The spice turmeric is an ingredient in curries and has been used for 2,500 years as a major part of the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India. A compound found in the spice called curcumin can increase the levels of a protein known to be vital in the immune system. It’s possible that sustained consumption over time may be healthy and protect against infection, especially in the stomach and intestinal tract.
Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, June 2012