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6 Health Benefits of Curry

Turmeric, a main ingredient in curry, just might hold the key to helping prevent serious health problems—from Alzheimer's to cancer.

By Beth Levine

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Turmeric to the Rescue!

The next time you cook, you might want to add some extra kick to your recipe.

Curry powders, which can range from hot to mild, and come from South Asia, may provide a range of health benefits, according to medical research. The key ingredient? Turmeric, which is usually found in the more typical yellow curries. A host of studies have shown that turmeric, and it's main active component curcumin, can help prevent everything from Alzheimer's disease to cancer.

Turmeric comes as a spice, but also in supplement form. Just how much turmeric should be in your diet? Ask your doctor, and keep in mind that turmeric may slow blood clotting, so do not eat it if you are taking medications that also disrupt clotting. Otherwise, adding a little spice to your life might help with the following:

Alzheimer’s prevention

Researchers from UCLA found that vitamin D3, taken with curcumin, may stimulate the immune system to get rid of the amino acids that form the plaque in the brain that's associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. Researchers are also studying the link between curcumin and the low rate of Alzheimer's in India, where curry is a diet staple. (The incidence of Alzheimer's in India is a quarter of that in the United States.)

Cancer suppression

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reviewed studies that looked at the effect of curcumin on cancer. The researchers conclusion? That “it is quite apparent that curcumin has tremendous potential for prevention and therapy of a variety of cancers.” Another UCLA study has found that curcumin can trigger cancer-killing mechanisms found in human saliva. However, to get enough curcumin to achieve this effect, it must be taken in supplement form.

Reduced inflammation

Turmeric has been used for eons as a folk remedy anti-inflammatory, helping with muscle and joint aches. A University of Arizona study confirmed that the curcumin and other essential oils in turmeric can protect against joint deterioration and inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis. And a study on the effectiveness of ibuprofen over curcumin to ease pain found that surprisingly, the benefits were about the same for both the ibuprofen and the curcumin.

Reducing blood pressure

Chinese herbalists have used sweet basil, also found in curry, for centuries to bring down hypertension. A study out of Xinjiang Medical University, China, puts some science behind the folk remedy. Researchers found that basil affects levels of the proteins that constrict blood vessels. In addition, a study by the Indigenous Drug Research Center in India found that cardamom, another curry spice, also had a positive effect on those same proteins.

Protecting your bones

Turmeric may ward off osteoporosis, according to a different University of Arizona study. Researchers found that when female rats that had had ovaries removed were given curcuminoid-enriched turmeric extract, it prevented up to 50% of bone loss, and also preserved bone structure and connectivity.

Preventing food poisoning

Coriander, another curry spice, has been shown to destroy food-borne bacteria, preventing those nasty midnight runs to the bathroom. A study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology found that a solution made with coriander oil effectively killed several strains of bacteria including E coli.