Dear Reader,




I get a lot of flak every time I send out an eTip about the benefits of wine. While I respect
everyone's right to abstain if they so choose, there's no arguing the fact that, in
moderation, red wine does help make your heart healthier. And a new study published in
the journal Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology shows that the major
antioxidant compound in red wine may do a whole lot more. Researchers found that it
can actually shut down one of the deadliest types of cancer -- pancreatic.



The University of Rochester Medical Center research team looked at the effects of
resveratrol, a potent antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine, on pancreatic cancer
cells. When they pre-treated the cells with resveratrol prior to exposing them to
chemotherapy and radiation, they found that resveratrol made the cells more receptive to
the traditional treatment by reducing their capacity to pump the chemo back out.



While that is an undeniably significant discovery, the next one was, in my opinion, even
more exciting. The researchers also found that the resveratrol itself caused apoptosis -- or
death -- in the cancer cells. Without chemo.



Of course, this is just one study, and as all scientists like to say "more research is needed"
before resveratrol will earn a widespread recommendation from oncologists. But any
natural substance that can cripple one of the deadliest forms of cancer and give patients
hope for a longer, possibly cancer-free life without the additionally devastating effects of
radiation or chemo is worth a closer look.



And in the meantime, resveratrol is available from many natural food stores and online
vitamin retailers -- or from a nice glass of red wine.



Yours in good health,

Goldie