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Question:
There seems to be a lot of media attention on the use of aspirin to prevent colon cancer. What is your opinion of this research and are their any natural alternatives?
Answer:
Evidence is mounting that aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs may prevent colorectal cancer. These drugs work by reducing
production of prostaglandins - hormone-like substances produced
from fatty acids. Certain prostaglandins can irritate cells that
line the colon and causing them to grow or become cancerous. The
research looks promising, but rather than recommending aspirin,
I encourage you to utilize turmeric or preparations containing the
yellow pigment of turmeric - curcumin.
In experimental studies in animals, curcumin has
been shown to exert even more impressive effects than aspirin in
inhibiting colon cancer. In addition to inhibiting prostaglandin
formation, curcumin also exhibits potent antioxidant effects (in
some experimental studies it was up to 300 times more potent than
vitamin E). In addition to eating more curries (turmeric is the
major component of curries), you can take 100 to 200 mg of curcumin
daily to reduce colon cancer risk. Curcumin is widely available
as a nutritional supplement.
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