Sunday May 27, 2012, 7:55 am
Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric, a flavourful, orange and yellow spice that is a key ingredient in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The spice has also been used in India's traditional Ayurvedic remedies for 2,500 years.

Now American and Danish scientists have found curcumin increases levels of a protein called CAMP that helps the immune system to fight off bacteria, viruses and fungi the first time they try to attack.

CAMP is the only known antimicrobial of its type in humans, researchers say.

"This research points to a new avenue for regulating CAMP gene expression," said Adrian Gombart, an associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the Linus Pauling Institute in Cornvallis, Ore.

"It's interesting and somewhat surprising that curcumin can do that, and could provide another tool to develop medical therapies," he added in a release.

In Friday's issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Gombart and his colleagues said curcumin caused levels of CAMP to almost triple in laboratory experiments on human cells.

Vitamin D also increases levels of CAMP but high amounts of the vitamin can lead to more calcium being released into the blood. That's one reason researchers are testing other natural alternatives like curcumin.

CAMP seems to kill a broad range of bacteria including those that cause tuberculosis and also seems to protect against the development of sepsis, a serious body-wide response to infection that patients often acquire while being treated in hospital.

Earlier this month, researchers in England announced the first human trials testing curcumin to fight cancer. They hope it will increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy while reducing side-effects.

"We've shown that [curcumin] has well over 100 mechanisms of damaging cancer cells, particularly colon cancer cells," Professor Will Stewart from England's University of Leicester told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"One of the major mechanisms is affecting the way that they grow blood vessels into themselves."

Sunday May 27, 2012, 8:08 am
Time to whip up a shrimp curry!! And the best thing is that it's so yummy and quick to make.
Excellent post Michael. Timely now for summer tummy troubles. Maybe post it again when flu season starts.

Sunday May 27, 2012, 9:14 am
One more reason to break out the curry spice! Thanks!

Monday May 28, 2012, 4:28 am
That's convenient, I adore curry

Monday May 28, 2012, 4:38 am
Great article. Love it. Thanks.

Monday May 28, 2012, 4:50 am
Yummy and good for you....a combination which can't be beat ;-)

Monday May 28, 2012, 6:33 am

Nice one,,,Thanks...

Monday May 28, 2012, 6:49 am
Thank you!

Monday May 28, 2012, 7:15 am
thanks for info

Monday May 28, 2012, 12:45 pm
Spices take care of my arthritis; no pills needed. Cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, curry powder. Sprinkle some in hotdishes, soups, beans, sandwiches, etc. All these spices are avail in the grocery store. I also add dill to the mayonnaise jar. Also, everything goes into a glass (rather than plastic) jar as soon as it gets in the kitchen.

Monday May 28, 2012, 12:51 pm
Thank you

Monday May 28, 2012, 1:21 pm
I use glass jar's as well in the kitchen, and I often (slow) cook Asian style. That means that I often use lots of spices. Turmeric is one of my favorites, I use it with rice, potatoes, meat, veggies and in soup. I use dill as well for my mayonnaise, and it goes well with fresh spinach. Not to forget fresh ginger, I love it. I use as many spices as it takes for a curry - I don't use that "ready made curry powder", wich comes in a tiny jar - I use spices apart, and that's my curry. I include dried curry leaves, you find them at the Indian food store. There you'll find also Rose water, to perfume your rice.

Monday May 28, 2012, 2:05 pm
I wish I liked curry..!

Monday May 28, 2012, 4:01 pm
Thanks for this, Michael.

Monday May 28, 2012, 5:52 pm
Thanks

Monday May 28, 2012, 5:55 pm
So what's new? The Doctor Budwig formula for prostate cancer has included turmeric for many years. Have been using it for my own cancer for the last seven years. Does it work? I honestly don't know. But so far I haven't experienced any escalating systems. I'll keep taking this and garlic. At eighty five I've nothing to lose.

Monday May 28, 2012, 6:59 pm
Thank you for the info. Will add more in my food.

Tuesday May 29, 2012, 12:41 am
Thanks

Tuesday May 29, 2012, 3:16 am
Thanks for sharing a very nice article

Tuesday May 29, 2012, 12:02 pm
I've heard of this before and think it's wonderful. Thanks for posting.

Tuesday May 29, 2012, 1:10 pm
Interesting -thanks for the information.

Tuesday May 29, 2012, 4:58 pm
Thank you Michael great post noted

Wednesday May 30, 2012, 4:44 am
I love spices but some do not go with stomach ulcers!!

Wednesday May 30, 2012, 5:06 am
One reason we try to have a curry weekly

Thursday May 31, 2012, 1:20 pm
I love curry! Thanks Michael.

Friday June 1, 2012, 5:56 pm
very interesting, thanks Michael for sharing

Saturday June 2, 2012, 6:01 am
Wow, interesting! Thanks for the post!