Turmeric prevents cancer, particularly leukemia, say researchers

Tumeric is an antioxidant that can actually shield DNA from harmful exterior pollutants known to cause leukemia. Tumeric can also block harmful effects of cigarette smoke and it prevents harmful chemicals from forming after eating processed foods. Curcumin, one of the active compounds in tumeric, may be responsible for much of this benefit.

• Spicy food could protect the body against damage that leads to cancers, in particular leukaemia, scientists said yesterday.
• Turmeric, which gives Indian dishes their yellow colour, is an anti-oxidant which can protect against environmental chemicals that damage DNA, a childhood leukaemia conference in London was told.
• Increasingly, scientists believe the lower rates of leukaemia in Asia may be due to the difference in diet.
• Turmeric is also said to slow the rate of diseases such as Alzheimer's and to possess anti-inflammatory properties that could help with Crohn's Disease.
• Prof Moolky Nagabhushan, of Loyola University Medical Centre in Chicago, said turmeric blocks some of the harmful effects of cigarette smoke, protects against chromosome damage and prevents dangerous chemicals forming after eating processed food.
• Curcumin, the compound that gives turmeric its yellow colour, has been shown to stop leukaemia cells multiplying.
• Prof Nagabhushan said the risk factors leading to childhood leukaemia were complex and included pre- or post-natal exposure to radiation, pollution or some drugs.
• But he said: "Our studies show that turmeric - and curcumin - in the diet mitigate the effects of some of these risk factors."
• Ken Campbell, of the Leukaemia Research Fund, said leukaemia was rare in people of Asian descent.
• He said: "This suggests that lower rates of childhood leukaemia in India, China and Japan may, at least in part, be due to differences in genetically determined susceptibility."
• In another study, doctors in California said children who regularly eat oranges and bananas as toddlers had lower risk of leukaemia.
• Oranges contain vitamin C, an anti-oxidant that may prevent DNA damage, and bananas are rich in potassium, thought to have anti-carcinogenic properties.