Thermography detects the subtle physiologic changes that accompany breast pathology, whether it is cancer, fibrocystic disease, an infection, or vascular disease. It can alert you and your doctor to changes that can indicate early stage breast disease. It is safe, effective, and ideal for women of all ages. It is completely non-invasive and does NOT use radiation. It is a “do no harm” approach to routine breast screening.

Mammography is a test of anatomy that uses x-ray to look for masses or lumps. These masses can take years to form – sometimes 5-10 years before they are large enough and dense enough to show up on an x-ray. Although touted to be harmless, mammograms do involve compression of the breast tissue, which may be uncomfortable for some women. A dose of radiation is administered with each view taken.

Garnering from the previous post about the benefits of curcumin, it can be understood that although curcumin is a potent compound for the treatment of a wide range of human diseases, the curcumin content of turmeric is not that high. On top of it, curcumin has relatively low bioavailability as it is normally poorly absorbed into the bloodstream.

The reason behind the low bioavailability of curcumin is revealed by studies to be low absorption and rapid metabolism. One of the main reasons is also due to its low solubility in water. However, the low bioavailability of curcumin can be addressed by combining with Bioperine or Piperine from black pepper. Taking curcumin with black pepper significantly increases the bioavailability of curcumin and enhances the absorption.

Curcumin is also fat soluble and many studies suggested that the absorption of curcumin increases from 47% to 56% when it is present in fat. The micelles and phospholipid complexes found in fat increase the absorption of supplements and drugs from the gastrointestinal tracts. Thus, it may be a good idea to take it with a fatty meal. Alternatively, it can be mixed with coconut oil, flaxseed oil and olive oil.

Another way to increase the bioavailability of curcumin is if curcumin is taken with Quercetin. Quercetin is flavonoid and it is found in many plants and foods such as apple, red grapes, onion, citrus fruit and so on. Apple Cider Vinegar can also deliver results as it has Quercetin in it. The presence of sulfotransferase enzyme inactives curcumin. Thus, taking Quercetin aids in the inhibition of sulfotransferase enzyme.

All in all, it is important to incorporate curcumin in our daily diet and the low bio-availability can be easily overcome by ways as mentioned above. However, when it comes to taking curcumin – as with all other supplements –  it is best to be modulated by health consultants for proper dosage and utilization.

Do you have any turmeric planted in your backyard garden that you have been taking for granted? Did you know turmeric has healing properties that are widely beneficial for the body?

To many, turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow colour, but did you know that in India, it’s not just a spice used in cooking, but a medicinal herb that has been used for over 4,000 years to treat various ailments? Turmeric contains an active compound known as curcumin – which has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and it is a potent antioxidant.

Significant research studies published by British Journal of Nutrition has also proven that curcumin is extremely beneficial for almost every organ in the body. The benefits of curcumin encompass many and the few most known benefits of curcumin are reducing inflammation, providing support for inflammatory issues like arthritis and dramatically increases the antioxidant capacity of the body.

Curcumin has powerful antioxidant effects which neutralizes free radicals on its own and stimulates the body’s own antioxidant enzymes. It also boosts a type of growth hormone that functions in the brain – known as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) – which may be effective at delaying or even reversing brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and age-related degenerative processes in brain function. It also aids in memory retention and relieving the symptoms of depression.

On top of reducing inflammation and oxidation, the benefit of curcumin when it comes to heart disease is improving the function of the lining of the blood vessels. It leads to improvements in the endothelial function which regulates blood pressure, blood clotting and various other factors often linked to heart diseases.

Studies have also shown that curcumin can help prevent cancer or perhaps treat cancer as it can reduce the growth of new blood vessels in tumours, reduce the spread of cancer and contribute to the death of cancerous cells.

In order to experience the full effects of curcumin, it is advisable to take an extract that contains significant amounts of curcumin; thus, curcumin supplements are encouraged.