Tumeric...do you take it?

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Obxflygirl1
Obxflygirl1 Member Posts: 377
edited June 2015 in Working on Your Fitness

I keep reading about Tumeric and how the spice is one of the most important in fighting dreaded cancer cells. Do you take it? In what form? How much? Did your nutritionist recommend it?



Thanks to everyone for sharing your experience....

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Comments

  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited June 2013

    I checked with my oncologist 5 years ago and at that time he said that it wouldn't cause any harm and may help prevent recurrence.  Here is what PubMed (NIH) says about turmeric and cancer.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=turmeric+cancer  I take one 600mg pill per day.

    I also take several other supplements that appear, in preliminary studies, to cause death of cancer cells.  I have checked each supplement I take with my doctor after doing research on PubMed. 

  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited June 2013

    I've heard it "might" interfere with Tamoxifen metabolism(inhibiting cyp2d6). I take it in the morning & my Tamoxifen at night. My MO thinks it's alright to do so. I find it helps the arthritis I'm getting in my hands. It doesn't help my other aches & pains. Did you mean to post this here under "fitness & getting back in shape? Maybe "complimentary" or "alternative"

    I take a 600mg capsule in the morning & sometimes use turmeric when I cook. In other words, if a bright yellow result is acceptable.

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited June 2013

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23745991/?i=4&from=circumin trial breast cancer radiation



    I use it and it cleared up my asthma, which was on track to kill me way faster than breast cancer (multiple ER visits, hospitalizations, steroids, etc). I have no trace of asthma since I starteed taking turmeric the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. One "good" thing about this journey.



    I am allowed to keep taking my dose during radiation which I just started, due to the small trial listed above. It is an anti-inflammatory rather than anti-oxidant, which are banned because they could could negate the effects of radiation.



    In that trial the women were taking 6 grams per day, but I only take 1 gram, half AM half PM.



    It is important to use one with piperine for better absorption. I use wild harvest from whole foods.



    Good luck!

  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited June 2013

    I began taking it a few weeks after completing radiation. Mine is 500mg, NatureMade brand. I am sure to take mine with dinner though. Found that it upsets my stomach otherwise.

  • cinnamonsmiles
    cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
    edited June 2013

    I was thinking the only time I use this is when I make pickles (I think). I was scrambling to think how I could incorporate Tumeric into daily cooking!!!!

    I might talk to my doctor about since it helped sciencegal with her asthma.

    I will also see if it interferes with any meds I am taking.

    Thanks for the information on this!!

  • Rosamond
    Rosamond Member Posts: 114
    edited July 2013

    I put it in scrambled egg whites, sprinkle it on steamed veggies, and eat a little ona teaspoon every once in awhile.

  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited July 2013

    I buy turmeric root and grate it into smoothies. It has a bitter taste but not unpleasant, just distinctive. My sil said she never felt effects from capsules, only the raw. (We both feel that it relieves aches.)!But reading everyone's experiences here makes me think about buying some capsules. It's just hard to make a smoothie every morning. Sciencegal, I have mild asthma and pretty sizable lung tumors so your experience in particular was of interest to me.

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited July 2013

    Michele I am so sorry about the lung tumors. D@mned cancer!

    You can also buy the ground turmeric at health food stores in bulk, I had thought about making my own capsules from that as it would be cheaper. But I am not sure how much piperine to add in so I have just been buying the capsules at Whole Foods (Oregon's Wild Harvest).

    It keeps me breathing so is well worth it.

    I didnt even know you could get the root anywhere. Does it look like a ginger root? Do you add black pepper to the smoothies? That is apparently really important for the absorption.

  • ValiAm
    ValiAm Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2013

    I take 1g curcumin (a component of tumeric) twice a day. My naturopath recommended a capsule called Meriva-500 by Thorne Research. It is a great anti-inflammtory as well as having the potential to help prevent mets.

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited July 2013

    Thanks! Does that brand have piperene?



    I take so much to keep myself breathing, and my fave brand is expensive at Whole foods, that I have been considering a "capsule party" where some friends and I will buy the turmeric and piperene in bulk and make our own capsules.



    I have two other friends now who have also had their severe asthma reversed by turmeric, so we just might do it....

