Red Wine and Cancer Prevention

By Xav Moldonio | January 31, 2010

Cancer is undoubtedly one of the biggest killers and certainly the last thing you want to hear from a doctor. That being said, there are ways to limit your cancer risk. Some are conventional, while others may be surprising.

Every so often, you will hear various statements that sound interest, but are often wrong. For instance, everyone knows you should not go swimming for an hour after eating. Of course, this rule of thumb is wrong, but there you are.

The French drink an absurd amount of red wine. They also eat horribly. They should have high incidents of heart disease and cancer. They do not. Many have concluded this means red wine must be a preventative drink.

Despite the rumor mill and media reports, the alleged power of red wine has never been proven. Well, that has recently changed. Surprisingly, the early results of studies on red wine show that it appears to actually help prevent certain cancers. Imagine that.

Unlike white wine, red wine is packed full with certain chemicals that are anti-oxidants. These biological components are loosely referred to as polyphenols. Within this catch-all phrase are catechins, resveratrol and other anti-oxidants.

Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds found in the skin and seeds of grapes. Since red wine fermentation often involves the skin and seeds of grapes, they polyphenols end up in the final product.

Catechins are hugely vital to the prevention process. Why? Free radicals in your body are associated with mutations that can cause cancer, particularly aggressive cancer. Catechins essentially block free radicals from attacking health cells.

Researchers are also finding significant amounts of resveratrol in red wine. Rseveratrol is a wonder chemical. It is produced by plants when they are trying to protect themselves from disease. It appears it also is effective in battling cancerous tumors.

Studies on causal relationships between drinking red wine and cancer are not yet definitive. They simply have not been underway for long enough. That being said, initial findings are positive.

Prostate cancer is an aggressive disease for men. Studies have found that drinking a glass of red wine once a day may cut a man’s risk of prostate cancer by fifty percent. Four or more glasses a week can cut the risk by sixty percent.

These initial results might lead one to believe red wine is a holistic answer to all cancer problems. It is not. It only appears to work with certain types. That being said, drinking a glass here and there certainly seems to be a smart move.

Your source for wine information is Wineriesforyou.com

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