Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Red Wine - Cure Responsibly


CAUTION: PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY (DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL IF UNDER APPROPRIATE AGE)

Red wine, even without alcohol, has polyphenols that may protect against various types of cancer. Polyphenols are potent antioxidants, compounds that help neutralize disease-causing free radicals. Also, researchers at the University of North Carolina's medical school in Chapel Hill found the compound resveratrol, which is found in grape skins. It appears that resveratrol inhibits cell proliferation and can help prevent cancer. However, the findings didn't extend to heavy imbibers, so it should be used in moderation. In addition, alcohol can be toxic to the liver and to the nervous system, and many wines have sulfites, which may be harmful to your health. Note: some research indicates that alcohol is considered a class "A" carcinogen which can actually cause cancer. You should probably switch to non-alcoholic wines.
A new study shows an antioxidant found in red wine destroys cancer cells from the inside and enhances the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy cancer treatments.
Researchers say the antioxidant found in grape skins, known as resveratrol, appears to work by targeting the cancer cell's energy source from within and crippling it. When combined with radiation, treatment with resveratrol prior to radiation also induced cell death, an important goal of cancer treatment.

Red Wine Nutritional Facts:
Calories: 85
Calories from Fat: 0
Saturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Total Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 4mg
Total Carbohydrates: 3g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 1g
Protein: 0g
Vitamins
Vitamin A: 0%
Vitamin C: 0%
Calcium: 1%
Iron: 3%