Two more reasons to take turmeric: It protects your heart, fights autoimmune disease

by David Gutierrez, staff writer 

(NaturalNews) You may already have heard that turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer food, but did you know that it can also help protect your heart and fight autoimmune diseases?

In a study published in the journal Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin in 2011, researchers from Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences in Japan found that three weeks of supplementation with the turmeric compound curcumin significantly improved cardiac health in male rats who had been given an injection to induce an autoimmune disease of the heart (autoimmune myocarditis). The rats supplemented with curcumin also showed a reduction in the area of the heart covered by inflammatory lesions and a reduction in the heart's weight-to-body-weight ratio.

"Our results indicate that curcumin has the potential to protect against cardiac inflammation through suppression of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, GATA-4 and NF-kB expresses, and may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for autoimmune myocarditis," the researchers wrote.

Turmeric has the distinction of being both one of the most widely used culinary spices and traditional medicines in the world. Its benefits have been well studied by Western scientists, who attribute much of its disease-fighting prowess to a trio of naturally occurring yellow-orange chemicals called the curcuminoids (and sometimes known simply by the name of the most famous of them, curcumin).

As good for your heart as exercise

Turmeric is not just good for the hearts of people with autoimmune myocarditis; in fact, several studies conducted by researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan suggest that it may be as beneficial for your heart as aerobic exercise!

In a pair of studies published in the journals Artery Research and Nutrition Research in September and October 2012, respectively, the researchers found that women who took a curcumin supplement showed as much improvement in two measures of heart health (vascular endothelial function and arterial compliance) as women assigned to a moderate aerobic exercise training program. An even greater benefit was seen, of course, in those who took the supplements and engaged in the exercise program as well.

In another study, published in the American Journal of Hypertension in June 2012, the researchers found that a combined exercise and curcumin program significantly slowed age-related degeneration in the heart.

Turmeric battles hard-to-treat autoimmune conditions

Because turmeric is such a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, numerous studies have been conducted to see whether it could be effective in reducing the severity of inflammation-based autoimmune diseases.

In autoimmune diseases, the body is attacked by its own immune system. These diseases are still poorly understood, and most of them have no known cause or cure. Common autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, myocarditis, thyroiditis, uveitis, systemic lupus erythromatosis and myasthenia. An estimated 5 percent of the world's population suffers from an autoimmune disease.

According to a research review published in the journal Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology in 2007, curcumin has been shown to reduce the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis in humans or animals. As expected, symptomatic relief comes, at least in part, from the regulation of inflammation pathways.

It should be noted that the body absorbs curcumin most effectively from turmeric root, rather than from supplements. In addition, the maximum benefit to nutraceuticals typically comes when they are consumed at low doses over a long period of time. Nevertheless, at least one trial suggests that daily curcumin doses of up to 8 g might be safe for up to four months or longer.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/39835

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.jointmints.com

http://www.naturalnews.com/040330_turmeric_heart_health_curcumin.html

Heal the gut with these five superfoods

by Derek Henry 

(NaturalNews) In a world where digestive problems run amok, it's little wonder that people are desperately looking for remedies that will help fix their gut issues. Although it is not simple, these five superfoods can help clean up the 'internal trash', balance your bacteria, and heal any damage that has been done, so you can get your gut back to normal.

Garlic

Garlic is an amazing superfood that can dramatically alter your inner ecology with its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Quite simply, it helps safely remove all those little critters that are destroying your digestive system.

In fact, Washington State University has confirmed that garlic is far more effective than pharmaceutical antibiotics in fighting a common bacteria known as campylobacter bacterium, which currently infects 2.4 million Americans per year.

Keeping your gut clear of these harmful bacteria will go a long ways to healing your digestive system.

Coconut kefir

Coconut kefir is somewhat of a lesser-known superfood, but is powerful nonetheless.

Coconut kefir is the simple process of using young coconut water and fermenting it to a state that leaves it teeming with billions of beneficial microorganisms. These friendly bacteria help balance your inner ecosystem, which in turn facilitates digestion, nutrient absorption, and toxin removal.

Bottom line, if you want to clean up your gut, repopulating it with beneficial bacteria is a requirement. Taking an ounce of kefir in the morning, at meals, and before bed is a great way to start.

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is essentially fermented cabbage, which contains a vast array of nutrients and a hardy strain of probiotics, and does an exceptional job of cleaning and 'furnishing' your gut with beneficial bacteria so that it can heal and work efficiently again.

Add it as a side to any meal, or get creative and incorporate it into dishes where you would normally add vegetables.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is a highly medicinal plant, and most of the benefits seem to come from the gel.

Aloe gel contains active compounds that help temper inflammation and block bacteria from infecting various areas of our body, including our digestive tract. They are also believed to help regenerate cells for faster healing times, which is vitally important in healing your gut after significant damage has occurred.

Aloe gel has also showed promise in healing gastric ulcers. According to a study in the World Journal of Gastroenterology in April 2006, when given internally, aloe gel reduced gastric inflammation and generated ulcer healing in mice.

Sangre de drago

Sangre de Drago is a latex-like red sap that comes from the Croton species of tree in the Amazon rainforests. This medicinal sap has been used for a variety of ailments, including ulcers in the stomach and intestines.

The two main phytochemicals responsible for its healing properties are an alkaloid known as Taspine (documented as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorous, and antiviral) and a lignan known as Dimethylcedrusine, which plays a central role in sangre de drago's wound healing capabilities.

When smeared onto a sterile plate and allowed to dry, then doused with E. coli bacteria, it was found that the bacteria promptly died in the presence of the sangre de drago.

A clean gut can create a clean bill of health

Eighty percent of our immunity, and conversely, where 80 percent of things go wrong, starts in the gut. It is perhaps the most important factor to consider when deciding to clean up your health.

Start with these five superfoods, and continue to add to your arsenal in order to keep your gut free of damaging pathogens, and full of beneficial bacteria.

My gut says go for it.

Sources for this article include:

http://news.wsu.edu

http://ajpgi.physiology.org/content/279/1/G192.full

http://www.rain-tree.com/sangre.htm#.Ucifa-BQPTQ

No More Chemo: Doctors Say It’s Not So Far-Fetched

There’s a revolution occurring in cancer treatment, and it could mean the end of chemotherapy.

When it comes to taming tumors, the strategy has always been fairly straightforward. Remove the offending and abnormal growth by any means, in the most effective way possible. And the standard treatments used today reflect this single-minded approach — surgery physically cuts out malignant lesions; chemotherapy agents dissolve them from within; and radiation seeks and destroys abnormally dividing cells.

