The Androgynous Pharaoh? Akhenaten had feminine physique (AP)

AP - Akhenaten wasn't the most manly pharaoh, even though he fathered at least a half-dozen children. In fact, his form was quite feminine, which has puzzled experts for years. And he was a bit of an egghead.

In a 2006 article in Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, Naganuma et.al. write that both turmeric and curcumin effect certain reactions in buy wholesale glucosamine hcl cells that indicate the anti-cancer effects of turmeric and curcumin may at least be partly due to how they affect what is known conjugation in the body.

Conjugation is a critical point

When your body ingests something, such buy curcumin turmeric supplements a drug or chemical, it undergoes various reactions in your body. It can have certain molecules added to it which help the body eliminate the drug or via the urinary system, or it can be detoxified, or it can undergo a reaction which makes it dangerous to the body. The last kind of reaction can turn a pro-carcinogen into a carcinogen.

The scientific name for certain groups of these reactions is conjugation. Conjugation reactions which have been considered important in how procarcinogens are handled by the body include glucuronidation and sulfo-conjugation. These reactions in the body change bioactivate a procarcinogen. Inhibition of these reactions may help with anti-cancer treatment.

Study shows turmeric and curcumin modulate conjugation

The researchers of the study chose to use a known pro-carcinogen, 1-Napthol, as a model. They buy wholesale cinnamon powder extract cultured Human colonic adenocarcinoma buy wholesale fos online known as Caco-2 cells. These cells are used as tools for studying intestinal cell function.

The work concludes that both curcumin and turmeric strongly inhibit sulfoconjugation. Since curcumin alone achieved the same levels of inhibition, they conclude that the curcumin activity may largely be responsible for this effect.

The levels of glucuronidation of 1-Napthol were different for turmeric and curcumin, however. The turmeric effect was actually larger than the curcumin effect, possibly suggesting that turmeric contains other ingredients besides curcumin that help inhibit glucuronidation. This could be interesting news, as it implies that the natural spice could do as well if not better in helping the body's natural detoxification system than the purified curcumin.

The research studied to the level of gene expression the effects of curcumin and turmeric. Other studies have also claimed that turmeric and curcumin can affect the way drugs or chemicals are handled by the body by regulating how they affect gene expression.

This means that not only the biochemical activity of curcumin as an anti-oxidant could be the source of the chemoprotective activity of curcumin and turmeric. It could be that curcumin and turmeric actually affect how the body's natural genetic defenses are rallied.

That's the good news, now the bad news

There are serious experimental design problems with this research work as reported. The most glaring problem is a lack of reported data for a control on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) used to dissolve the curcumin and turmeric. DMSO is itself a very bioactive molecule. DMSO in its own time was examined for many potential health effects, both beneficial and negative.

Perhaps the reviewers of the article had access to more data which was not shown in the published article. If so, it should have been mentioned in the purchase wholesale ginkgo biloba leaf supplement whether a DMSO only sample was examined.

Another problem is the concentration claimed for the curcumin and turmeric in the materials and methods. An attempt to repeat the stock of 10 grams of turmeric in buy wholesale ginkgo powder extrac 100 ml distilled water or DMSO showed that turmeric is largely left as a sludge at this concentration. It is almost impossible to filter the turmeric in water solution at this concentration.

Where does that leave us?

The results of this study are very interesting, and would need to be investigated more thoroughly and with proper controls. The effects on the conjugation system were definitely observed, we just lack proof that it was indeed curcumin and turmeric which caused the effects.

One of the most interesting aspects of this study is that in comparing the naturally occurring turmeric with the purified curcumin, at least one system seems to react stronger to turmeric. Around the world, interest in curcumin was aroused due to the fact that populations which ingest large amounts of turmeric have lower incidences of certain diseases. The scientific community always prefers to narrow down active biochemicals in plants and try to characterize them.

