The spice Curcumin

[Sagg]

Thank you JJ. Haven't been back for a couple of days. sounds like a spice I would like. I know I love Curry chicken salad. Since I can't take statins, I am going to try the capsules. I use 1/4 tsp cinnamon every morning already. Now if the pain in my arm and knees would just stop.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Sagg

Thank you JJ. Haven't been back for a couple of days. sounds like a spice I would like. I know I love Curry chicken salad. Since I can't take statins, I am going to try the capsules. I use 1/4 tsp cinnamon every morning already. Now if the pain in my arm and knees would just stop.

Hi Sagg...I haven't tried the Curcumin, but like U, take the cinnamon in the a.m. with my oatmeal. I just use the stuff from my spice rack, about a 1/4 tsp. also.

As far as your pains, don't know how long U were on statins, but with some folks it takes awhile. I know Arizona, Hubble and a few others on here take that CoQ10, and it seemed to help them quite a bit. From what I hear, it is good even if U don't take statins. It isn't cheap, but I'm sure someone can tell U where to get a decent deal.

Hope your arm and legs feel better, it took me months to get over some of my hip and leg pain, and I was only on statins about 5 months total, 3 on Lipitor and 2 on Baycol. The dr. even had me take the Baycol only 3 times a week, but I still couldn't handle it.

Good luck, and enjoy your day....

[Lenin]

I find that turmeric has only the slightest taste but the most BRILLIANT yellow-orange color. A pinch will turn a whole dish as bright as the rising sun. Useful for making pretty yellow rice more cheaply than $$$$$$$saffron$$$$$.

[ARIZONA73]

In the book "Ascorbate: The Science of Vitamin C", there is a discussion regarding anti-inflammatory substances, and this is what they said about turmeric:

"Many people deal with inflammation by taking analgesic painkillers. Aspirin and paracetamol act by inhibiting prostaglandins. In this case, the drugs block the enzyme cyclooxygenase, or COX, that is involved in the sythesis of prostaglandins. Unfortunately, aspirin blocks the formation of two types of prostaglandins, those that prevent inflammation and those that enhance it. The COX enzyme exists in two forms, called COX1 and COX2. The COX1 enzyme produces the prostaglandins that prevent inflammation and the COX2 enzymes those that enhance it. (Paracetamol may act on a third form, COX3, but this awaits verification.)"

"Some drugs are more specific than aspirin and affect only COX2, reducing the inflammatory prostaglandins without affecting the others. These more specific drugs are generally expensive. However, curcumin, a derivative of the herb turmeric that gives curry its yellow color, is a potent inhibitor of COX2 but does not affect COX1. It has the benefits of being both an antioxidant and a potent anti-inflammatory; it is relatively cheap and tastes good. So why do we not hear about its properties more often?"

"In 1995, two scientists from the University of Mississippi obtained a US patent on the use of turmeric for healing wounds. To obtain a patent, you need to demonstrate that the idea is new. The application accepted that turmeric had long been used in India as a traditional medicine for treatment of various sprains and inflammations. They claimed, however, that there was no research on the use of this powerful antioxidant as a treatment for external wounds. The Indian government challenged the patent. India provided evidence that turmeric had been used locally to treat wounds for many years. Ultimately, the patent application was rejected. Ironically, the failure to obtain a patent, and hence protect potential profits, may be the reason that few people in the West know the healing power of turmeric."