There is no denying that such methods work; deaths from cancer have dropped by around 20% in the U.S. over the past two decades. But as effective as they are, these interventions can be just as brutal on the patient as they are on a tumor. So researchers were especially excited by a pair of studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine last week that showed a new type of anti-cancer drug, which works in an entirely different way from chemotherapy, helped leukemia patients tally up to an 83% survival rate after being treated for two years.

(MORE: On the Horizon at Last, Cancer Drugs that Harness the Body’s Own Immune System)

The report was only the latest to emerge since 2001, when imatinib, or Gleevec, the first drug to veer away from the take-all-comers approach on which cancer therapies have been built, accomplished similar improvements in survival for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

Could the end of chemotherapy be near?

“It’s a question we are all asking,” says Dr. Martin Tallman, chief of the leukemia service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “I think we are definitely moving farther and farther away from chemotherapy, and more toward molecularly targeted therapy.”

It’s the difference between carpet bombing and “smart bomb” strategies for leveling an enemy – in this case a fast-growing mass of cells that can strangle and starve surrounding normal tissues. Targeted therapies, as they are called, are aimed at specific pathways that tumor cells use to thrive, blocking them in the same way that monkeying with a car’s ignition, or it’s fuel intake, can keep it from running properly. The advantage of such precise strategies is that they leave healthy cells alone, which for patients means fewer side effects and complications.

(MORE: Self-Sabotage: Why Cancer Vaccines Don’t Work)

“The field is moving toward using the right drugs at the right time in the right patients,” says Dr. George Demetri, senior vice president of experimental therapeutics at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. “We’re moving toward a more precise understanding of cancer, and being able to tailor therapies toward an individual’s cancer.”

In the case of the NEJM studies, researchers were able to target an active receptor on immune cells responsible for enticing them to grow out of control, blocking the protein and essentially shutting down two different type of leukemia tumors.

(MORE: Young Survivors)

Already, patients diagnosed with GIST can avoid chemotherapy altogether, thanks to Gleevec. “No patient diagnosed with GIST should be getting chemotherapy today,” says Demetri. Patients who develop certain types of lung cancer or melanoma caused by a cancer-promoting mutation known as BRAF are also starting to replace toxic chemotherapy agents with new, more precise medications designed to thwart the BRAF pathway. And a study presented at the most recent meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology showed for the first time that a chemotherapy-free regimen led to a higher survival rate after two years than traditional chemotherapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia, a cancer of the bone marrow.

The refined approach does have a weakness, however. Cancer cells, like bacteria and viruses, are wily enough to bypass roadblocks to their survival, and often mutate to overcome the effects of targeted drugs. That’s the case for a small percentage of patients on Gleevec. But even that shortcoming isn’t insurmountable. With growing knowledge about the molecular processes that drive tumor biology, researchers are able to design medications that thwart cancer cells’ attempts to bypass medications. It’s all about staying one or two steps ahead of the cancer, and already, researchers are testing drugs that address Gleevec resistance and hoping to widen the resistance gap. “The field is moving so fast that there are new drugs already being developed to tackle new resistant clones,” says Tallman. “[Resistance] is a concern, yes, but it doesn’t negate our excitement about the future.”

(MORE: Inside America’s Drug Shortage)

Working in the doctors’ – and patients’ – favor is the fact that cancers aren’t monolithic entities composed of the same abnormal cell copied thousands of times over. Individual tumors may be composed of different types of aberrant cells, possessing a variety of mutations that are susceptible to different drugs. And this cast of cells can be ever-changing over the course of an individual patient’s battle with the disease.

While such heterogeneity and unpredictability could, on one hand, make tumors too daunting to tackle, they also represent an opportunity to employ an entirely new way of fighting tumors. Traditionally, if a tumor developed resistance to a chemotherapy agent, doctors would have abandoned it completely and moved on to another drug or another treatment strategy. But now they are able to biopsy tumors and perform more sophisticated genetic and molecular tests that help them to decide, for example, that the bulk of a tumor remains susceptible to a targeted therapy while only a small portion has become resistant. They can then either remove the resistant portion surgically or add another targeted therapy to tackle just that portion while keeping the patient on the original regimen that will still treat the remainder of his cancer. “That’s a new concept,” says Demetri. “That didn’t exist before targeted therapies.”

(MORE: The Screening Dilemma – Health Special: Cancer)

For patients, these types of creative strategies could mean gentler, more tolerable cancer treatments, and more years of living cancer-free. Combinations of drugs may become the norm, much as they have become the standard for treating HIV infections. So far, says Dr. Scott Kopetz, associate professor of gastrointestinal oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, refined targeted therapy cocktails appear to work best for blood cell and immune cell cancers like chronic leukemias that tend to be more homogenous from the start, making them susceptible to the newer drugs. Solid tumors such as those in the breast, prostate and lung generally contain a wider variety of genetically different cells even at diagnosis, which makes them more challenging – although not impossible – to treat with targeted drugs. “Where there is a lot of genetic heterogeneity, such as in most solid tumors, there is more headwind we have to fight against, more opportunities for rapid resistance to develop,” says Kopetz.

That means that for the time being, chemotherapy may remain part of the cancer doctor’s arsenal – and even these agents are being revamped to cause fewer side effects. New ways of encasing the toxin in fat-based bubbles or linking it to nano-particles that deliver the drug just to the tumors while bouncing off of healthy cells are making regimens more tolerable.

Increasingly, though, chemotherapy may become the treatment of last resort, rather than the first wave as some basic truths about cancer are being knocked down and rewritten. For instance, it may not be as helpful to treat cancers by where they originate – in the breast or prostate or lung – but rather by the processes that fuel them. That’s why a targeted drug developed to treat melanomas is now used to suppress lung cancers, and why genetic and molecular analyses of tumors are becoming more critical to match the right medications to the right cancers.

“Many, many fundamental concepts in cancer are being challenged now based on new information,” says Tallman. “Of course that is leading to major shifts, paradigm shifts in treatment approaches, and ultimately, I think, better care patients and better outcomes.”

