America. Too much meat, cheese and especially 'Ghee' (butter prepared to be composed almost entirely of saturated fat).

Now I need to find a way to work curry into healthy recipes.

[NashVegas]

37. I'm In a Deprived Area

For good - really good - Indian food.

[Honeycombe8]

59. Most of the Indian food I've run across has no meat. Much of India is vegetarian...

they don't eat beef, of course, what with the cow being sacred and all.

[onehandle]

73. There usually are a lot of vegetarian dishes on the menu, but Americans treat them as a 'base.'

As do the restaurants that understand that we love meat.

They order the meat dishes and what's on the veg menu is used as sides and bases.

Also, the vegetarian dishes are about the least healthy vegetarian foods you can get. Loaded with fat, fat, and more fat.

[gauguin57]

34. Well, I'm not going to try the stuff till Oprah and Dr. Oz tell me to.

:sarcasm:

I do love curry ... both Indian and Thai. Neither of them like me, but I'll put up with the GI discomfort for a night of passion at the table.

[Honeycombe8]

60. Actually, Oprah recommends this guy who does sweat tents, instead of curry & turmeric.

}(

[qazplm]

40. Wait...

There's a new Spice Girl? AND she cures cancer??!

[CreekDog]

44. I heard she replaced Ginger on the reunion tour.

:hide:

[defendandprotect]

47. Here's a good recipe:

COLD DISH
---------

Bowtie pasta

Black beans - turtle beans

Red onion --

Sugar snap peas --

EVO --

Sprinkle on as much EV olive oil as you think you need --

Cut the red onion up into very tiny pieces

Peas should be raw -- Cut into 1/2" pieces

Sprinkle on as much tumeric as desired --

I usually make the pasta fairly dark yellow -- !!



:)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

128. Sounds yum! Tumeric also makes a lovely tea. Easy recipe

1 cup whole, milk
1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon honey or to taste
:

Heat the milk on low until very warm, but don’t allow it to come to a boil, and be careful not to scald.
Add the turmeric powder, and mix well to combine. Transfer the tea to a mug and add honey or sugar to taste. Drink immediately.

:hi:

[Dover]

130. Try it with almond milk and cardamom pods...yum!....n/t

[wiggs]

156. I make a ginger and tumeric tea....1 cup chopped raw ginger

and 1 cup raw chopped tumeric steeped in about 12-16 cups boiled water for 10-15 minutes. I may also add some white tea bags or pomegranite tea bags. Chill and serve over ice. Healthy and awesome.

First had it at an organic fruit stand in Maui then copied.

[supernova]

49. For those who have trouble eating curry

you can get curcumin supplements in the supplement section of of any store that has vitamins.

[enlightenment]

55. Or, if you want to go the cheaper route,

go to an Indian grocery and buy the spice in bulk. Buy empty capsules (vegan or gelatin) and fill them yourself. Or try a 1/2 tsp of the powder in your hot tea once a day.

[supernova]

61. Well, I was going for

the folks who said that curries upset their tummies.

Filling my own capsules sounds too time-consuming to be worth it. Too each their own I guess.

Personally, I love curries. :9 :9 :9

[enlightenment]

103. Me, too - but I know folks who don't and don't mind the

nit-picky exercise of capsule filling.

It is definitely cheaper to buy it bulk, though, even for cooking (or dying things - I've inadvertently dyed half my kitchen utensils a lovely yellow . . . I think I'm going to try dying wool next, though if it's anything like the Kool-aid experiment, the wool will smell like curry forever!!)

[sonias]

51. Excellent, I love curry

More Indian food for me!

Sonia

[juno jones]

57. For those who might be interested in adding turmeric to the diet:

"The Healing Cuisine" by Harish Johari.


I judge cookbooks by the reliability of their recipes, ie: does every recipe in the book turn out well and is it tasty. And this one is one of my favorites.

For those who like Indian food, but cannot take the spice of many curries, there is a lot going on here. Most of the basic dal dishes are cooked with turmeric and you can adjust spice levels yourself to your comfort range if needed. The recipes are vegetarian but I've added meat with no problem. There are also a lot of vegetable dishes (eggplant bharta, yum) if one is not thrilled by the beans and lentils, although ayurvedic food properly prepared should not give you intestinal upset because the balance of spices is partially used to promote the digestion of legumes-think of it as Indian beano.

