The various benefits of curry rice are well-known, but recently, Japanese media reported that curcumin in curry can effectively prevent diabetes. This medical discovery has been published in the journal "Diabetes Care" as a paper.
The paper explains that a Thai scholar conducted an experiment on patients with pre-diabetes (pre-diabetic patients generally have high blood pressure and are highly likely to develop type 2 diabetes). The experiment involved 240 adult Thai participants, with 119 people consuming curry containing 250 mg of curcumin daily and 116 people taking a lactose pill daily. After 9 months, none of the group that consumed curcumin developed type 2 diabetes, whereas 19 cases of type 2 diabetes were found among the 116 people who took the lactose pills.
Curcumin, a compound in turmeric found in curry, has been found in modern medical research to have anti-inflammatory and cell-oxidation-damage-preventing properties, showing significant efficacy for diabetes caused by inflammation and cell oxidative damage. In the study, researchers also discovered that curcumin can effectively improve the function of blood sugar-controlling cells; in addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, it can also effectively protect beta cells from damage.
However, experts also warn against excessive intake of curcumin, emphasizing that only a controlled amount can achieve the disease-preventive effect. To maintain a healthy body, one must adopt a healthy lifestyle and maintain a balanced diet.