Navratilova and others discuss staying fit and healthy at age 20 vs. age 60

By Gabriella Boston, Published: June 24

One sneaker fits all.
According to government recommendations, you should do at least 2¹ / ₂ hours of moderate aerobic activity per week and twice-weekly sessions of strength training to improve your health, no matter your age.
But don’t physical fitness needs change as we grow older?
Not that much, it turns out.
Todd Miller, an associate professor in the Department of Exercise Science at George Washington University, says whether you’re 20 years old or 60, you will need a combination of cardio and strength training to keep your heart and muscles in good shape and your weight under control.
The one difference may be that strength training becomes more crucial for everyday functional fitness as you get older. “A big issue as you age is the risk of falling. And strength training that builds muscle power helps prevent falls,” he says.
“People should do a combination of both cardio and strength” to meet those fitness goals, he says, but in general he sees an “overemphasis on cardio and underemphasis on strength.”
The challenge, Miller says, is not deciding whether fitness needs are age-specific. It’s getting people to do what they should do, at any age, to stay healthy and fit. “The problem is not the exercise or the type of exercise; it’s the adherence or the lack of adherence to exercise that is the main issue,” he says.
Only about 20 percent of Americans follow the government recommendations.
As you try to figure out a regime that keeps you healthy, here’s some advice from three people — Miller, a trainer and tennis great Martina Navratilova — that may help you, whether you’re 20 or 60.
The professional athlete
“As we age, we should exercise more often but for shorter periods of time,” says Navratilova, 56, who writes a health and fitness column for AARP.
“And mix up your routine. Do strength, cardio, yoga. Do what feels good in the body, go easy on the joints,” she says.
That’s actually pretty much in line with government recommendations, which say, “We know 150 minutes each week sounds like a lot of time, but you don’t have to do it all at once. Not only is it best to spread your activity out during the week, but you can break it up into small chunks of time during the day. As long as you’re doing your activity at a moderate or vigorous effort for at least 10 minutes at a time,” says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends “a 10-minute brisk walk, 3 times a day, 5 days a week. This will give you a total of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity.”
Navratilova says that when she was in her 20s, she worked out six hours a day and could do 70-pound triceps presses. No more. “Daily exercise? I don’t do anything daily except eat and sleep,” she jokes. “But I do think if you can do functional fitness [exercises designed to help someone better handle daily tasks] for an hour a day, that is great,” she says. But for aging bodies, she adds, don’t overdo it. “Be nice to yourself and listen to your body.”
Navratilova says she recently began running again after a hiatus. “Nothing feels better than when you can run,” she says. “But every day? Absolutely not. It’s hard on your joints.”
Now living in Miami, she mixes it up by adding bicycling and paddleboarding to her running and tennis cardio regimen.
The trainer
Mike Fantigrassi, a trainer at the National Academy of Sport Medicine in Chandler, Ariz., says he makes balance and flexibility exercises a regular part of sessions with clients, but it’s different for younger and older people.
“If we have 60 minutes, we would do about five minutes of flexibility for someone in their 20s or 30s,” he says. “For someone 65 or older, we might do up to 15 minutes of flexibility.” It’s not that the 20- or 30-year old should go completely without stretching (particularly of the postural muscles — chest, core, neck and shoulders — that get tight from sitting at a desk all day) or working on balance, he says. But younger bodies, generally speaking, are naturally looser than older ones and have not been subjected to as much wear and tear.
So when a 20-year-old reaches down to pick something up off the floor, he probably won’t notice anything, but a 60-year-old may feel a tight hamstring. “But even a teenager who never does any flexibility work might get reduced joint flexibility eventually,” he adds.
Fantigrassi, who is 40, adds that the ability to generate muscle power suffers as we age, but we can slow the process down with such exercises as jumps — from foot to foot, or up and down from a bench or box. Eventually you’re going to lose your basketball jump shot, but you can keep it alive longer by training the leg muscles that generate power.
The researcher
Miller, 45, says that while building stronger muscles is protective for older people, strength training is important for everyone.
People begin to lose muscle mass and strength in their 30s, which slows metabolism. WebMD.com says that “each extra pound of muscle you carry can burn up to 50 additional calories [per day] just to maintain itself — and with no effort on your part.” Others, however, suggest that the muscle effect is probably much smaller.
Lifting weights can counteract muscle loss. Of course, you still may not be able to lift as much weight in your 60s as you could in your 20s, but you can slow muscle loss, which otherwise can decline by 5 percent per decade after age 30.
“The only difference between 20 and 60 is that you might be lifting less weight at 60. But the exercises themselves shouldn’t change unless you have an injury, but that isn’t age related,” says Miller.
Strength training will also improve bone density, says Miller, who advocates the type of strength exercises where the feet are planted on the floor and generate force into the spine. It could be a regular squat. It could be a squat with dumbbells in your hands, resting on your shoulders. It could be one of those squat machines with padding on top of the shoulders.
Given that most Americans gain roughly a pound per year starting in their 20s, it’s important at all ages to have cardio workouts in your week.
“If running feels good, then run,” Miller says. Just make sure it feels okay in your joints, whether you’re 20 or 60. “For me, it hurts, so I don’t do it.” In such cases, a treadmill or bike may be a better bet, he says. Whatever you choose, the point is to get regular exercise no matter what age you are.

300 Pound Complexes For Max Strength

by Wil Fleming – 6/18/2013

Here's what you need to know...

• Max strength makes everything better, from hypertrophy to fat loss.

• Really heavy, strength-based complexes will challenge your work capacity and your manhood.

• The bar must be in your hands for at least 15 seconds to stimulate muscle growth.

• A 300-pound complex, not to mention a 408-pound complex, is jaw dropping (see the videos below).

---

When you hear the word "complex," you immediately think of some gut-busting combination of movements performed for high reps.
I don't blame you for making this association. Certainly doing 10 reps of deadlifts, cleans, Romanian deadlifts, and push-presses in a row can leave a lasting feel-good impression on even the most battle-weathered lifter's psyche.
High-rep complexes have their place, like when you want to test your will or see exactly what your gas tank holds. However, this isn't about any of that.
This is about heavy-ass, 300-pound complexes. Complexes that make you freaking strong.

Max Strength is King

I train a lot of athletes. Conditioning is important, but strength is their highest priority – because max strength makes everything better.
To paraphrase Dan John, your abilities are buckets, but your max-strength bucket makes all the other buckets easier to fill. And strength complexes make your max-strength bucket grow from a watering can to a wheelbarrow!
Get more max strength and everything else becomes easier. When you're stronger you can do more reps at a higher weight, you can condition harder, and you can even get shredded faster because more max strength lets you push yourself harder.
That said, strength complexes aren't the easy alternative to the soul-sucking, endurance-based complexes you're used to. They're tough. They'll challenge your work capacity, and typically there'll be one movement (or more) in the mix that makes you question your abilities and maybe even your manhood.

