Turmeric Benefit In Preventing Cancer.

Of all of the health benefits of turmeric, cancer prevention is at the top of everyone's list, because the disease is a major public health problem, with one out of every four deaths in the US being due to some type of cancer. The other leading killer is heart disease. Protecting heart health may also be among the turmeric health benefits.

It is important for people to realize that this is not the only important plant that has been identified recently. It is actually one of many. The health benefits of turmeric are similar to those of green tea, bilberry, grapes, tomatoes, olive leaves, algae and bitter orange. All of those plants and many others contain unique antioxidants that help protect the cells of the body from free radical damage and chronic inflammation.

When it comes to cancer, the turmeric health benefits stem from its ability to induce the death of cancer cells, without causing any damage to healthy cells. The cancer treatments that we currently have are toxic to surrounding cells, which is why there are so many negative side effects to our modern therapies.

If the turmeric health benefits are fully realized, researchers may be able to come up with cancer drugs that are not accompanied by negative side effects. But, to people like you and me, our best chance is to do everything that we can to reduce our risk of getting the disease in the first place.

We can do that by avoiding known carcinogens, by eating healthier foods and by taking advantage of some of the better supplements on the market. In order to get the health benefits of turmeric, the supplement must be well designed. Like many of these antioxidants, curcumin, the compound responsible for the turmeric health benefits, has low bioavailability; little is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Researchers have measured blood serum levels after eating as much as 10 grams of curcumin and found negligible amounts to be present. If it doesn't get into the bloodstream, it cannot help protect our cells from cancer. What happens is that stomach acids quickly degrade the compound. In order for it to reach the bloodstream, it must be protected with an enteric coating.

The inclusion of piperine, a component of black pepper, increases the bioavailability of curcumin and thereby the turmeric health benefits, further reducing dosage requirements. As little as 50mg per day is effective and that's a good thing, because there are some negative side effects that accompany the health benefits of turmeric. Long term use of high doses causes indigestion, may aggravate the gall bladder and has been shown to cause liver problems in laboratory animals.

If you want the best value for your money, look for a supplement that contains all of the plant extracts mentioned above, along with piperine and an enteric coating. That way, you will get all of the health benefits of turmeric, without the risk of unwanted side effects.

Andrea Marshall is a researcher of skin care and health supplement products. Visit her site now at http://www.natural-supplement-site.info to get the facts on how to choose the best products for your youthful and healthy life.