However, nature often packages bioactive molecules with other beneficial molecules which are not easily defined at first in the laboratory. This study should be the buy wholesale glucosamine sulfate potassium of a scientific inquiry into the benefits of whole powdered turmeric. As a treatment, it would be far cheaper than the purified curcumin. If the health benefits exist after cooking, then simply adapting ethnic cuisines Nutrition Supplement Blog using turmeric could be a natural chemopreventive recommendation.

Sources: Biol Pharm Bull. 2006 Jul;29(7):1476-9. Turmeric and curcumin modulate the conjugation of 1-naphthol in Caco-2 cells. Naganuma M, Saruwatari A, Okamura S, Tamura H.

Samantha Rangen writes about home health issues. She has a BA in chemistry and has worked as a research technician for over 20 years in biochemistry, genetics, biochemistry, and cancer research.

Samantha markets discount home medical equipment, including canes at http://www.getinspec.com

Obesity May Worsen Impact of Asthma (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) -- A study of women with purchase fructo oligosaccharides widerange of body-mass indexes (BMIs) found buy wholesale choline bitartrate obesity may worsen the impactof asthma and also mask its severity purchase bulk gamma aminobutryric acid online standard tests.

Focusing on for a healthy immune system can increase overall good health and nutrition. Foods that build cheap canadian shipping immune system are rich buy wholesale betaine-anhydrous vitamins, minerals, trace elements and omega-3 fatty acids. Including these foods in your weekly diet can improve your energy levels and decrease the number of colds and other bugs that you buy wholesale vigamin b 5 calcium pantathenate every year.

Some people rely on daily multi-vitamins and dietary supplements, instead of food for a healthy immune system and good supplements are always a good idea. It wholesale fructo-oligosaccharides fos not always possible to eat the right foods in the right combination every day. For instance, you may think of oranges or orange juice when you think of foods that build your immune system, but oranges are not the only foods that contain Vitamin C. And if you dont have enough calcium and magnesium in your diet, then your cells cannot efficiently absorb Vitamin C. Complicating things further, if you drink a glass of orange juice and a glass of milk, then the acidic content of the juice can sour the milk, leading to stomach upset.

People who have frequent heartburn or are lactose intolerant may not be to include either orange juice or milk in their diets. Citrus fruits are highly acidic and trigger heartburn in many people. Regular milk causes bloating, pain, gas and diarrhea in people who are lactose intolerant. So, what is a person to do?

Crabmeat, lobster and oysters are all rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin C. Salmon is an important food for a healthy immune system and is often referred to as a super food by dieticians and nutritionists, because it contains numerous vitamins and minerals, plus a healthy amount of omega-3 fatty acids, believed to be beneficial in preventing heart disease, cancer and arthritis. Broccoli, tomatoes, peaches and apples are good sources of Vitamin C and are all foods that build your immune system. Broccoli is another food that contains numerous vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and selenium. Not familiar with selenium?

Selenium is an essential trace mineral that may not be included in your daily multi-vitamin, but very important to human health. It is essential to proper immune system function, as well as numerous metabolic pathways. Remember chicken soup? Chicken is another good source of selenium and is one of the foods that build your immune system strength.

Like mushrooms? Researchers studying foods that build immune system strength by increasing white blood cell counts learned that shitake mushrooms worked. The study concluded that beta glucans found in edible mushrooms increased white blood cell counts. White blood cells are primary infection fighters. Dont like mushrooms? Beta glucans are biologically active compounds found in numerous plant foods and some immune system dietary supplements.

So, in order to include some of the best foods that build your immune system in your weekly diet, eat salmon, tuna and/or seafood three or four times a week, chicken three or four times a week, a variety of fruits and vegetables including broccoli and mushrooms, whenever possible. Relying on food for a healthy immune system may not be enough, depending on where you live or work. A daily multi-vitamin can help and there are immune system supplements that contain beta glucans, herbs and other ingredients that can also buy wholesale calcium pantothenate vitamin B5 particularly during cold and flu season. To learn more about food for a healthy immune system and supplements that can boost your immune system, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton has been a healthcare professional for more than twenty years and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. Read more at http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.