There is a lengthy introduction to ayurvedism in the front of the book which one can take or leave, although I found the traditional medical uses of the herbs and seasonings to be quite intriguing.

If you like Indian food and live in a place where you can get the spices (most can be ordered online as well as be found in many asian stores) you'll probably enjoy using this book. :)

[Boudica the Lyoness]

78. Thnaks for this info

I'm going to get this book. :)

[juno jones]

81. You are welcome!

I think you will enjoy it. I've made many recipes from it and it is a consistently good book. Bon Appetit! :)

[Honeycombe8]

62. I bought two spices recently: curry, and turmeric. Are they the same thing?

Also....now that I've bought them, I have no idea how to cook with them!

[supernova]

67. Turmeric is one spice in the group that makes up "curry"

A "curry" is a blend of spices and herbs, and, from what I gather, a real source of discussion/competition about which area and which person within each area has the best "recipe."

It's along the same lines as us arguing about BBQ recipes here in the US. ;-)

Curcumin is the "active ingredient" in turmeric.

[juno jones]

68. See number 57 above.

Also check online.

Curry powers tend to contain turmeric as part of a blend.

For starts try Mulligatawny soup, a chicken soup mildly flavored with curry spice.

or try a simple curry: (I do this on nights where I have to throw something together for dinner)

combine in saucepan:

1 can coconut milk,

Curry powder to taste (about 2 Tbsp)

2 tsp fish sauce or soy sauce,

bring to simmer add:

cauliflower, eggplant or veg of choice.

Simmer til tender, add thinly sliced meat and any leafy veg desired like spinach.

Simmer until done (just a few minutes)

voila, easy curry, great over rice. For a middle eastern style curry, add peanut butter to the coco milk mixture.

Bon appetit! :hi:

[HamdenRice]

80. The two main spices in curry are coriander and cumin

They are the basic flavor. Tumeric has relatively little flavor, which suggests that Indian traditional cooks have been using it for its health effects more than flavor.

Commercial curry powders tend to be heavier on the tumeric and lighter on the coriander and cumin, than homemade curry powder.

A good homemade curry powder has many more spices, most commonly: cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, chili powder, black pepper, and cardamon.

A good home made curry dish, however, doesn't just have curry powder. The meat is usually marinated in garlic masala (garlic, scallions, onions and fresh cilantro) and ginger masala (ground fresh garlic).

When the curry is almost done, the third major ingredient is added, garam masala. Garam masala is kind of like curry powder, but much heavier on nutmeg and cinnamon. The idea is that these spices lose some flavor from cooking so you re add them toward the end.

There really isn't one dish or spice called "curry". It's more like any dish with spices and sauce. There is some debate that the work curry is actually of British origin, ie British settlers misunderstanding certain words for Indian cooking and referring to "curry" as anything made with a particular leaf called the curry leaf, which ironically is rarely used in western curries. Many Indian cookbooks don't even have an entry for, say, "curry chicken," but will have something like "chicken with spices," that is cooked with what we would call a curry spice.

Thai curry spice usually comes in a paste rather than a powder, and is redder and hotter.

It sounds complicated, but with an Indian cookbook or friend, and one or two tries, it's actually very easy. The main thing is to have a spice mill (mini coffee grinder), throw the fresh whole spices in and make up batches of the powders.

On edit: WARNING! As several people have mentioned upthread, tumeric is INTENSELY YELLOW when cooked. Get curry powder or tumeric on your light colored clothes or dishtowels -- kiss them goodbye. Try to bleach tumeric and it turns intense purple! It's hard to even get that intense yellow color off certain things that shouldn't stain, like pots, pans and dishes.

I always imagine my innards died intense yellow when I'm on a curry binge, which is pretty often.

[supernova]

98. There is also green curry in Thai cooking

Yum!

Now I want some. :P

[cemaphonic]

147. Commercial curry powders also usually have a lot of fenugreek

It's the most distinctive scent for me in a commercial blend, though as you say cumin and coriander are the main spices.

[Honeycombe8]

64. The famous Dr. Weil has been recommending turmeric for years for arthritis.

He also recommends some other herbs and spices, but turmeric is high on the list for arthritis.

My book, "Nutritional Healing" also lists turmeric as a very important spice to consume to help with arthritis.

