Turmeric (curcumin)

Anticancer. Anti-inflammatory. Researchers are excited about the potential healing properties of turmeric’s curcumin, and especially its anti-inflammatory abilities. Curcumin may limit the impact of gastrointestinal diseases such irritable bowel syndrome. In vitro studies have shown that curcumin fights cancer in several ways, including preventing cancer cells from growing new blood vessels to feed themselves and inducing the death of existing cancer cells (apoptosis). Investigations focused on Alzheimer’s disease found that curcumin broke up accumulated amyloid plaque, considered a prime marker or cause of the disease when it occurs in the brain.