Curcumin for Cancer, Part 1

In addition to preventing cancer, curcumin can also help augment the cancer-killing effects of chemotherapy and overcome the main reason for failure of conventional anti-cancer drugs: the emergence of chemo-resistance, wherein cancer cells no longer respond to treatments. Dr. Ajay Goel, Baylor University Professor and Director of Epigenetics, Cancer Prevention and Genomics at Baylor Research Institute, details his recent research showing that curcumin can amplify the benefits of chemotherapy with 5 FU on colon cancer while protecting normal tissue. He describes other documented effects of curcumin in depression, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. How does curcumin work? Are all curcumins alike? What factors determine curcumin bio-availability? How can we be assured that curcumin that originates from foreign sources is not contaminated with harmful chemicals or heavy metals? Dr. Goel envisions a time when use of curcumin, along with other anti-cancer nutraceuticals like EGCG from green tea and isothiocyanates from cruciferous vegetables, might become routine adjuncts to conventional cancer treatment. Are there contraindications or cautions re: curcumin use? Can it be used for general prevention by adults and children? Click HERE for part 2.