Like most dietary options, alcohol, when consumed in excess, can have a detrimental effect on your health. However, past research has shown that there is something to be said for a glass of red wine with dinner. As the Yale-New Haven Hospital explains on its website, this beverage – in moderation – can promote heart health thanks to its antioxidant content, and researchers are currently investigating its ability to impair tumor growth in various cancers.
According to a press release from the University of Missouri, a compound found in red wine could enhance the effectiveness of radiation treatments for men with prostate cancer. The element in question – resveratrol – has also been linked to red wine’s other health benefits, but this is the first time that its effects on radiation procedures have been measured.
After exposing prostate tumor cells to resveratrol, assistant professor of surgical oncology Michael Nicholl reportedly found that 97 percent of them were eradicated after a series of radiation treatments – “a much higher percentage than treatment with radiation alone,” the source states.
However, says Nicholl, don’t expect to get a cancer-fighting dose of resveratrol through drinking alone. In fact, given the more detrimental effects of excessive alcohol consumption, it’s best not to try.
“We don’t need a large dose at the site of the tumor, but the body processes this compound so efficiently that a person needs to ingest a lot of resveratrol to make sure enough of it ends up at the tumor site,” he explains.
Although a glass of your favorite shiraz may not stop prostate cancer in its tracks, this news is still heartening for the thousands of American men diagnosed with the disease, as it could lead the way to more effective treatment and faster recovery.
The red grapes used in wine are full of beneficial antioxidants that support heart health. Click here for information about our antioxidant products.