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There have been medical studies in the past that showed that a component of green tea blocks the signaling pathway for the development of certain cancers. Now, a new study in the FASEB Journal has found that red wine can also do this.
This signaling pathway has to be activated in order for cancers to spread, particularly prostate, breast and colon cancers. In order for these cancers to be prevented or treated effectively, this pathway has to be closed.
Scientists bred genetically engineered mice that grew human prostate cancer cells. One half of them were not treated and the other half were given green tea and red wine polyphenols – the substance that blocks cancer. The mice that had had the polyphenols had reduced tumor growth due to a partially blocked cancer pathway.
To further solidify their findings, they divided up the mice into three groups. Group one was given plain water to drink, group two was given green tea with the compound EGCg and group three was given green tea to drink, containing the compound polyphenon E.
The two groups of mice who had had the compounds of green tea had a large decrease in the size of their tumors. The mice who had just drank plain water did not show any signs of improvement from their cancer.
The study authors wrote, "We provide the first evidence that dietary agents, namely, epigallocatechin gallate, resveratrol or a mixture of polyphenols from green tea [polyphenon E or grapevine extract (vineatrol), impede prostate cancer cell growth. The therapeutic efficacy of these polyphenols on tumor growth and the SphK1/S1P pathway were confirmed in animals.These results provide the first demonstration that the prosurvival, antiapoptotic SphK1/S1P pathway represents a target of dietary green tea and wine polyphenols in cancer."
Many people view alcohol as bad and some religious groups even ban its consumption among their followers but the general consensus is that a little red wine, in moderation, is actually good for you.
Other research has suggested that daily consumption of red wine, broccoli, chocolate and fish is the ultimate anti-cancer and longevity diet. Chocolate contains something called procyanidin, which is also found in red wine and this lowers your bad cholesterol in addition to being anti-cancerous. Eating oily fish (or flaxseed oil) boosts your levels of omega 3.
Mediterranean communities have been found to live longer and have less heart disease because they drink red wine and eat lots of fish.
Perhaps you could give the diet a try and see if it benefits you?
Sources: The FASEB Journal, June 3, 2010 as doi: 10.1096/fj.10-160838.
The Wine Diet by Roger Corder, published by Sphere, 7th December 2006.
Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/. She is author of the book, 'Breast Milk: A Natural Immunisation,' and co-author of an educational resource on disabled parenting, in addition to running a charity for people damaged by vaccines or medical mistakes.
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