  • ValiAm
    ValiAm Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2013

    Sciencegal, I hear you when it comes to the cost of supplements. A capsule building party = great idea! A bottle of 120 capsules is just under $50 so it's not a cheap buy. At least it's 2 months worth for me.

    No, the brand does not contain piperene/piperine...I just had a quick google lesson on piperene and it's affect on bioavailability. Then I went to Thorne Research website to investigate. This is what they claim:

    Whether taken as a supplement or from food, curcumin is generally poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. In conjunction with Indena S.p.A., the worldwide experts in botanical extract technology, we have uncovered the key to curcumin absorption – phytosome technology. Meriva curcumin phytosome is a unique curcumin extract that is significantly better absorbed than other curcumin extracts.*

    Phytosomes are plant extracts bound to phosphatidylcholine (PC), an essential component of human cells. Our bodies can make PC, but we can also get it from food or supplements. When taken orally, PC is very well absorbed. The scientists at Indena found a way to attach a curcumin extract to PC for superior absorption, resulting in Meriva. When you take Meriva your body absorbs the PC and the attached curcumin, resulting in more curcumin reaching the cells that can benefit from it.*

    A 2007 single-dose pharmacokinetic animal study demonstrated Meriva's superior bioavailability, compared to ordinary curcumin.* The results demonstrated a >20-fold increase in absorption of curcumin from Meriva versus a standard curcumin preparation.* In addition, a 2010 three-month clinical trial demonstrated 1,000 mg of Meriva-SR per day helped maintain healthy C-reactive protein levels and promoted healthy joint comfort and mobility.* Furthermore, a 2010 randomized, single-blind, crossover human study revealed total curcuminoid bioavailability, as evaluated by the plasma area under the curve (AUC), to be 29-fold higher for Meriva than for the conventional standardized curcumin extract.*

  • lynnt
    lynnt Member Posts: 22
    edited July 2013

    Hi, Just a question. I posted this same thing under a different thread yesterday but don't think I got a reply. I am going to do some research on turmeric. Thanks for the info!

    Have you researched Iodine, as well? My sister sent me a book on the effectiveness of Iodine in fighting BC, as well as other diseases and conditions (such as brain fog). Have any of you used or researched Iodine?

    Lynn

  • ValiAm
    ValiAm Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2013

    Lynnt, I have done very minimal research on iodine. I asked my naturopath about it but she didn't recommend...I can't remember why.

    Perusing other forums I came across the suggestion to, "visit iodine groups on yahoo run by Lynn Farrow...she is an expert on hormones, iodine and thyroid..."

  • lynnt
    lynnt Member Posts: 22
    edited July 2013

    Thanks.  Actually, I am actually reading the book by Lynne Farrow. Quite compelling, but I am going slow with the information.

    Reading your info on Turmeric, I started to research it a bit. Looks like it might interact negatively with Tamoxifen, which I am currently taking. I have 2 more years of Tamoxifen.

    Lynn

  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited July 2013

    Lynnt - do you recall where you read about the info about turmeric and tamoxifen interacting negatively together? Could you direct me to a source or a link?

  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited July 2013

    A cell study indicates that turmeric may increase cancer cell sensitivity to tamoxifen.  This could be really good news and is certainly worth discussing with one's doctor.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23299550

    There is also this study on turmeric + tamoxifen on melanoma.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21088500

  • Valjean
    Valjean Member Posts: 1,898
    edited August 2013

    I mix in a large bowl:

         Tumeric, Ginger, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, & Hershey's Cocoa

    together & store in small jars. I take one teaspoon every morning with a small amount of water. Doesn't taste the best but I down it quickly & then have my cereal or smoothie.

    I know some people who have made their own capsules but that is too much hassle for me. I have done this for probably 4-4 1/2 years now.  

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited July 2013

    Thanks ValiAn for the info!

    Valjean your concoction sounds very beneficial, I dont know if I could get it down though! You are brave. Do you shoot it down like a wheatgrass shot?