[bc3000]

69. I saw this on Huffington Post so I naturally assumed it was junk science nonsense.

[kimmerspixelated]

118. Junk Science?

Junk science=western medicine.

Drugs only help a symptom, they never cure anything.Drugs that are taken for life, are insane, they weaken the body so that it cannot take care of itself. FOOD nourishes-helps the body heal-itself. LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE!

[sinkingfeeling]

70. The article really sucks. What type of cancer does curcumin affect?

Since 2 types of cells line the esophagus, there are 2 main types of esophageal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

I'm recovering from squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils.

[Liberation Angel]

86. I believe it is good and helpful in all cancers because it kills cancer cells

I first heard about in pancreatic and liver and read that it was good for inflammation reduction (which is always good).

I use it in scrambled eggs. It is said to be better absorbed if cooked with black pepper (I use olive oil to cook)

But it can also be used in or as a tea. I sweeten it and it is fine as it can be slightly bitter if you use too much. But so is coffee.

I highly recommend researching it further, but I doubt it would not help your condition. Good luck!

[sinkingfeeling]

96. I'm a cancer survivor. There are dozens of different cancer types and they must

be treated in very different ways. Look at chemo; there are dozens of different drugs and they are used to treat different cancers.

Extracting a chemical substance out of a herb and applying it in a particular way to cancer cells in a lab isn't the same as eating or drinking the herb.

[Liberation Angel]

108. Congratulations on your success!

I have worked with natural herbs my entire adult life and my father used them to treat his prostate problems successfully, usually drinking teas and even following the treatment that Suzanne Sommers is now supporting.

In natural medicine preparations are important, but some plants are so effective in generally assisting the body in fighting ALL cancers that the delivery system of eating or drinking CAN work very well for many.

I am no expert in specific cancers, but know that turmeric has been found very effective in numerous cancers. The studies usually use the extracted chemical curcumin but this is found in pretty high percentages in turmeric herb, so eating or drinking it should help and I think there is lots of evidence that it won't hurt.

But I encourage you to look at the research, wiki it, google it, look at your specific case and see i there are analogous cancers or studies that cover it or are close.

The main thing, from my perspective, is that you want to get the healing substance into your system as effectively as possible and, with few if any negative side effects, eating or drinking turmeric as often as possible (as Indian people do) may be very effective.

In herbal medicine there are some substances which generally help overall in healing: some work on the blood, some work on the immune system or enhance the vadcular system etc.

I believe that Turmeric simply contains something which when you consume it - it will help fight most cancers.

One caveat: very HOT tea is discouraged as it can cause damage to the throat which can make matters worse. Warm or somewhat hot tea (a temperature that does not burn the mouth etc) should be fine.

I understand your point, but in my opinion cancer generally attacks those areas which are stressed by environmental factors and/or where there is a genetic tendency to specific cancers. But the stressors often affect the entire body and focus harm on the weakest areas. If Turmeric's affect is able to be distributed through the entire body when consumed, it can help all areas to prevent further harm and to kill the cancer cells there.

Again, do your research --- but I believe it will probably be very helpful. I wish you the best and let us know if you try it and how it turns out.

[No Elephants]

100. Sorry for your illness. Very best wishes for your continuing recovery.

[AlienGirl]

142. hiyas...SCC of the tongue here, 6 yrs remission...good vibes to you!

[radhika]

71. In the 90's it was studied versus HIV/AIDS

Apparently, turmeric (taken in the form of a supplement) showed strong test-tube efficacy against the AIDS virus. The in-vivo effect was unfortunately not so exuberant. But is was a good back-up immune support.

[girl gone mad]

124. But how did they get the test tubes to take the supplement?

ba-da-bing.

[derby378]

76. "Everything cook and curry. Easy!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBXEd4w5Ujg

[DesertDiamond]

79. This is not news! There are many natural substances that kill cancer cells.

Holistic medicine has been using them for years, and have been persecuted for doing so. Dr. Richard Schulze had a very successful cancer clinic using such herbs, especially garlic and chapparel, and he was shut down and imprisoned for two years. This is not an isolated incident either. These clinics have to operate in Mexico where it's legal to use alternative medicine. If the FDA decides to target them, they're lured across the border and arrested.

[Liberation Angel]

88. Well - this study is new good news...

Turmeric has been found to show amazing results in many cancer studies.

