The Greek gods were right :. Eating grapes and drinking wine is apparently a good idea if you want to avoid cancer
numerous studies have investigated the relationship between the extract of grape seed (GSE) and cancer, and results are exciting. Grapes contain more power to prevent cancer rather than cure, although cancer survivors can certainly call on the vine for the potential to prevent recurrence.
Research shows that people who consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have less of an overall cancer risk. But why? Scientists suspect that the phytochemicals in plants are magical compounds that fight cancerous changes in human cells.
Phytochemicals are compounds found in plants that offer many benefits for human health. Healthy chemicals are present in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Research is emerging on phytochemicals, and it seems that the entire grape packs a powerful blow to anti-cancer fist.
Science Goes Ape for Grapes
At the microscopic level, phytochemicals inhibit cancerous changes along all stages of tumor growth, the initiation of growth of metastases. Phytochemicals are most effective in preventing cancerous changes when consumed in healthy amounts over long periods of time. Thus, increasing suddenly grape consumption after a cancer diagnosis is unlikely to cure the cancer, but it can increase the immunity of a person to fight cancer naturally.
Grape seeds contain a group of antioxidant phytochemicals called proanthocyanidins. Researchers believe that the GSE's anti-cancer benefits from these proanthocyanidins, which contain more antioxidant power than vitamins C and E.
A number of studies GSE and cancer studied cancers that affect epithelial cells, including cancers of the skin, colon, prostate, breast and lung. Although GSE has not been clinically studied on mesothelioma, cancer occurs more frequently in epithelial cells and can therefore serve as a preventive measure for people exposed to asbestos.
Interesting results from scientific studies on GSE have been published in recent years. Some of the findings:
- Topical application of GSE on skin cancer tumors in mice reduced the amount of tumors that developed and reduced the size of existing tumors
- diet food GSE. to mice prevented papillomas of the skin of being transformed into carcinomas.
- GSE inhibited significantly from one type of precancerous lesion of the colon in a study on rats.
- Numerous studies have found that GSE causes cancerous prostate cells die.
research also shows that GSE can improve the effectiveness of treatments against cancer such as chemotherapy. A 04 study found that the extract of grape seed enhanced the effects of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin in patients with breast cancer. Doxorubicin is often used to treat patients with mesothelioma.
Take a grape and a glass
This is all the grape parts contain anti-cancer properties, not just the seeds. Scientific studies have found compounds that fight cancer in the following areas :. grape skin, grape flesh, whole grapes and raisins derived from grapes
Studies on other parts of the grape as an anti-cancer food report equally encouraging results as those on extract of grape seed :.
- A case control study found that the increase in grape consumption was linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer among Korean women
- in another study Korean researchers report that daily consumption of grape juice has led to damage to the reduced DNA.
- A scientific study on the extract of dried Greek raisins concluded that the extract stopped the growth of gastric cancer cells.
- An excerpt from the muscadine grape skin inhibited the growth of cancer cells in the prostate epithelial in a study in 07.
one of the most powerful phytochemicals found in grapes is resveratrol, which is more concentrated in the skin of dark grapes. Thousands of studies have shown anti-cancer effects of resveratrol, which include decreased incidence of tumors, precancerous lesions reduced, and the blocking of several organic compounds promoting cancer (such as COX-2).
Much of the funds behind the thousands of resveratrol studies come from the wine industry. Researchers believe that some of the health properties in red wine can be attributed to resveratrol.
grape seed oil is another grape seed product that offers health benefits, although it is not regulated or measured power as the extract of grape seed East. The International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences published a study this month that investigated whether grape seed oil could affect inflammation and insulin resistance in women overweight or obese. In the group of women who consumed the grape seed oil, improved insulin resistance and inflammation was reduced.
To take advantage of the health benefits of grapes, find a supplement of high quality GSE to a health food store, eating table grapes and drinking red wine in moderation. Some varieties of tasty table grapes include black, white (green), concord and Thompson grapes.
Toss a toga, grab a bunch of your favorite grapes, and treat yourself to a little red wine. The Greek gods and science say it is a good idea.
