Expert touts disease-prevention benefits of Indian spices.

According to an article published this week in Fox News, some of the spices most commonly used in Indian cuisine contain properties that help prevent diseases such as cancer.

disease prevention turmericThey interviewed an expert from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences’ Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. Lalit Kumar. Dr. Kumar is quoted as saying that curcumin, a spice that lends curry its yellowish color, “is used to prevent various types of diseases” including cancer, arthritis and diabetes.

Curcumin comes from the plant that is native to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is found in the spice turmeric.

The article states that “some components of curcumin are clinically shown to prevent the formation of prostate, skin and pancreas cancer cells and brain tumors.”

Some other disease-prevention spices named in this interview included cumin, cinnamon and oregano.