Strength Complexes for Max Strength

First, some points to remember. Strength complexes are low-rep, high-weight parings of movements performed without letting the bar leave your hand.
When using them with the Olympic lifts, start with one of the main lifts (the snatch or clean) and then add other primary movements to the pot.
It's important to pair movements that increase the time under tension (TUT), a concept generally reserved for hypertrophy. In our case, TUT ostensibly means that once the bar is in your hands it shouldn't hit the ground again until the complex is over or you miss a lift.
So if you were to do multiple deadlifts in a strength complex, you should try to do "touch and go" deadlifts as opposed to completely resetting the bar.
But while TUT is an important concept, it isn't normally applied to Olympic lifts because you're dealing with big complex movements and not simple eccentric and concentric muscular action.
To that end, your aim is to keep the bar in your hands for 15 seconds or more to stimulate strength and muscle growth, a concept I borrowed from the king of American weightlifting, Glenn Pendlay, who inspired these complexes.
Pendlay told me, "With strength complexes, we want to take a movement that normally takes 2 seconds or less (the Olympic lifts) and extend its length to the limits of our abilities, while also challenging our max strength levels."

Rules of a Strength Complex:

• 2-4 movements
• 1-2 repetitions per exercises
• 5-7 reps total in the complex
• 15-20 seconds total time with the bar in hand

Most importantly, don't choose sets and reps or even percentages ahead of time – with strength complexes, choose a starting weight and work up until you find a weight that you can no longer complete.

Heavy Snatch Complex

This complex consists of a deadlift, a snatch from below the knee, two overhead squats, and finally a snatch balance. This complex targets everyone's weakest points in the snatch:

• The move from the floor
• The move around the knee
• Overhead position

Use this complex to attack your weaknesses and build massive strength on top of that goal.
In the video below I'm completing this complex with 220 pounds (about double what I normally use for a typical complex).

300-Pound Clean Complex

I got this complex from Pendlay, who prescribes it early in a training cycle to improve strength and promote hypertrophy.
In the variation in the video below I do:

• 1 Clean Deadlift
• 1 Hang Clean from below the knee
• 2 Front Squats
• 1 Jerk

The concept here is to:

• Make the jerk really hard because your legs are extremely fatigued.
• Keep the bar in your hands a long time.

My 300-pound complex was my limit – exactly where you should aim to put your strength complexes. If you're a strong-ass mofo, this is the time to really get after it!

Even-Heavier Clean Complex

A favorite lifter of Coach Pendlay's, Donny Shankle, does a "Shankle" complex of:

• 1 Deadlift
• 3 Hang pulls from hip
• 1 Hang Clean
• 2 Jerks (he misses one in the video but makes it in others)

The following video is one of the more impressive things I've ever seen in American weightlifting. Get ready for it – Shankle does this complex with 408 pounds!

How to Use Strength Complexes

So why the different movements for Donny Shankle and me?
It comes down to specific needs. My front squat sucks so I choose exercises to help address it.
You should do the same. If you have trouble pulling the bar, then add more pulls; if you have trouble getting in the right position overhead, then use a snatch balance or an extra jerk.
This way you attack your weak points while maintaining your strengths, which is the hallmark of sound strength programming.

Slap on Some Plates

There's something to be said for high-rep, puke-in-your-shoes type of complexes – there aren't many things you can do in the gym that test your testicular fortitude more.
But don't be scared to slap on some plates and start throwing around some real weight. Your efforts will be rewarded with radical gains in size and strength!

Dr. Oz on the Real Threat to The Sopranos

Dr. Oz on the Real Threat to The Sopranos

James Gandolfini's death is a reminder that everyone is vulnerable to heart disease



When I heard of actor James Gandolfini‘s untimely passing after a heart attack, I was reminded of a recurring theme in the television series he made so memorable. His tough mafia don character valued family above all, but was incessantly anxious about his ability to protect them and keep them well. Tony Soprano did keep his family safe—in his decidedly unconventional fashion. And Gandolfini, a husband and a father of two, looked after his own as well — until he left them altogether, claimed by a heart attack at just 51.

When it comes to our health, we are all like the much-missed Gandolfini. We will do anything for the people closest to us — anything, that is, except take the steps we need to maintain our health and allow us to spend as many years as possible loving and playing with the people we treasure most.

If even tough guys like Tony Soprano need to get checked out, the rest of us do too — whether we think we’re in good shape or not, and whether we’ve ever had chest pains or not, since plenty of people are pain free until the very moment their heart gives in. Some have argued that Gandolfini’s past substance abuse contributed to his premature death. Perhaps it did. But we shouldn’t ignore the more obvious risk factor: at just over six feet tall and around 272 lbs. (123 kg), he was an outsized personality in a dangerously outsized body. In a country that is simultaneously obsessed with bodily perfection, even as two-thirds of us are overweight or obese, weight has become an exceedingly fraught topic, and in the first hours after Gandolfini’s death, some commentators sought to sidestep the topic, wondering how a vigorous man with no known health complaints could have suddenly succumbed. But if we saw an anorexic teenager we wouldn’t pretend she wasn’t heading for serious health trouble, so why should we be so coy at the other end of the weight spectrum?

A key role in anyone’s weight gain may be stress—something that can be a defining feature of a celebrity’s day. Stress hormones such as cortisol can hijack our normal appetite sensors, pushing us to eat even when we are not hungry. This is particularly dangerous when the excess fat that results from overeating is belly fat, which squeezes the kidneys. Since it’s the kidneys that, in turn, regulate blood pressure, it’s no surprise that overweight people are at such high risk of hypertension, the leading cause of heart attack and stroke. Belly fat also harms the liver, prompting it to release more cholesterol. In many people, those changes can block the ability of insulin to break down blood sugar, contributing to diabetes, which wears away at our major arteries and leads to atherosclerosis, a condition often discovered after lethal heart attacks. Half of all victims die during their first heart attack because they do not know their risk factors or do not recognize the subtle warning signs that make their hearts vulnerable.

This awareness can be a life saver, and two of Gandolfini’s own Sopranos cast mates are living proof. Vincent Pastore and Frank Vincent both had heart artery blockages that resembled the type that may have killed Gandolfino. They both noted increasing shortness of breath, and although they did not realize at the time they were at risk of heart disease, they were brave and wise enough to seek help for their symptoms; each had life-saving surgery at my center during the run of The Sopranos. Shortness of breath is a telltale sign of cardiovascular trouble, since it results when the heart cannot even pump the blood out of the lungs, essentially meaning we are drowning from lack of oxygen. But most of us ignore this symptom and many people have no symptoms at all—until it’s too late. And that is why we suffer the loss of so many wonderful people like James Gandolfini.

