The £1 spice in your favourite curry that ‘slashes your risk of killer bowel cancer'
EVERY 12 minutes, someone in the UK gets the news they have bowel cancer.
And with cases rising, especially in younger adults, trying to prevent the disease is more important than ever.
But what if the secret to slashing your risk didn't lie in a new drug or fancy health food - but right there in your spice rack?
Scientists from the UK have discovered that curcumin, the bright yellow ingredient in turmeric, commonly used in curries, could help stop bowel cancer in its tracks.
The spice, which costs as little as £1 in some supermarkets, has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.
And modern science has now begun to explore its potential benefits.
It is not currently recommended by doctors to treat any health issues.
But new research published in Cancer Letters this month supports earlier findings, that this spice could be a promising, low-risk way to help prevent cancer.
The team from the University of Leicester studied tumour samples from 66 bowel cancer patients who agreed to donate their tissue.
They exposed these cells to tiny amounts of curcumin over four weeks, mimicking long-term exposure through diet.
They discovered that the compound suppressed aggressive, stem-like cancer cells by up to 95 per cent, particularly those found in pre-cancerous growths called adenomas.
New Deborah James cancer lab
In separate lab tests and studies on mice with cancer, scientists observed that curcumin slowed tumour growth and extended the animals' lifespan.
They discovered curcumin works by attaching to and blocking a protein called NANOG, which plays a key role in helping cancer stem cells spread and multiply.
To match this dose in humans, you'd need around 1.6 to 2 grams of curcumin daily - the equivalent of about two teaspoons of turmeric powder.
That's far more than you'd get from cooking alone so would likely need a supplement.
This isn't the first time curcumin has shown potential.
Previous research from Temple University in Philadelphia found curcumin's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects could help halt the development of several cancers, including breast, lung, and stomach.
While these findings are promising, experts stress that more human trials are needed to determine the exact dose and long-term benefits of curcumin supplements for bowel cancer prevention.
"There is some evidence that curcumin, a substance in turmeric, can kill cancer cells in certain cancers," Cancer Research UK says on their website.
"At the moment there is no clear evidence in humans to show that turmeric or curcumin can prevent or treat cancer," it added. "Larger studies are needed".
Bowel cancer is one of the UK's most common cancers, with around 44,000 people diagnosed each year - around one person every 12 minutes - and 17,000 deaths.
Rates of the disease are rising among younger adults, with no clear reason why, experts are warning.
Although the disease still affects older people far more often, the increase in many countries among the under-50s is concerning, the cancer charity says.
England is one the countries with the biggest rise, averaging a 3.6 per cent increase per year, researchers report in the journal Lancet Oncology,
Poor diet and obesity may be among the risk factors involved, the researchers say.
Eating too much processed meat and not enough fibre can increase the risk.
Early symptoms include changes in bowel habits, blood in your poo, weight loss, and stomach pain or lumps.
Cancer Research UK says half of cases could be prevented through healthier lifestyle choices.
2
Other foods that could lower your risk of bowel cancer
SO tumeric might have protective benefits, but what else can you try?
Charities like Bowel Cancer UK and Cancer Research UK recommend the following:
Eat at least five portions of vegetables and fruit every day
Choose wholegrain varieties of bread, rice and pasta
Eat more pulses, such as beans and lentils
Eat some fish, chicken, eggs and tofu, but limit red meat and avoid processed meat
Drink some milk and eat other dairy foods, but choose low sugar and fat options
Choose unsaturated oils and spreads instead of butter, and use in small amounts
Avoid food and drinks high in fat or sugar, such as sweets, cakes, crisps and fizzy drinks
Eat at least 30g of fibre a day
Stay hydrated - aim for six to eight glasses of fluid daily
Lower your alcohol intake
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