healthbriefs
Curcumin—the Herbal Cure-All R
esearch shows that curcumin is a strong antioxidant that aids in the body’s inflammatory response. It promotes a strong immune system and helps foster
a healthy heart as well as lung, liver and kidney function. Curcumin also is linked to a lower risk of arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and obesity. Curcumin alone isn’t readily absorbed by the body—much of it is excreted from the body before it can benefit the body. research studies show that BCm-95 curcumin is a more potent version of curcumin and is more readily absorbed by the body. BCM-95 is cur- cumin that’s been grinded into very small particles and then blended with turmeric essential oil. Curcumin works for two reasons—it halts inflammation and stops oxidation. Growing research shows that low-level inflammation is linked to Alzheimer’s, diabetes and heart disease, just to name a few. Curcumin lowers inflammation through mul- tiple inflammation targets. It is a potent antioxidant, which is able to neutralize unstable free radicals that can oxidize and lead to cell damage. Curcumin has been shown to prevent cancer initia- tion, promotion and progression. It stops the changes that cause normal cells to become cancerous cells, and it stops cancerous cells from moving to other parts of the body
Steven M. Rachlin, M.D.
(metastasis). It also protects normal cells from the harmful effects of chemotherapy, drugs and radiation. Curcumin is also beneficial in preventing Alzheimer’s disease by reducing
beta-amyloid levels and shrinking the size of accumulated plaques. Curcumin also is beneficial in preventing heart disease and is compared to the cholesterol-low- ering drug lovastatin. Curcumin, research shows that it protects against the effects of a high cholesterol diet just as much as the drug lovastatin. It increases HDL cho- lesterol levels and prevents the inflammation that leads to the buildup of plaque. Curcumin can also decrease glucose levels in as little as two weeks, which can help diabetics. Inflammation plays a strong role in the development and progres- sion of diabetes. It reduces insulin resistance, inflammatory markers and fats in the bloodstream. Curcumin can also help with obesity by helping one’s body regulate blood sugar levels, burn fat more quickly and prevent new fat cells from forming. Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is associated with several dis- eases, including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowl disease. In a small study of patients with Crohn’s disease that received curcumin along with standard anti-inflammatory drugs—many were able to reduce or drop the medications. Curcumin reduces inflammatory compounds in the intestines; it can strengthen the intestinal wall to prevent harmful bacteria from entering the bloodstream, which is known as leaky gut syndrome.
Source: Steven M. Rachlin, M.D., PC, of Rachlin Medical Center, located at 927 Willis Ave., Albertson. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 516-873-7773 or visit
RachlinMedical.com. See ad on page 15.
On Earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it. ~Jules Renard
22 Long Island Edition
www.NaturalAwakeningsLI.com
Tai Chi Eases Effects of Chronic Disease A
effects of tai chi exercise upon people with four chronic diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, osteoarthritis and cancer. Dr. Yi-Wen Chen and his team analyzed 33 studies of more than 1,500 people that par- ticipated in tai chi. The research
also tested the effects of the practice on general health, includ- ing walking speed, muscle strength, speed in standing up from a
sitting position, quality of life, symptoms of depression and knee strength. The heart disease patients among the sub- jects showed a reduction in depression symptoms, and all shared a reduction of muscle stiffness and pain, increased speeds in both walking and standing from a sitting position and improved well-being. “Given the fact that many middle- aged and older persons have more than one chronic condition, it’s important to examine the benefits of treatment/ exercise interventions across several co- existing conditions,” says Chen.
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review of research from the Univer- sity of British Columbia tested the
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