It wasn’t easy for Pastore and Vincent to shed their afraid-of-nothing mobster characters and visit the doctor. In fact, when Pastore first met my colleague Michael Argenziano, he introduced himself by his Soprano’s nick name of “Big Pussy.” Dr. Argenziano had never seen the show and was caught off guard. Don’t worry, he assured him, we’re all afraid in situations like these. But showing up for treatment in the first place was a profound act of courage—courage that is fortified by our deep desire to protect our families.

Pastore and Vincent both agreed to speak openly about their cases because they hope their stories will serve as an important example. For those willing to follow it, here is my gauntlet for the brave:

First, if your belly looks like James Gandolfini’s, you need a check up. I am specifically asking you to measure your waist size at the belly button and honestly report if this number is more than half your height. Forget using your current belt size as a tool, since most men slip it below the belly fat pad.

Second, ensure that your baseline risk factors like hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol are under control. These are often corrected with lifestyle alone.

Third, shortness of breath from walking up two flights of stairs or any sudden change at all in your breath or stamina is worrisome. Think of it as the equivalent of having chest pain.

Fourth, what have you eaten in the last 24 hours? Fatty and fried foods cause spasms in blood vessels, which limits blood flow for six hours, at which point we often have another fatty meal. Most heart attacks occur on Monday mornings because of our dietary transgressions over the weekend and the stress of the upcoming work week. What you eat and do today will effect the chance of a heart attack tomorrow.

We’ll never know what wonderful work James Gandolfini would have done if he had had a full measure of years. We’ll never know either the things he would have taught his young daughter, who will have her first birthday in October. We do know the steps that might have helped him live to have all those experiences, and they’re the same things that can help protect us—and our families—too.

Turmeric produces mind-blowing recovery from dementia symptoms, multiple case studies show

by Jonathan Benson, staff writer 

(NaturalNews) If you or a loved one suffers from Alzheimer's Disease or some other form of dementia, there is hope and healing to be found in turmeric. Based on the recent findings of three independent case studies, turmeric, whose primary active ingredient is curcumin, has the power not only to heal both the behavior and psychological symptoms associated with dementia, but also help lead to full recovery of the disease in as little as just a few months.

A traditional cooking spice that has been used copiously throughout India and Southeast Asia for many millennia, turmeric has been the subject of myriad scientific studies in recent years. The circulatory, digestive, and neurological systems of the body, it turns out, are all positively impacted by turmeric, and the seemingly never-ending list of diseases for which the spice is known to provide healing is continually expanding all the time.

This is definitely the case with regards to turmeric's impact on cognitive health, as evidenced by new research out of Japan. The chief physician at Kariya Toyota General Hospital in Kariya City and his colleagues evaluated three separate case studies involving turmeric and came to some fascinating conclusions about the herb's therapeutic value. In each case, turmeric was shown to both relieve dementia symptoms and improve overall cognitive function.

"In a study involving three patients with Alzheimer's Disease, whose cognitive decline and Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia were severe, exhibiting irritability, agitation, anxiety, and apathy, supplementation with turmeric powder capsules for over one year was found to be associated with improvement in symptoms," wrote the authors of the study in their summary.

"Total score on the Neuro-Psychiatric Inventory-brief questionnaire decreased significantly in both acuity of symptoms and burden of caregivers after 12 weeks of treatment," they added. "Score on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) went up five points (from 12/30 to 17/30) in one of the cases, and the other two cases were able to recognize their family within one year of treatment."

Consuming a little as one gram of turmeric daily for three months can lead to 'remarkable improvements'

So while the conventional disease industry continues to waste billions of dollars searching for a pharmaceutical-based silver bullet "cure" for dementia, a simple, inexpensive cooking spice made from a plant is already getting the job done. Taking as little as one gram, or roughly one-quarter of a teaspoon, of turmeric powder or extract daily, it turns out, is enough to produce mind-blowing improvements in dementia symptoms.

Earlier research published in the journal Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology back in 2008 corroborates this fact, having found that turmeric's natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying mechanisms help improve memory in patients with dementia. Simply consuming more of this flavorful spice as part of one's normal diet, in other words, has the potential to completely transform brain health and alleviate even the worst dementia symptoms.

"Curcumin as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipophilic action improves the cognitive functions in patients with AD (Alzheimer's Disease)," wrote the authors of this earlier study in their Abstract. "Due to various effects of curcumin, such as decreased Beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and decreased microglia formation, the overall memory in patients with AD has improved."

You can read this full paper here:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781139/

Sources for this article include:

http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/40704

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781139/

Why walnuts are the ultimate brain food

by Nanditha

(NaturalNews) The local pharmacy is promoting memory and mood-enhancing drugs. The advertisement says "if coffee is a socially acceptable drug, then why not this?" This is the age of instant gratification with a huge debate in tow about the ethics of peddling and consuming drugs for just about anything and everything.

The easy way out, as we well know, is never the best way out. The instant solution to anything is somewhat dubious in the face of ancient, grandmotherly wisdom especially for body, mind and soul.

Enter walnuts

Walnuts are the same shape as the human brain. So what's new here? Considered the ultimate superfood, walnuts are now being served up as brain medicine for many reasons, not the least of which is because they are replete with omega-3 fatty acids, an essential fatty acid to keep the brain functioning normally.
Research says that low omega-3 intake can be linked to depression and cognitive degeneration. Eating a fistful of walnuts regularly then can keep the spirits up and prop up the grey cells for good measure. What is more, walnuts are known to raise melatonin levels by a whopping three times, promising relief from sleeplessness and insomnia. So if you're tired of counting sheep at night and would appreciate a knock-out sleep instead, then consider ingesting a few walnuts as a pre-bedtime snack.

What is more, the walnut is considered a potion of sorts for the heart - it reduces cholesterol and enhances heart health. This nut is a powerhouse of nutrients - manganese, copper, iron, calcium, phosphorus - the stuff of a good, healthy, happy body. Walnuts contain more antioxidants, folic acid and vitamin E than any other nut, and specifically black walnuts have the highest content (among nuts) of an amino acid called argenine which is essential for cell division and protein synthesis.

If you are struggling to win the battle of the bulge, then turn to this ubiquitous nut for help. Walnuts are full of healthy lean protein, polyunsaturated fats, and are a powerhouse of polyphenols. Walnuts are easy to incorporate into the daily diet. If eating an ounce of nuts a day is not your thing, however, then throw them in your oats, salads, pasta and rice dishes or discover and share new wholesome ways of eating this delicious nut.

