Eat for your health

Just Monday I told you about an amazing new technique for detecting prostate cancer that’s being developed at UCLA. Today, I wanted to quickly share another prostate cancer study I just came across. This research comes from Getafe University in Madrid, Spain, where scientists found that five different polyphenols curbed prostate cancer cell growth and even caused some cells to self destruct. Polyphenols are antioxidants found in red wine, tea and various fruits and vegetables.

The Getafe team tested five red wine polyphenols (rutin, tannic acid, quercetin, gallic acid and morin) by adding different amounts of the compounds to a dish with prostate cancer cells. When compared to an inactive compound, all five of the polyphenols inhibited cancer cell growth.

These findings point to further evidence that red wine (widely produced and consumed throughout the Mediterranean region) may be a key part of the reason that the rate of prostate cancer in Mediterranean countries is lower than in non-Mediterranean European countries and the U.S.

Mediterranean cuisine is also thought to play a part in fighting cancer of the glands (including the prostate), as well as heart disease. Personally, I find this report very appetizing! (Sorry, I don’t know what made me say that.) But there’s something to be said for good medicine that comes in the form of a fresh salad with olive oil and a glass of claret.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute

Sources:
Paul Duxbury & Mike Smith, Kisska International Ltd.
“Red Wine May Keep Prostate Cancer Cells in Check” Reuters Health, 7/9/02