Which is better and what is turmeric and curcumin?

Turmeric is root much like ginger. I can be ground up and used as delicious spice. It is often used in Indian dishes and has been linked to a reduction in inflammation, diseases, and possibly improved longevity. What's the potential activity compound in turmeric? Curcumin.

Curcumin is refined and processed from tumeric. One gram of turmeric may only contain 0.02 grams of tumeric! That's not much. Some studies highlight the benefits of using supplemented tumeric, such as improvement in arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and rheumatoid conditions; however, other studies still highlight the perk of turmeric root. Other compounds in the turmeric may be responsible.

It may be best to stick with the whole root of turmeric, even though studies are highlighting the benefits of curcumin. For one, turmeric is cheaper than curcumin. Second, turmeric is processed in order to get turmeric, so other compounds that may be beneficial are extr...

Physical therapists (PTs) are movement experts that help patients with Parkinson's regain function, activities, and engage better in life. Parkinson's disease (PD) affects the smoothness and ability to initiate movement. PTs can offer a myriad of exercises, activities, balance training, and walking interventions with decent results. The disease is usually be progressive, although intense exercise can delay this progression. What if PTs could offer an even greater edge for the patients to "beat" PD?

An early trial showed that a plant-based diet was able to lower the patients Hoyen-Yahr stage (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21535916).   Research has also begun to show that eating certain plant-based foods rich in nicotine containing compounds, like sweet peppers, may be important to preventing PD (see our other posts on this topic). Another review study highlighted the benefits of plant nutrients in improving or ameliorating neurodegeneration and chronic inflammation (https://www.s...

A California judge ruled that some stores must label coffee as potential cancer-causing because it contains a compound known as acrylamide (https://www.yahoo.com/news/apnewsbreak-california-judge-coffee-needs-212748202.html).

The unfortunate reality in this situation is that the defendants of the case, the coffee industry, did not have an opportunity to really express the potential health benefits of coffee. Research shows that coffee is a strong antioxidant, reducing the risk of some neurological decline and Parkinson's, as well as promoting GI motility, which may reduce the risk of gut cancer. Large epidemiology studies show that coffee may even reduce the risk of death by roughly 6-15%, with consumption up to 6 cups per day.

As such, does coffee really cause cancer from acrylamide?

Very unlikely. If there is any industry the California government and lawyers should be attacking it would be the potato chip and French fry manufacturers. Potato chips and french fries have the larg...

Nutrition has long been a subject of much health discussions. Headlines are a buzz with the next diet fad or study linking food to causing or stopping chronic diseases. PTs help patients through these tough times of chronic disease and pain, only to miss the impact food has on patients.

Dr Wells will be rolling out a book for showing the connection between food and pain, arthritis, surgical healing, and heart disease.  The continuing education courses, on the site you are on, has been developed to help PTs counsel patients and improve their lives.

Stay in the loop at: https://www.facebook.com/nutritionPT/

Learn about our online courses:

There is much more to be found in our evidenced-based, board-approved online continuing education courses for physical therapists.

Enroll today and progress through our 3 course sequence starting with nutrition basics, then the assessment/prescription process, and finally a specialty focus on select populations and specialized nutrition topics. Com...

More than 80% of older adults over the age of 65 have some form of osteoarthritis, also more commonly known as arthritis. In fact,  arthritis has more than doubled in the last 50 years! How did we get to this point? Is it just a matter of better Imaging or are we actually seeing a change within our bony structures? More importantly what can we do to prevent the continual growth of osteoarthritis within our population?

The answer lies within several studies that were published recently. Epidemiologists and researchers going back and measuring our skeletons of our ancestors have shown that physical exercise and activity have been a integral part of our lifestyle and bodies. With modern technology and changes to our lifestyle we have become less agrarian and less active. As a consequence our bones and bodies have changed. We have gained a little bit more weight, or joints have not gotten used to not being used, and we suffer from other ailments related to changes within our diet. In a st...