It is reasonable to assume that a healthy diet is medicine for the body and soul - your ticket to health heaven, all things considered, in your own hands.

The term food pharmacy is actually a reference to a real thing - the well endowed kitchen pantry that has healing foods as a matter of course, with answers to many an ailment, not just the common cold. So if you are not a serious snacker, better become one and give the medicine corporations a run for their money.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.prevention.com

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Change your life with these top superfoods

by Carolanne Wright 

(NaturalNews) Let's face it. When we are feeling run down, muddled, overweight or unwell, it's difficult to achieve our goals or live life to the fullest. Traditionally, Asian cultures believe nutrient dense food is one of the most powerful allies for attracting positive experiences into our lives. Whether concerning prosperity or solid relationships, joy or success - a healthy body and mind are key. Below are eight edibles that can help transform your life for the better.

Stunning superfoods

Camu camu

The best source of vitamin C on the planet, camu camu is a spectacular, health promoting superfood. Daily use of the berry will keep the immune system strong, improve eyesight, maintain ligaments, tendons and collagen while reducing inflammation. It also protects the skin from aging and supports brain as well as liver function.

Maqui

Containing 300 percent more anthocyanins and 150 percent more polyphenols than any other food or drink known to man, maqui berry is one of the most stunning foods you can enjoy. Cancer, inflammation, diabetes, fevers and diarrhea are curbed by the berry. Maqui also encourages a healthy heart, high energy levels and weight loss. It helps to minimize the effects of aging and promotes a radiant complexion too.

Fatty fish

Cold water fish like sardines and Alaskan salmon support a stable and clear mind - vital for living our dreams, productivity and making sound decisions. Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, consuming fish balances our mental states and can help with depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. These nutritious oils are also a boon for heart health.

Coconut

Long shunned as a high fat, health harming food, coconut has risen above the misinformation and has achieved its rightful place as a superfood. Coconut water is an excellent source of electrolytes which support energy and hydration. And blood sugar levels stay balanced and the digestive system is kept humming with the high fiber meat. Teeming with lauric acid, coconut oil fosters balanced thyroid function, weight loss and energy.

Graviola

Used in traditional medicine around the world, graviola trees are found in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. Extracts taken from the leaves, twigs and bark have demonstrated many exciting properties in lab tests - one of the most dramatic findings involved the reduction of pancreatic and breast cancer tumors. Inflammation, parasites, bacteria and viruses were also curtailed. Graviola fruit is classically known to calm the nerves, lower blood pressure and soothe depression. A word of caution: Excessive consumption is neurotoxic and can trigger similar symptoms to Parkinson's disease.

Cacao

Raw, organic cacao is one of the finest feel good, energy enhancing, heart health boosting foods you can add to the diet. Bursting with antioxidants, magnesium, iron, zinc and chromium, this nutrient dense and delicious superfood defeats anemia, hypoglycemia and poor immune response. Theobromine and phenethylamine (PEA) substantially lift mood, energy and libido.

Goji berries

Packing a number of amazing nutrients like amino acids, human growth hormone (HGH), polysaccharides, vitamins and minerals, goji berries are a powerhouse of nutrition. The fruit improves eyesight, shields the liver and heart, slows aging and reduces free radical load - effectively reducing the chance of degenerative diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.

Chia seed

Known as "running food," ancient Aztec warriors recognized the incredible benefits of this remarkable seed. Packed with protein, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, chia supports digestion, cardiovascular health, detoxification, endurance and vitality. It also provides a nice boost of sustainable energy as well.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.naturalnews.com/037543_maqui_berry_cancer_heart_health.html

http://www.eatingwell.com

http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/graviola

http://www.chinese-herbs.org/graviola/graviola-health-benefits.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/036559_chia_seeds_Aztec_foods.html

http://www.beliefnet.com

Top ten healthy reasons to eat chocolate

by Carolanne Wright 

(NaturalNews) Good news for all you chocolate lovers out there, new research has found this divine food has even more health boosting advantages than previously recognized. Not only does it enhance both cardiovascular and mental well-being, but it also lowers body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance. However, before consuming chocolate with wild abandon, it's important to discern between the different varieties - and choose only superfood grades for ultimate benefit.

Food of the gods (and mere mortals too)

Relished for over 3,000 years, chocolate (also known as cacao in its purest form) has been used as a potent tonic, aphrodisiac and mighty food across cultures and continents. The ancient Aztecs raised cacao worship to new levels, reserving it for royalty and specific ceremonies. Europeans stumbled upon the delights of this strange 'almond' while exploring the New World and quickly adopted it as a remedy for fevers, mental fatigue, tuberculosis, poor digestion and gout. Fast forward to the present day and modern research has uncovered still more health enhancing features of this magical bean.

Live your bliss with chocolate

Containing a cornucopia of beneficial compounds, cacao has been shown to alleviate a wide-range of health complaints. But to reap the benefits, only high quality chocolate will do. Focus on raw, organic, dark cacao. And remember, the higher the percentage of chocolate, the lower the sugar. Below are some of the perks associated with this tasty superfood.

Cardiovascular - Of all the known edibles, cacao ranks the highest in beneficial antioxidant polyphenols that curb heart disease. A study at the University of California Department of Nutrition in Davis demonstrated the superior properties of a cacao rich beverage on platelet aggregation, thereby curbing heart harming blood clots. Even moderate consumption of cacao can reduce stroke risk and blood pressure while lowering cholesterol.

Brain - A wealth of mood-modifying elements, cacao has a positive effect on the mind. Theobromine, phenethylamine (PEA) and anandamide present within chocolate stimulate the central nervous system while promoting positive, clear, and some claim, blissful mental states. Cacao also encourages production of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin which soothes depression, anxiety and irritability.

Diabetes prevention - A small Italian study at the University of L'Aquilia discovered that participants who consumed the equivalent of a candy bar's worth of dark chocolate over the course of 15 days reduced insulin resistance by almost half. According to lead researcher Claudio Ferri, M.D., "Flavonoids increase nitric oxide production. And that helps control insulin sensitivity."

Stress reduction - As reported in Women's Health Magazine, "Swiss scientists (who else?) found that when very anxious people ate an ounce and a half of dark chocolate every day for two weeks, their stress hormone levels were significantly reduced and the metabolic effects of stress were partially mitigated."

Sun protection - Rich in skin protecting flavonols, dark chocolate is a smart choice. British researchers discovered that participants who consumed nutrient dense cacao over the span of three months had significant reduction in the speed of developing sunburns.

