Red wine has always been regarded as being healthier than white wine in many ways, and now researchers from the University of Missouri are giving further insights into why.
The researchers have confirmed that resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, has anti-cancer properties.
This compound is originally found in grape skin, which is why red wine would possess it but not white wine. During the fermentation of wine from grapes, white wine is made by quickly extracting the juice from the fruit and discarding the skin and other residues, while red wine is made by allowing the juice, skin and other residues a longer interaction period, allowing chemicals from the grape skin to seep in well.
In the latest study of resveratrol’s anti-cancer properties, researchers used melanoma (skin cancer) cells to see whether it could exhibit the same properties I had demonstrated last year when it was used against prostate cancer cells.
Resveratrol was found to be capable of eliminating about 44% of the melanoma cells on its own, and when used in synergy with radiation treatment, the success rate jumped to 65%. In last year’s research with prostate cancer cells, the resveratrol-radiation combination was successful in eliminating 97% of the cancerous cells.
According to the researchers, the bigger issue is in administering a proper dose, and while there are resveratrol supplements sold over the counter, these may not help, as there are still several gaps in knowledge to warrant further studies.
Besides this, resveratrol has been shown to offer a way of protecting the brain from stroke attacks in animal models.
However, resveratrol and its anti-cancer properties are not the only benefits you will get from grapes. Piceatannol, a compound similar to resveratrol (actually derived from it), delays gene expression for immature fat cells, and thus holds the potential of being used in the fight against obesity.
So, try out a little wine, or for the teetotaler some grapes, and you could be giving your body an important boost.
Africa Global News Publication
