The power of curry

If you like curry then you must be delighted to learn that scientists in Ireland have found a certain type of curry spice can kill off cancer cells. The chemical – curcumin – can be found in the bright yellow curry spice turmeric. It’s long thought to have healing powers. Tests by a team at the Cork Cancer Research Centre show it can destroy gullet cancer cells in the lab. The cancer cells began to digest themselves after the curcumin triggered lethal cell death signals. And this process started within 24 hours. Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: “This is an interesting research which opens up the possibility that natural chemicals found in turmeric could be developed into new treatments for oesophageal cancer.” Cancers of the oesophagus kill more than 500,000 people across the world each year. It's the sixth most common cause of cancer death in the UK. The tumours are especially deadly, with five-year survival rates of just 12 to 31 percent. However Dr Sharon McKenna, lead researcher on the study says turmeric is broken down in the blood once ingested. A way is needed to be found to ensure it stayed in the circulatory system for longer to give it time to kill cancer cells. Asked if people with oesophageal cancer should now start eating lots of curries, she said turmeric was just one spice that was found in curry. “A curry contains a lot of other heavy spices that would not necessarily be good for you at all,” she said. “When you eat it, you are not applying it directly to the cancer cells as we were in the laboratory.” So there’s no excuse to binge on curry meals after you’ve read this. Maintaining a balanced diet remains our best option to a healthy lifestyle.