Bowel or colorectal cancer is a significant health concern in India—especially among youngsters. While incidence rates might be lower compared to Western countries, the absolute number of cases is substantial due to India's large population. And with cases rising, trying to prevent the disease is more important than ever. What if the secret to slashing your risk is not in a new medicine but lying in your kitchen spice rack?

According to UK scientists, curcumin – the bright yellow ingredient found in turmeric or haldi – commonly used in all kinds of food – could help stop bowel cancer in its tracks. Turmeric is inexpensive, easily available, and used in almost all daily meals – prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.

New research published in the journal Cancer Letters says this spice could be a promising, low-risk way to help prevent this deadly cancer. The team from the University of Leicester studied tumour samples from over 60 bowel cancer patients who donated their tissue.

The cells were then exposed to small amounts of curcumin over a month, mimicking long-term exposure through diet. Scientists discovered that the compound suppressed aggressive stem-like cancer cells by up to 95 per cent, particularly those found in pre-cancerous growths called adenomas. Adenomas are benign or non-cancerous tumours that originate from glandular tissue, and even though they are generally harmless, some adenomas can become cancerous or cause symptoms depending on their location and hormone production.

Scientists say they conducted a study on mice and found that curcumin attaches to and blocks a protein known as NANOG, which plays a key role in helping cancer stem cells spread and multiply. To match this dose in humans, you would need around 1.6 to 2 grams of curcumin daily – the equivalent of about two teaspoons of turmeric powder.

Previous studies have also found that curcumin’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects help halt the development of several cancers, including breast, lung, and stomach.

According to doctors, bowel cancer starts in your colon or large intestines – the long tube that carries digested food to your rectum and out of your body. Colon cancer develops from certain growths in the inner lining of your colon.

Experts say there are screening tests that detect precancerous polyps before they can become cancerous tumours. Colon cancer which is not detected or treated can also spread to other areas of your body. Thanks to screening tests, early treatment, and new kinds of treatment, fewer people are dying from colon cancer.

A few signs and symptoms of colon cancer include: