Red wine contains ingredients that may help in the fight against many diseases. This includes heart disease and some forms of cancer such as breast cancer. While wine is not considered a health food, a small amount can be part of a healthy diet for some people. If you are living with or at risk for breast cancer, always check with a health care provider before adding red wine to the diet.
Benefits of Red Wine
While much more research is needed, chemicals found in red wine may help to prevent certain types of cancer including leukemia, skin, breast and prostate cancer, states the National Cancer Institute. It is unclear, however, if non-alcoholic components of red wine are responsible for the protective effect or if it is the alcohol. It is possible that polyphenols found in red wine, may have antioxidant or anticancer properties.
Polyphenols
There are hundreds of polyphenols -- a type of chemical produced by plants -- and they are known to have antioxidant properties. While their actions in the body are still not well understood, certain polyphenols may help prevent the formation of potential carcinogens, suppress cancer development and aid the body in getting rid of free radicals, which can damage a cell's DNA and trigger the development of some forms of cancer, reports the American Cancer Society. Since red wine is made from grapes which contain polyphonols, consuming small amounts of red wine may provide a protective effect against breast and other forms of cancer.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a type of polyphenol that also helps the body destroy free radicals and inhibit cancer causing agents. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, it appears to target chemicals that may contribute to the development of breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreatic and thyroid cancers. It is still unclear, however, if drinking a moderate amount of red wine can provide the body with enough resveratrol to lower the risk of cancer.
Warnings
While a small amount of red wine may provide some health benefits, the Cleveland Clinic suggests controlling your intake because for some women, drinking one to two 5-oz. glasses of wine daily, can raise the risk of breast cancer by 10 percent. The risk climbs to 30 percent when consuming three or more drinks per day. To offset the increased risk, consume no more than four glasses of wine per week, take a multivitamin and get 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.
Solution
If you want the protective effects of red wine without the risk, there are many other foods that contain resveratrol and antioxidants. Resveratrol is found in red grapes, grape juice, peanuts, blueberries and cranberries and it comes in supplement-form. A diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables will provide the body with a beneficial amount of antioxidants. In addition, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise and not smoking all play a large role in reducing your risk of breast cancer. Getting regular mammograms and breast exams is also essential to catch the disease early, so it can be treated successfully.
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