Superstars of optimal wellness: Disciplined cell membranes = better health

by Barb Jarmoska

Turmeric is a yellow spice most often associated with Indian food, curry and yellow mustard. These beautiful, marigold-colored particles are revered in India as “holy powder” and have been used for centuries to treat wounds, infections and other health problems.

In recent years, there has been increasing research into turmeric’s main ingredient, curcumin, and its astonishing array of antioxidant, anti-cancer, antibiotic, antiviral and other properties. As research into this spice increases, it’s becoming clear that curcumin has the potential to be one of nature’s most powerful healers.

The ancient Chinese and Indian systems of medicine have recognized turmeric’s beneficial properties for thousands of years, but a new study is the first to show just how curcumin does its work. Scientists had previously speculated that curcumin interacts directly with cell membrane proteins, but the new research challenges that notion.

Reporting in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, scientists explain that curcumin is able to “discipline the body’s cells and get them back into working order.” According to the lead researcher, “When curcumin enters a cell, the membrane becomes more disciplined and ordered, so that information that flows through the cell can be controlled.”

This not only improves your cells’ resistance to infections, but it also may help prevent cancer. In India where turmeric is widely used, the prevalence of four common U.S. cancers -- colon, breast, prostate and lung -- is 10 times lower. In fact, prostate cancer, which is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in U.S. men, is rare in India and this is attributed, in part, to turmeric.

Numerous studies have looked into this potential cancer-fighting link, with promising results. For instance, curcumin has been found to: inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells; inhibit the transformation of cells from normal to tumor; help your body destroy mutated cancer cells before they reproduce; decrease inflammation; enhance liver function; inhibit the synthesis of a protein thought to be instrumental in tumor formation; prevent the development of additional blood supply necessary for cancer cell growth

According to researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, curcumin blocks a key biological pathway needed for development of melanoma and other cancers. The spice actually stops laboratory strains of melanoma from proliferating and pushes the cancer cells to commit suicide by shutting down a powerful protein known to induce an abnormal inflammatory response that leads to disorders such as arthritis and cancer.

The reason people in India refer to turmeric as “holy powder” is because it has such a broad range of health effects. In fact, curcumin has been shown to influence more than 700 genes.

Further, evidence suggests turmeric may play a beneficial role in: Cystic fibrosis, Type 2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Cataracts, Gallstones, Muscle atrophy and Inflammatory bowel disease.

Try some turmeric in your cooking and enjoy the warm, peppery flavor. Although turmeric is one of the ingredients in curry powder – it’s best to use it alone if you’re seeking medicinal benefits. If you don’t enjoy the flavor of the spice, you can get all the benefits by taking a high quality, standardized extract such as that found in the Freshlife brand. Our turmeric capsules are 475 mg each, standardized to 95 percent curcuminoids, the active ingredients. Standardized extracts of this quality assure you of an identical dose from batch to batch and allow you to carefully monitor your intake for optimal results.