Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that is attributed to most of the health benefits. It has been shown to cut growth rates of prostate cancer tumor progression by 50%; supplementation can lead to 36% decline in lung cancer tumor size, and 40% reduction in colon tumor development.
In this study researchers used models to show how turmeric can inhibit DYRK2 enzymes using x-ray crystallography to obtain 3D images to demonstrate curcumin binding to this enzyme atomically. Inhibiting these enzymes stops proteasome protein complexes involved in cancer development, which interferes with cancer cell proliferation reducing and slowing cancer growth.
Proteasome addicted cancer cells such as triple negative breast cancer and multiple myeloma depend on proteasomes for survival that curcumin inhibits. Pharmaceutical inhibitors do exist, but they also damage healthy cells along with the cancerous cells at the same time. Curcumin can do this while leaving healthy cells undisturbed, which is great news.
Not only can curcumin target and help to fight cancer, it helps to stop blood vessels that give tumors life from growing and developing, and turns off genes that promote development of tumors. Curcumin also protects DNA from incurring cancerous mutations from radiation and environmental toxins. It would seem curcumin takes multipronged approaches to fighting cancer by trying to stop it at every turn.
Turmeric holds many qualities that may help to fight cancer; adding it to the diet will not hurt, but there are bioavailability issues, simply dousing food it in doesn’t mean you will be ingesting vast amounts. Curcumin is broken down quickly in the body and is eliminated, researchers are trying to develop delivery methods to provide the best benefits. Supplements are one of the best options, as long as they are of high quality offering potent organic content and come from trusted sources.
Piperine found in black pepper can help to dramatically improve absorption of turmeric; supplements that contain piperine will help, as well as adding black pepper to meals. Fat is soluble and making curcumin to be better absorbed when it is consumed along with some healthy fats such as combining it in milktumo and warm it up, or with coconut milk to boost absorbency, heating is believed to increase its solubility.
Typically turmeric is safe, however those with gallstones and bile duct issues are probably best to avoid using it. Also anyone undergoing chemotherapy should have a discussion with a medical professional as it can interfere with certain chemo drugs.
