Curry, a blend of spices used in Indian cuisine, varies widely in composition, depending on its region of origin and personal preferences. Some of the ingredients in curry include turmeric, fenugreek, coriander, cinnamon and ginger. Mustard seed, cayenne pepper and cardamom are also often included in curry spice mixtures. Many of these ingredients are know to improve the body’s detoxification processes . Needless to say curry has great healing properties.

Blood Sugar Control

Turmeric, one of the main spices in curry powder, may lower your risk for diabetes, according to Colorado State University. A laboratory animal study published in the May 2011 issue of the journal “Food and Chemical Toxicology” found that turmeric’s active compound, curcumin, prevented sharp spikes in blood sugar and improved insulin sensitivity in animals fed a high-fat diet. Researchers noted that curcumin showed similar effects to the diabetes drug rosiglitazone, and concluded the benefits of curcumin may be due, in part, to anti-inflammatory effects.

Anticancer Benefits

Consuming curry powder in your diet on a regular basis may provide cancer-preventive benefits, according to a study published in the October 2012 issue of the “Korean Journal of Urology.” Curcumin has the ability to stop cancer in one of its earliest stages, called the DNA damage response, say researchers. Although curcumin shows promising anticancer benefits, because it is not water soluble, much of what you consume in curry powder is not absorbed, according to the University of North Texas. Researchers there are seeking a solution that will allow curcumin to be developed into a natural anticancer drug.