Diet

Curcumin is a member of a class of complex biochemicals known as curcuminoids and the principal constituent of the spice known as turmeric and responsible for its yellow color. In turn, turmeric is the principal spice in common yellow curry powder which can contain many spices that vary widely among popular cuisines. Curcumin contains polyphenols that have significant medicinal properties and used historically in southeastern Asia and India and commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. Turmeric is a perennial herb and member of the ginger family and native to tropical southeast Asia. Heavy curcumin use in India is thought to explain, in part, the low incidence of Alzheimers disease as it is anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant and promotes neurogenesis. It is also anti-bacterial and anti-viral as well as having anti-cancer properties and heavy metal chelation properties, especially iron.

Fortunately, there exists a fairly large body of knowledge, primarily in the alternative medical domain, that purports to address an oxidizing and acidic biological terrain common to CFS. This diet is known as an alkalinizing diet and is primarily a vegetarian and largely vegan diet that is mostly raw, mostly organic and always unprocessed. While there can be some degree of tailoring to individual preferences as to the amount of protein and the degree of rawness, there can be no doubt that this type of diet will be the best for the high degree of acidity and oxidation present in the CFS biological terrain.