Stops some cancers cold but I suspect you need to eat a lot (or lots o tea) to cure a cancer --- but that's okay as it can be really yummy prepared properly.

I get your point but it is still a new study which reinforces that it SHOULD be available and used and "prescribed" for treatment.

Clinical studies don't get funded, usuallu, though, because there is no profit in such plants for big pharma...

and they prefer you buy their expensive drugs rather than improve your diet with healing phytochmicals like circumin.

Licorice has a similar effect on many cancers. Some people hate the taste (as with many bitter or intense herbs) but germs and cancers hate it too.

[cutlassmama]

110. it is supposed to start working within 24 hours to kill the cancer cells

[beam me up scottie]

140. How exactly does it "Stop(s) some cancers cold" ?

Is it delivered by a machine like Hulda Clark's Zapper?

Also, can you please post links to back up your claim that "Turmeric has been found to show amazing results in many cancer studies."?

[JonQ]

85. Excellent, I love indian food

what do buffalo wings and beer cure?

[undeterred]

91. It kills my appetite.

[barb162]

93. Your'e not alone. n/t

[No Elephants]

102. That alone ought to make it worth about umpteen trillion dollars, given the size of the weight loss

industry.

I never looked at it that way, but I do hate the taste of cumin. I guess that makes it an appetite suppressant for me.

[undeterred]

113. I was staying at a guest house in Nairobi Kenya

which was providing room and board. They kept serving the same curry spiced stew over and over. I tried it and didn't like it. Neither did my companions. We figured out that we were going to keep seeing it at every meal until it was gone, so we started taking huge portions and throwing them out.

[boobooday]

105. I love curry! I want some now!

:bounce:

[Uncle Joe]

107. For some damn reason, I was thinking this was a Spice Girl, I thought she must be bad. n/t

[buddysmellgood]

111. Has anyone made a joke about the Spice Girls yet?

[fedsron2us]

112. Curcumin is one of the ingredients of English mustard

which Britons have been eating for centuries without any noticeable impact on the national cancer rates. Strangely that fact seems to have been missed by the BBC.

[and-justice-for-all]

120. We eat a lot of that, love India food...nt

[Dover]

126. The Benefits Of Turmeric (Curcumin)

A previous thread in the Health Forum:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=222&topic_id=41476

Delicious, healthy Turmeric 'Tea', traditionally known as "Golden Milk" -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=222&topic_id=74540&mesg_id=74540

[Liberation Angel]

127. Turmeric used with black pepper is more bioavailable (turns my scrambled eggs RED!)

I would suggest that cooking it with olive oil and black pepper will help with the bioavailability.

While studies show it is good to heal cancer tissues it comes in contact with (gastrointestinal) it is not on its own very bioavailable. Studies show that adding black pepper increases its bioavailability so that it can be absorbed into the system and to the organs it needs to heal:

http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/nutrition/Natural-Selections-10.php

That is one source but I am looking for more. If it gets into the system it can reach where it needs to, but taking it on its own (as a supplement or in food) may not be enough unless combined with other foods. It may be lipophilic (fat loving) or hydrophilic (water loving) (meaning fats or water are needed to extract it when you prepare it) --- but research shows pepper helps make it more absorbable.

On edit:

This study (link below) says black pepper increases the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000% (altho black pepper can also affect other medications absorption because it apparently slows down metabilization allowing the circumin or other substances to stay in the liver longer to get into the blood, if my interpretation of the info is right)

Seems pepper might assist many things in enhancing the delivery to the bloodstream (but that's not good with some medications perhaps)



http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-2006-957450

[Liberation Angel]

129. Really good info on Turmeric and Black Pepper and cancer

http://margaret.healthblogs.org/2007/07/09/piperine-bioavailability-cancer-and-curcumin/

This explains a few things and raises some interesting questions.

[Holly_Hobby]

132. I have told this story a million times here and will continue

until it makes the MSM or I die, whichever comes first :)

I had a 7 y.o. Scotch Collie named Sonny who had mast cell cancer, was given 9 months to live. Started giving him turmeric twice/day. The tumor stopped growing, he lived another 6 years. 6 years!



This is just anecdotal evidence, so it means nothing to the medical community.

[NashVegas]

133. Louis Pasteur Started With an Anecdote

It was called "observation."

