Much disease is not caused by bacteria and viruses but by inflammation in the body. Arthritis and heart disease are among the most common. A simple spice that originated in India may offer some relief from your pain as well as spice up your meals.

Turmeric is the spice that gives Indian food its distinctive flavor. It is an important part of curry, so if you are eating anything with curry in it you are getting some Turmeric. Besides giving food a unique and delicious flavor the health benefits of this spice are astounding. Turmeric contains compounds called curcuminoids which are responsible for its bright yellow color as well as its medicinal effects. One of its uses in Indian and Chinese medicine is in the treatment of arthritis, because of its ability to lower inflammation. One study found it worked as well as the prescription drug phenylbutazone without the toxic side effects.

One of the curcuminoids is curcumin and has been shown in animal studies to reduce the size and number of tumors. A human study also showed curcumin inhibited the growth of human colon cancer cells. Curcumin can also be a part of a heart healthy diet because of its positive effects on Cholesterol.

While curcumin is great at fighting inflammation it is also a very powerful anti oxidant. In scientific studies it has been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation, which essentially means it fights damage from oxidizing substances that contribute to aging and disease in the body.

Curcumins ability to fight inflammation and serve as an anti oxidant make it an excellent substance in the treatment of liver disease like hepatitis and overall liver detoxifying programs.

Turmeric is very versitile and can be used on almost any food. With seemingly no down side maybe it is time to spend a little extra time in the spice section the next time you go grocery shopping.

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