Curcumin

Implicated in the onset of 95% of all cancers is a common but under-recognized molecule most people have never heard of: nuclear factor-kappaB or NF-kB. Emerging research is validating the danger it poses to maturing individuals. For example, a landmark study published late last year confirmed, for the first time, NF-kB’s central role in the onset of malignant breast cancer.

Curcumin has long been known to have poor bioavailability, requiring high doses to achieve desired blood levels. A novel curcumin absorption system has been developed that delivers up to seven times more pharmacologically bioactive curcumin to the blood compared with commercial curcumin products.

Among curcumin’s many benefits, protection from neurological damage ranks high on many researchers’ lists. “Curcumin has at least 10 known neuroprotective actions and many of these might be realized in [living subjects]…” wrote American scientists recently, in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. “Dietary curcumin is a strong candidate,” they added, “for use in the prevention or treatment of major disabling age-related neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and...

Our society has been programmed to believe that complex medical problems can be fixed with simple solutions. Everyone reading this article has probably seen thousands of TV commercials promoting immediate relief from arthritis pain by taking the right brand of aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen.

For thousands of years, turmeric root has been used as a traditional Indian medicine. The turmeric spice, which gives curry its golden color, has been recognized for wide-ranging health benefits.1-5 The most beneficial compounds in turmeric are curcuminoids, which include curcumin and related compounds. One animal study showed lifespan extension up to 26% with curcumin supplementation.6