[Yavin4]

134. Which One Was Curry Spice?

Sorry, couldn't resist the joke.

[HipChick]

136. calling anyone curry anything is pretty offensive...

[Canuckistanian]

143. She was the drummer

Before the "bizarre gardening accident".

[Ignis]

138. This is a great time to repeat:

Herbalism is not homeopathy. :hi:

[Sebastian Doyle]

139. Well, I'm convinced. Guess I need to go get my prescription filled

...at the Thai restaurant!

[beam me up scottie]

141. Garlic also kills cancer cells, so does cat's claw, apricot seeds and intravenous vitamin C!

The evil pharma scientists have suppressed studies proving that cancer and AIDS/HIV can be cured by vitamins and herbs.

AIDS was caused by a vaccination, and H1N1 was bio-engineered in underground labs.

Really!

[radhika]

145. Warning: Turmeric Powder permanently stains everything yellow - plastics, towels, surfaces n/y

[LeftyMom]

146. So nobody in India gets cancer, right? 'Cause they put that stuff in everything.

Not that I blame them, because Indian food is fan-fucking-tastic, but if just taking this stuff orally, as people on the thread have suggested, prevented/cured/did much of anything to cancer, India'd have some seriously anomalous cancer stats, no?

[trotsky]

153. A great point, and how interesting you should bring that up.

India has some of the highest cancer rates in the world

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/330/7485/215-c

Parts of India have the world's highest incidence of cancers of the gall bladder, mouth, and lower pharynx, India's first cancer atlas shows.

The atlas, produced by the Indian Council of Medical Research, has also found pockets of stomach and thyroid cancer in the south of the country.

The National Cancer Registry Programme in Bangalore used data from 105 hospitals and private clinics in 82 of the 593 districts in India to map the incidence of cancer, as part of a project funded by the World Health Organization.

The survey included more than 200,000 patients with histopathologically confirmed cancers, whose details were sent to the registry through the internet.

Somebody needs to get over there pronto and tell them to eat more curry it seems!

[Liberation Angel]

155. Remember Bhopal, poverty, filthy water, plus...

Pollution and filthy living conditions account for higher death rates from cancer. More serious toxic exposure and polluted water.

But in fact just eating turmeric may not be enough to get it where it needs to be in the system to be bio-available.

Adding black pepper, however, as I said and linked to the study upthread, increases the bioavailability 2000%.

Learning HOW to eat the turmeric matters.

As for India's cancer rates, I would imagine that things like Bhopal and corporate greed causing mass carcinogenic pollution is the reason.

Most industrial states have better protections, i am sure. Lack of clean potable water is probably the worst (most important) factor.

[beam me up scottie]

157. You never answered my questions: How does turmeric "Stops some cancers cold"?

Which cancers does it stop and how does it work?

And I'm still waiting for your links to those "many cancer studies".

[Liberation Angel]

158. Well, the OP says it best, "Turmeric kills cancer cells"

Killing the cancer cells is what I mean by"stops cancer cold"

that is vernacular and not a scientific term.

Turmeric has been found effective as an anticancer agent. That means it is therapeutically beneficial to stop cancers.

There are links to numerous studies here:

http://www.psa-rising.com/eatingwell/turmeric.htm

But google is your friend.

I like the report on this thread about a dog who was given turmeric for cancer and beat it (for at least 6 years). Sure that is an anecdotal report, It may not meet folks' standard for PROVING it beyond any reasonable medical absolute doubt as a 100% certainty.But it is still evidence of effectiveness worth noting (or worth trying to disprove, which you can't do)..

[Liberation Angel]

159. Turmeric in vivo inhibits prostate cancer growth (study)

Therapeutic potential of curcumin in human prostate cancer. III. Curcumin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, and inhibits angiogenesis of LNCaP prostate cancer cells in vivo.
Dorai T, Cao YC, Dorai B, Buttyan R, Katz AE.

Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. [email protected]
BACKGROUND: Earlier work from our laboratory highlighted the therapeutic potential of curcumin (turmeric), used as a dietary ingredient and as a natural anti-inflammatory agent in India and other Southeast Asian countries. This agent was shown to decrease the proliferative potential and induce the apoptosis potential of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells in vitro, largely by modulating the apoptosis suppressor proteins and by interfering with the growth factor receptor signaling pathways as exemplified by the EGF-receptor. To extend these observations made in vitro and to study the efficacy of this potential anti-cancer agent in vivo, the growth of LNCaP cells as heterotopically implanted tumors in nude mice was followed. METHODS: The androgen-dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cells were grown, mixed with Matrigel and injected subcutaneously into nude mice. Experimental group received a synthetic diet containing 2% curcumin for up to 6 weeks. At the end point, sections taken from the excised tumors were evaluated for pathology, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and vascularity. RESULTS: Curcumin causes a marked decrease in the extent of cell proliferation as measured by the BrdU incorporation assay and a significant increase in the extent of apoptosis as measured by an in situ cell death assay. Moreover, a significant decrease in the microvessel density as measured by the CD31 antigen staining was also seen. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin could be a potentially therapeutic anti-cancer agent, as it significantly inhibits prostate cancer growth, as exemplified by LNCaP in vivo, and has the potential to prevent the progression of this cancer to its hormone refractory state. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

[beam me up scottie]

162. Your post: "I believe it is good and helpful in all cancers because it kills cancer cells"

and:

Stops some cancers cold but I suspect you need to eat a lot (or lots o tea) to cure a cancer

and

I believe that Turmeric simply contains something which when you consume it - it will help fight most cancers.

not to mention this:

Licorice has a similar effect on many cancers. Some people hate the taste (as with many bitter or intense herbs) but germs and cancers hate it too.

Your copy and paste skills are impressive but you've yet to produce anything that backs up your claims.

[beam me up scottie]

161. Fail. One more time, how does turmeric kill cancer cells in our bodies?

I asked you to prove that turmeric kills cancer cells and you come back with this:

"Turmeric has been found effective as an anticancer agent. That means it is therapeutically beneficial to stop cancers."

Are you being purposely obtuse or are you really that dense?

Can you back up your claims or not?

[shintao]

148. If it is really that good

If it is really that good I would suggest buying a case now from Canada before the prices go through the roof. I was really surprised with Canadian pharmacys. I had a particular drug I wanted to try for a friends side affects of headaches. It required an USA prescription, which would have been a $100. trip to your doc to write the prescription. Canada had the xact meds, 50% cheaper, and no prescription. So I paid the Canada pharmacy, and in about two weeks I received the drug from India, exact closed pill packaging as the company makes. Ooh, they threw in some free viagra pill samples as well!

[Hannah Bell]

150. so does salt. and?

[NuttyFluffers]

152. Yes, but will she be at the reunion tour?

Every boy and every girl,
Spice up your life...

a zig a zig ah.

[Liberation Angel]

160. Hey Guys!!! Turmeric inhibits prostate cancer growth (study) too! In food!

Therapeutic potential of curcumin in human prostate cancer. III. Curcumin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, and inhibits angiogenesis of LNCaP prostate cancer cells in vivo.
Dorai T, Cao YC, Dorai B, Buttyan R, Katz AE.

Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. [email protected]
BACKGROUND: Earlier work from our laboratory highlighted the therapeutic potential of curcumin (turmeric), used as a dietary ingredient and as a natural anti-inflammatory agent in India and other Southeast Asian countries. This agent was shown to decrease the proliferative potential and induce the apoptosis potential of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells in vitro, largely by modulating the apoptosis suppressor proteins and by interfering with the growth factor receptor signaling pathways as exemplified by the EGF-receptor. To extend these observations made in vitro and to study the efficacy of this potential anti-cancer agent in vivo, the growth of LNCaP cells as heterotopically implanted tumors in nude mice was followed. METHODS: The androgen-dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cells were grown, mixed with Matrigel and injected subcutaneously into nude mice. Experimental group received a synthetic diet containing 2% curcumin for up to 6 weeks. At the end point, sections taken from the excised tumors were evaluated for pathology, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and vascularity. RESULTS: Curcumin causes a marked decrease in the extent of cell proliferation as measured by the BrdU incorporation assay and a significant increase in the extent of apoptosis as measured by an in situ cell death assay. Moreover, a significant decrease in the microvessel density as measured by the CD31 antigen staining was also seen. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin could be a potentially therapeutic anti-cancer agent, as it significantly inhibits prostate cancer growth, as exemplified by LNCaP in vivo, and has the potential to prevent the progression of this cancer to its hormone refractory state.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11398177?dopt=Abstract