  • Warriormommy
    Warriormommy Member Posts: 4
    edited July 2013

    I do take it but be careful of what fillers might be included some are soy based. Also was told for tumeric to be effective for fighting cancer cells it needs to be combined with black pepper. I was taking the tablets but now I pull apart the tablets and pour them into a small bowl and mix them with pepper which I pour onto my food. I do this about once or twice a day.

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited July 2013

    Warriormommy if you are able to eat it straight like that you could save money by buying the bulk turmeric (powdered- by the ounce) at health food stores - many of them carry it, at least here in California.



    What kind of food do you add it to? I wish I could do it that way since the capsules are expensive!!! I just cant work curry into my diet every day.

  • ananda8
    ananda8 Member Posts: 2,755
    edited July 2013

    All the medical studies that I've read showing the effectiveness of turmeric against cancer cells used either straight turmeric or the active ingredient curcumin.  I have seen nothing on PubMed (NIH) that indicates pepper is needed for turmeric to be effective. 

    Has anyone seen studies with pepper included that are published in the NIH?

  • Snohomom
    Snohomom Member Posts: 9
    edited July 2013

    I take CuraPro and/or Curaphen by EuroMedica, as recommended by my naturopath. Each capsule supplies 500 mg of curcuminoids and I was taking two, twice a day. The Curaphen also has the curcumin but it also offers a natural pain and anti-inflamatory for sore muscles. I talked with my naturopath about reducing to one, twice a day as it is very expensive (around $70 for 120 pills.) She said I can switch things up, as I also take green tea extract and various mushrooms (Reishi, Corriolus and Cordecyps)... so I take 2-4 caps per day now. I have never taken supplements before, but after my cancer, I want to fight back as much as I can with good food, exercise and supplements. 

  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited July 2013
  • GlobalGirlyGirl
    GlobalGirlyGirl Member Posts: 269
    edited July 2013

    I take Doctor's Best Curcumin - the 1000 mg caplets. I take 8000 mg. per day. Funny thing about them being caplets instead of capsules. When you handle them, you get this golden yellow powder all over your hands. Right now, my kitchen towels are beige with yellow streaks. Haha.

    Great stuff, though.

    http://curcuminresearch.org

  • Belinda977
    Belinda977 Member Posts: 381
    edited July 2013

    The studies in the links above indicate there is not a negative effect with the turmeric and tamoxifen, right?  It's too early to digest those studies...LOL

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited August 2013

    Hi Belinda,



    Sorry I did not see this earlier- I had been away from the boards working on some major deadlines at work for a few days.



    One of the girls had written in to our radiation board that her doctor told her to NOT take turmeric because it could interact with one of the anti-estrogen drugs, I think it might have been tamoxifen.



    I will see if I can find that specifically. Until then it might be best for you to not take it, dang.



    With my regimen the doc sadi "go for it" throughout my chemo and rads, since it keeps me breathing, but we are all so different, and my cancer is ER negative.

  • Maggs09
    Maggs09 Member Posts: 193
    edited August 2013

    I'm also ER+ and tried to research turmeric in combination with tamoxifen.

    I found turmeric under "foods to avoid while on tamoxifen", so I stopped taking it.

    But I think it is fine to take with AIs, because AIs are not metabolized by the same liver enzymes as tamoxifen.

  • SRoberts
    SRoberts Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2013

    A friendly word of caution - I started taking a 500 mg turmeric pill daily because I thought it would be advantageous to my health, but within one week it caused me to have a very sudden and heavy period - only two weeks after my regular period.  Turmeric is a blood thinner.  Be careful with this and all supplements.  For more information on turmeric that you might not find other places Google: "How Much Turmeric Supplement to Take Livestrong"

  • Maggs09
    Maggs09 Member Posts: 193
    edited August 2013

    SRoberts, thank you for pointing out that turmeric, beside its powerful anti cancer properties, can thin the blood.

    I'm so glad I stopped taking it, as in my situation it can not only affect tamoxifen therapy, but also increase a risk of bleeding, since I'm on daily anticoagulant injections to prevent clots.

    I wish everything was simpler...

  • QueenSansaStark
    QueenSansaStark Member Posts: 207
    edited August 2013

    I use Jarrow brand curcumin. Jarrow is usually a reliable brand. I take one capsule with breakfast and sometimes another with dinner.

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