Lower BMI - Research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed that out of 1,000 Californians between the ages of 20 and 85, those who consumed chocolate on a regular basis had lower body mass index ratings. Dr. David Katz of Yale University remarks in the Huffington Post, "antioxidants might play a role in reducing inflammation, and that dark chocolate in particular might help balance the hormones that facilitate weight control."

Looking for more benefits? Cacao also boosts cognitive ability, reduces tooth decay, calms coughs and improves vision.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.medicinehunter.com/cocoa-health-miracle

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.naturalnews.com/030603_cacao_medicine.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/benefits-of-chocolate?page=9

http://www.fitday.com

https://lovingearth.net/growers/4/royal-criollo-cacao-xoconusco

http://www.healthdiaries.com

Guys: raise your testosterone levels naturally by eating more pumpkin seeds

by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer 

(NaturalNews) The male species has it tough these days. Our collective hormone balance is constantly being assaulted by things like toxic outgassing from plastics, chemical contamination of food, estrogenic compounds in soy and other food additives, lack of proper nutrition, and a host of other negative factors, all of which have contributed to an epidemic of low testosterone. But if you are a man trying to preserve your masculinity in this hostile modern environment, adding pumpkin seeds to your diet is a great way to help raise your testosterone levels naturally.

Rich in vitamins E, C, D, K, and B, pumpkin seeds are a powerhouse of nutrition capable of supplying men with high doses of the substances they need to maintain optimal health. Pumpkin seeds are also loaded with calcium, potassium, copper, niacin, phosphorus, manganese, iron, and zinc, the latter of which is absolutely vital for healthy sperm production. Zinc is also crucial for healthy prostate maintenance, a lack of which can lead to an enlarged prostate and impotence.

Specifically, the zinc content in pumpkin seeds helps prevent the body from converting too much testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by aiding in the production of more testosterone. Though DHT is necessary at appropriate levels for good health, a lack of regular testosterone, which is often preempted by a lack of proper zinc intake, can lead to too much DHT being produced. The result is premature balding and an enlarged prostate, which can potentially lead to prostate cancer later in life.

Beyond this, pumpkin seeds are rich in both omega-3 fatty acids and tryptophan. The former is a precursor to prostaglandins, a hormone-like substance that plays a key role not only in sexual health but also in sexual desire. And tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood and promotes feelings of calm and relaxation, both of which are necessary for maintaining a healthy sex drive.

"They're rich in zinc, magnesium, and healthy fat, making them one of the best foods to naturally boost testosterone," explains Matt Moore on his blog The Art of Manliness. "Preparing, roasting, and eating them is also a simple and fun activity enjoyed by couples and families alike," he adds.

For pumpkin seed recipe and preparation ideas, visit:
http://www.artofmanliness.com

Pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed oil beneficial in virtually all areas of health

As far as their many other health benefits, pumpkin seeds have been shown scientifically to help improve bladder function, prevent the formation of kidney stones, protect cardiovascular health, guard against liver disease, detoxify the body and blood, relieve arthritis, target harmful parasites in the gut, relieve anxiety, and promote restful sleep.

The Life Extension Foundation (LEF) published a thoroughly informative piece on pumpkin seeds back in 2012 where you can learn more about this incredible "superfood:" http://www.lef.org

"With a remarkable assortment of health-enhancing nutrients, from magnesium, protein, niacin, and zinc, to its high concentration of tryptophan and essential fatty acids, pumpkin seeds provide a powerful health punch that offers protection against common health problems including cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis," writes William Gamonski for LEF. "It also provides powerful relief for people suffering from bladder dysfunction, anxiety, and arthritis."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.lef.org

http://www.naturalnews.com/023828_pumpkin_seeds_zinc.html

http://www.artofmanliness.com

Vitamin C can kill every virus known to mankind

by Jonathan Landsman 

(NaturalNews) If you suffer from fatigue, muscle weakness, achy joints and muscles, bleeding gums or leg rashes - you could be vitamin C deficient. Everything from the common cold to cancer can't resist the healing power of vitamin C. In fact, there is not a known virus that can survive in the presence of this essential antioxidant.

If you would like to learn more about the health benefits of vitamin C; the best way to consume vitamin C supplements for disease prevention plus much more - don't miss the next NaturalNews Talk Hour with Jonathan Landsman and Dr. Thomas Levy.

Visit: http://www.naturalhealth365.com and enter your email address for show details + a FREE gift!

How does vitamin C help to kill unwanted viruses and prevent disease?

Vitamin C expert, Dr. Thomas Levy says, "vitamin C is referred to as an antioxidant that donates or gives up its electrons. On the other hand, a toxin, infection or anything that causes a medical symptom in the body is a result of oxidative stress or due to a lack of electrons." So, it's really quite simple, if our body lacks enough electrons - we will get sick.

This is the easiest way to understand why a healthy diet - rich in fruits and vegetables (loaded with vitamin C) - does help us to literally prevent disease. Eating enough vitamin C, antioxidant-rich foods make it virtually impossible for our body to experience cellular inflammation. And, remember, inflammation is an essential component to just about every chronic, degenerative disease - including cancer.

Vitamin C has been shown to help detoxify lead, kill cancer cells plus much more

According to the work of Linus Pauling and the Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin C therapy has been shown to prevent, even reverse serious health condition, like cancer. Generally speaking, the Linus Pauling Institute recommends that healthy men and women eat "at least five servings (2? cups) of fruits and vegetables daily" - which provides about 200 mg of vitamin C. Obviously, if you suffer from any chronic disease, greater amounts may be required and not just orally.

Research has shown that as little as 10 mg of vitamin C per day can eliminate the threat of scurvy. Naturally, diseases like cancer and heart disease require much larger quantities. But, the main point is that health problems like, cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, gout, high blood pressure and stroke can all be treated with vitamin C therapy.

If you would like to learn more about the health benefits of vitamin C; the best way to consume vitamin C supplements for disease prevention plus much more - don't miss the next NaturalNews Talk Hour with Jonathan Landsman and Dr. Thomas Levy.

Visit: http://www.naturalhealth365.com and enter your email address for show details + a FREE gift!

This week's guest: Thomas Levy, M.D., J.D., internationally recognized vitamin C expert

Discover little known truths about the use of vitamin C to kill viruses plus much more - Sun. June 16

Dr. Thomas E. Levy is a board certified cardiologist and has written six books on health-related issues. Most of his work has centered on how to restore and maintain good health in the face of the many different forms of toxicity that all of us face, typically on a daily basis. He no longer has a clinical practice of medicine and cardiology. Rather, he limits himself to research and writing at this time, and he is currently working on his seventh book, Death by Calcium: The Supplement that Kills.

