Can Wine Prevent Dementia?
People who drink wine in moderation are less likely to develop dementia, according to research conducted by the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Copenhagen, Denmark. Weekly and monthly wine drinkers of wine were half as likely to develop dementia as non-drinkers, the study found.
“These results don’t mean that people should start drinking wine or drink more wine than they usually do. But they are exciting because they could mean that substances in wine reduce the occurrence of dementia,” said Dr. Thomas Truelson, lead researcher. Dr. Truelson and his team believe that compounds called flavonoids in red wine are the key to preventing dementia. (From BBC News Online, U.K.)
Wine in the Kitchen
Wine may one day be put to work in the kitchen as a cleanser. According to research conducted at Oregon State University, compounds found in wine are powerful antiseptics that kill E. coli, salmonella and other food-transmitted bacteria. Grapes contain large amounts of malic and tartaric acids which, when combined with alcohol, become a powerful disinfectant. Several wineries are already interested in this new discovery. (From Men’s Health, U.S.A.)
Combining Foods to Fight Cancer
Could eating certain foods together — chicken with broccoli or salmon with watercress, for example — help fight cancer? A study by a food research institute in Europe has discovered such a result. Sulforaphane and selenium, both of which are found in foods, are 13 times more powerful in combination in fighting cancer than they are individually. Sulforaphane, a plant chemical used in the prevention and treatment of cancer, is found at high concentrations in broccoli, sprouts, cabbage and watercress. Foods rich in the essential mineral selenium include nuts, poultry, fish, eggs, sunflower seeds and mushrooms. Selenium deficiency has been linked to several types of cancers, including cancer of the prostate.
The European study examined the effects of combining sulforaphane with selenium on tumor formation and growth, and on genes that play an important role in the enlargement of tumor cells. (From BBC News Online, U.K.)
(The information provided should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. Consult your physician before attempting any new program. Readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of developing serious medical conditions.)
