About
Can turmeric really help with joint pain, inflammation and gut health after cancer? And why are so many people being told to avoid it?
In this fascinating conversation, I sit down with leading oncologist, researcher and integrative medicine expert Professor Robert Thomas to unpack the science behind turmeric, gut health and cancer recovery.
Prof Thomas shares why he believes many patients are receiving outdated advice about turmeric, explains where concerns about tamoxifen interactions originated, and explores what the latest research actually tells us. Together, we discuss the role of gut health in long-term wellbeing, why exercise remains one of the most powerful tools available after cancer, and how lifestyle medicine can work alongside conventional cancer treatments.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The surprising evidence behind turmeric and cancer
- Why turmeric became controversial in breast cancer care
- The difference between turmeric, curcumin and supplements
- Gut health, inflammation and the microbiome
- Managing joint pain and menopausal symptoms after cancer
- Exercise as a tool to improve cancer outcomes
- How integrative oncology combines medical treatment with lifestyle strategies
- Common myths surrounding supplements and cancer
Resources
- Keep Healthy: keep-healthy.com and https://keep-healthy.com/polyphenols/
- Rob’s bestselling book "How to Live"
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Introduction
09:33 Discussing hormone therapy options
12:30 Discussing health and patient advocacy
15:00 Discussing menopause treatments
20:06 Turmeric's rise in health circles
22:24 Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits
24:21 Curcumin study and dosage discussion
28:01 Addressing turmeric's cancer misconceptions
32:28 Simplifying Supplement Choices
About Prof Robert Thomas:
Thomas is a Consultant Oncologist, Professor of Nutritional and Sports Science, author, researcher and Head of Integrative Oncology at UCLH. He has published extensively on lifestyle medicine, cancer prevention and survivorship, and is passionate about helping patients make informed decisions about their health using evidence-based approaches.
He also leads a research unit that has designed landmark scientific studies which provide the evidence that guide nutritionists, support groups, doctors and patients across the World.
As well as mainstream oncology studies, the team focuses on randomised trials that evaluate the impact of exercise, diet, gut health and natural therapies on cancer, long covid and exercise performance, menopause and cancer.
This included 5 RCT's addressing hormone related symptons after breast cancer including patient choice as a primary end point.
His latest two double blind RCTs, discovered that boosting dietary phytochemicals (with Yourphyto) and gut health (with Yourgutplus) slowed prostate cancer progression, improved erectile function and urinary symptoms and improved three key biomarkers of longevity.
Connect with us:
For more information and resources visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org
Or follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancer
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub
Mentioned in this episode:
Substack: https://danibinnington.substack.com/
Fundraiser Walk: https://fundraiseformenopauseandcancer.raiselysite.com/thamesbridgestrekultrachallenge