Most of his work over the last ten years has centered on the importance of maintaining a healthy antioxidant status in the body. His work currently is focusing on the importance of liposomal technology as a way to optimally deliver vitamin C, glutathione, and other nutrients into the body orally, appearing to even surpass the bioavailability seen with the intravenous administration of these antioxidants.

If you would like to learn more about the health benefits of vitamin C; the best way to consume vitamin C supplements for disease prevention plus much more - don't miss the next NaturalNews Talk Hour with Jonathan Landsman and Dr. Thomas Levy.

Visit: http://www.naturalhealth365.com and enter your email address for show details + a FREE gift!

Turmeric Extract Puts Drugs For Knee Osteoarthritis To Shame

Written By: 

Sayer Ji, Founder

Millions take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) daily for arthritis and related inflammatory conditions, but are completely unaware that far safer, and at least as effective, natural alternatives already exist -- and are as easily accessible and inexpensive as the spices found in your kitchen cupboard.
Human research on the health benefits of turmeric is sparse, mainly due to the lack of capital available to fund expensive clinical trials.[i] Despite many decades of investigation as a lead drug compound, and the availability of thousands of preclinical studies indicating turmeric's therapeutic value, few yet realize that this common kitchen spice may provide a suitable drug alternative for common health conditions.
The latest human study to clinically confirm turmeric's medicinal value was published in the Indonesian Journal of Internal Medicine in April, 2012 and found the curcuminoid extract of turmeric was able to reduce inflammation in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.
Researchers compared the effect of a curcuminoid extract to the NSAID drug diclofenac sodium in reducing cycloxygenase -2  (COX-2) secretion by synovial fluid's monocytes in two, randomly divided, groups suffering with knee osteoarthritis.
The synovial fluid is an egg yolk-like liquid within the cavities of the synovial joints, which serves to reduce friction between articular cartilage during movement.  In knee osteoarthritis, a condition that afflicts 1 in 2 people by the age of 85 years, the immune cells known as monocytes express increased inflammatory COX-2 enzyme activity within the synovial fluid.
In the study, subjects were given either 30 mg 3 times daily of turmeric extract (curcuminoid) or 25 mg 3 times daily of diclofenac sodium for 4 weeks. After the treatment period, aspiration of the joint as performed and the secretion of cycloxygenase-2 enzyme by synovial fluid's monocytes was evaluated.
Results were reported as follows:

In curcuminoid group the average scores were 1.84±0.37 and 1.15±0.28 respectively (p<0.001). In diclofenac group the average scores were 1.79±0.38 and 1.12±0.27 respectively (p<0.001). In curcuminoid group the decreasing score of cycloxygenase-2 secretion was 0.70±0.51 while in diclofenac group was 0.67±0.45. There was no significant difference in decreasing the score of cycloxygenase enzyme secretion between both treatment groups (p=0.89).

In summary, both curcuminoid and diclofenac sodium were capable of significantly decreasing the secretion of the inflammatory COX-2 enzyme, with nearly identical potency.

Discussion

This is not the first human study to confirm turmeric is at least as effective as an NSAID drug in reducing the symptoms associated with knee osteoarthritis. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found 2,000 mg of turmeric extract was as effective as 800 mg of ibuprofen in reducing symptoms of pain and inflammation.[ii]
What is most remarkable about the more recent study is not that turmeric curcuminoids have potent anti-inflammatory properties – there are already hundreds of studies confirming its COX-2 reducingand otherwise anti-inflammary effects -- but rather how much safer they are relative to NSAID drugs like diclofenac, which like most pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs have been linked to adverse health effects such as increased cardiac mortality, miscarriage and seizure.
One way to assess the relative toxicity of these two compounds is to compare the primary polyphenol in turmeric, curcumin, with diclofenac sodium through their respective Material Safety Data Sheets, which contain detailed information on the toxicity of these substances.

Diclofenac Sodium: The LD50 for mice is 95 mg/kg, meaning that it only takes 95 mg/kg of mouse to acutely kill 50% of an exposed group.  

Curcumin: The LD50 for mice is >2,000 mg/kg, meaning that it would take more than2,000  mg/kg of mouse to acutely kill 50% of an exposed group.  

In order to get perspective on how toxic an LD50 of 95 mg/kg is, let's first calculate how much of this chemical it would take in milligrams to kill an average sized mouse. Mice are between 15-27 grams, depending on their age, strain and diet. If we take the average between the two, at 21 grams, our mouse would weigh 0.021 kilograms. This means that it only takes 1.9 milligrams to acutely kill 50% of the mice given such a dose.
Extrapolating to humans, an average 150 lb adult weighs 68.03 kilograms, it would only take 6462 milligrams, or 6.46 grams to kill 50% of the humans given the dose. This is less than the weight of three pennies (7.5 grams).  Compare this to the LD50 of curcumin (2,000 mg/kg), where it would take more than 136,000 mgs (4.86 ounces) to kill 50% of the humans given it – and even this estimation is doubtful, since it is likely that it would simply be vomited up, or expelled through the gastrointestinal tract, and other organs of elimination, before reaching lethal levels in the body.  Also, remember that it only took 90 mg a day in the aforementioned study to reduce inflammation as effectively as diclofenac sodium.  The difference between the 90 mg required to produce an effective response, and a (theoretical) 136,000 mg threshold for lethal toxicity, is four orders of magnitude.
In practical terms, the chance of you hurting yourself with a drug like diclofenac sodium -- ironically, in an attempt to reduce pain -- as compared to a simple kitchen spice like turmeric, is infinitely higher. Consider too, that there are over 100 known adverse health effects associated with this chemical class of drugs, whereas turmeric (and curcumin) has been linked to over 600 beneficial ones -- not exactly a hard choice to make, when it comes to risk-benefit analysis.
For additional research on natural alternatives to common NSAID drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen, read the following articles:
Is There A Natural Alternative To Aspirin?
Ibuprofen Kills More Than Pain, So What Is The Alternative?

---

Resources

• [i] GreenMedInfo.com, Why The Law Forbids The Medicinal Use of Natural Substances Feb. 26^th, 2012

• [ii] Vilai Kuptniratsaikul, Sunee Thanakhumtorn, Pornsiri Chinswangwatanakul, Luksamee Wattanamongkonsil, Visanu Thamlikitkul. Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Int J Mol Med. 2010 May;25(5):729-34. PMID: 19678780