As if we needed more encouragement to drink wine.
But a new Canadian study is providing yet more proof that a glass after work may benefit your health in addition to relieving stress from your day.
While the idea that certain wines may be good for you has long been known, researchers at the University of Guelph believe they have discovered one of the key reasons why red wine, grapes and other fruits and vegetables may play a role in warding off disease.
They found that tumour growth was almost completely stopped in mice that were given polyphenols extracted from merlot grapes and red wine. Polyphenols are a group of chemicals, commonly found in grapes, berries and other fruits and vegetables, that are known for their antioxidant effects. The findings will be published this month in the journal Nutrition Research.
"People should consume a lot of fruits rich in polyphenols," said Gopi Paliyath, a professor in the department of plant agriculture at the University of Guelph in Ontario.
"The fruit and vegetable consumption will reduce the chronic degenerative diseases," said Prof. Paliyath, who is also the lead author of the study.
In the study, mice that had been injected with breast-cancer cells were fed polyphenols from grapes or red wine. After 33 days, the mice were euthanized so researchers could examine the state of their tumours. Growth of tumours in mice that had been given polyphenols from grapes "was almost totally arrested," the study says. Tumour growth was significantly slowed among mice fed polyphenols extracted from red wine.
Prof. Paliyath said polyphenols may help prevent the risk of cancer by helping to eliminate toxins from the body. Hormones can lead to the buildup of toxic elements that may contribute to diseases such as cancer. The body has enzymes designed to eliminate the toxic effect of hormones. Researchers now believe that consuming a diet high in polyphenols may help the enzymes function more efficiently.
But that doesn't mean Prof. Paliyath endorses binge drinking. The study showed that polyphenols from grapes had a greater effect, probably because they were more concentrated.
Prof. Paliyath said the study highlights the importance of eating fruits and vegetables with high concentrations of polyphenols. He said blueberries and cherries also contain high amounts of polyphenols.
"This has to be done starting at a very young age." he said.
