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Combat skin cancer with curry

Posted on Jan 10th 2007 10:22AM by Martha Edwards

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products

I'm a big fan of cuisines from different cultures, and one of my favorites is Indian Curry. Here's some news for my fellow curry fans: Studies show that it can fight cancer, skin cancer in particular.

Apparently, one of the main ingredients of a good curry, Cumin, has been shown to kill some melanoma cells in laboratory tests. Skin cancer is one of the most widespread of the cancers and it's though it's often disregarded as a threat in favor of a nice tan, it can prove deadly if not taken care of. So eat up! Of course, sunscreen and protective clothing are the best defendants against skin cancer, but every little step helps, right?

I'm heading out to the local Indian buffet soon. Are you with me?

Another note: Curry is also good for the brain, as reported on That's Fit in October.

Source

19 Comment

Tags: cancer, cumin, curry, indian cuisine, IndianCuisine, melanoma, skin cancer, SkinCancer, spice

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

myst 1-16-2007 @ 8:21PM

Other reputed health benefits of curry include ginger for it's sinus-clearing properties and tumeric for control of some skin conditions such as psoriasis. A reminder: lots of cumin in Mexican food, too.

dan 1-16-2007 @ 8:59PM

Im with you! its my favourite food. I remember reading about turmeric as well.

Zoe 1-16-2007 @ 9:41PM

I also remember the turmeric. My family actually tried it (my dad has skin cancer), and the lab test results got slightly better. It also tastes great!

Ambika 1-16-2007 @ 10:12PM

Curry is definitely a good thing. Having dealt with skin cancer on a number of occasions I cannot overstress how important sunscreen and protective clothing are though! For those of us with fair skin, freckles and red hair (aka gingers) it is especially important. Please everyone, practice safe habits. They make sunscreens that can be worn daily that won't clog your pores--use em!

horsecrazy 1-16-2007 @ 10:33PM

I've loved Indian food ever since we spent 3 years living in England. The hotter the better! And to find out it might actually be good for you is just icing on the cake.

amy 1-16-2007 @ 11:01PM

YAY!!!, these amazing spices are full of anti-oxidents! yay for curry i love it i wish i could eat it every day! i would be really healthy if i did!!!=)

Monique 1-18-2007 @ 6:32PM

Interesting to know. Now I can thank my economics professor from Ethiopia for trying to save my fellow students in my department from skin cancer. Because at all department parties he cooks heavily seasoned curry goat. Unfortunately he almost killed me by putting curry in the stuffing last time because I am so allergic to Cumin I need an epi pen.

Vivi 1-16-2007 @ 11:38PM

Wonder if it would do anything for Psoriasis. It is a form of skin cancer as the cells in the skin do not know when to stop growing. I can't help thinking there may be some help for these patients as cancer is just that........an overgrowth of cells...............cells gone wild.

Kirsten 1-17-2007 @ 12:15AM

From the curries of southern India, to the curries of northern Japan, the tastes and textures are thrilling, enticing, aromatic, and pleasing to me and my kids! My daughters ask for it with great anticipation; it is fun to cook. I thought that psychologically there could be a benefit to any food we love; hearing that there could be more than just a positive mood uplift is intriguing.
MY BROTHER just went through a brutal round of Interferon for malignant melanoma. I wonder if some curry could help prevent a recurrence.

Bruce 1-17-2007 @ 12:20AM

It's a big, often unjustified, and commonly taken step to conclude that if curry kills melanoma cells in a Petri dish, then ating curry will prevent melanoma in humans. Pouring gasoline on melanoma cells will kill them too, but drinking gasoline will not prevent menaloma (except by killing the host before the cancer starts!). Don't get me wrong, I like curry too, but get your info from National Library of Medicine, not AOL.

kevinbgood621 1-17-2007 @ 4:13PM

Herbs as cures should be taken with a grain of salt . Because of quality , growing area and several other factors -- if you add for cures or therapy check for certain types . ( SPice) is a good example -- Want to balance your sugar levels ? You could eat American ( Spice - herb) raw and not get the effects of one glass of South East Asian ( Spice - herb ) . I generalize ... but you catch the drift . Freshness is also to be considered . To Your Health !

Debbie 1-17-2007 @ 1:19AM

Noni juics is great for all types of cancer and much much more! read up on it,my mom has stage 4 cancer and it helps her alot,also helps be alot with headaches,allergies,stress,etc.

Sil 1-17-2007 @ 2:19AM

Spicy foods also help with healthy blood circulation... =)

Barb 1-17-2007 @ 4:12AM

Bruce, learn to type (or at least spell!) if you are going to post here! It's melanoma, not menaloma! And eating, not ating. Jeeezzzzzzzz

Freddie 1-17-2007 @ 5:55AM

You guys are hilarious!!! Look. 100% certainly...a herb like cumin or tumeric or ginger etc will be far more beneficial than any pill out of a damn FDA bottle!!!!!

Hope 1-17-2007 @ 6:01AM

Thanks for your helpful tips Bruce. Don't worry about your mis-spelling, your info is appreciated :)

ailina 1-19-2007 @ 8:56AM

indian food is awesome ! try the chicken or vegetable biryami ..... to die for.. .and the vegetable samoosay ..both with curry... if you havent tryed indian food, do so, especially if you like spicy food

Pam 1-17-2007 @ 6:05AM

I don't like the taste of curry, but I often use cumin as an ingredient when I make chili. Hey, it can't hurt!

Marylou Germy 1-17-2007 @ 8:14AM

The spice talked about, if you go to the link provided in the above article, is not cumin but turmeric. And if you check out what curry really is, you'll find it is not just one spice, but a blend.