with the way some viruses cause human cells to stop reacting to an infection. She hopes the team
can discover drug treatments to defeat several kinds of viruses. And, she says, it is possible
curcumin will be part of those cures.
A study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry
found that curcumin improves the effectiveness of
chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. And it has
possibilities for development into a drug that can help with
chemotherapy.
Turmeric comes from a tropical plant common to India.
Scientists have been examining its medical possibilities
for many years.
Studies show that turmeric’s qualities may help protect
against damage to the body’s tissues and other injuries.
Researchers also said turmeric may reduce evidence of damage in the brains of patients with mild
or moderate Alzheimer’s disease. For this reason, the researchers designed a study that examined
results from a mental-performance test of older Asian adults.
The study involved curry, which contains turmeric. The adults tested were 60 to 93 years old. Those
who sometimes ate curry did better on the tests than individuals who rarely or never ate curry. This
was also true of those who ate it often or very often.
One spice that often is at the top of a healthy spices list is cinnamon. It comes from the inner bark of
several trees and is used in both sweet and savory cooking. For centuries cinnamon has been used
in traditional medicine. Now, it is earning respect in the medical field.
German researchers found that cinnamon can reduce blood sugar by 10 percent. They were not
sure why, but said it could be that substances in cinnamon activate enzymes that excite insulin
receptors. Research also shows the spice can help lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides,
blood fats that may cause diabetes.
Registered dietician Wendy Bazilian says spices are being considered more seriously because the
added taste they bring helps people reduce the salt, fat and sugar in their cooking. She has written a
book called, “The Super Foods Rx Diet”, on how people can lose weight by basing their diet on what
she calls “super nutrients”. She says she likes oregano, for example, because she considers it a
mini salad. She says “one teaspoon has as much antioxidant power as three cups of chopped
broccoli.”
But, she says, do not get rid of the broccoli. Instead, eat both.
Herbs and spices are not used just to lessen unwanted chemical effects. They make food taste
better. Some spices also destroy bacteria. Spices have long been used to keep food safe to eat.
Spices have influenced world history.
This Science in the News program was written by Milagros Ardin. Our producer was June Simms.
I’m Faith Lapidus.
And I’m Mario Ritter. Join us again next week for more news about science on the Voice of America.
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