Resveratrol

Sep

18

While conventional medicine has made strides in treating colon cancer, the real goal is prevention and there is growing evidence that colon health may be promoted safely, effectively and naturally, using nutritional supplements.

Polyphenols, Plant-Based Anticancer Nutrients

Among the largest groups of plant-based nutrients with strong evidence of cancer-fighting potential is the polyphenol family. It includes the nutritional sub-groups tannins and flavonoids,which can slow, reverse or prevent cancer growth. The clinical evidence supporting polyphenols’ cancer-preventive power is considerable—and growing rapidly.These compounds are found in berries, tea, grapes/wine, olive oil, chocolate/cocoa, walnuts, and most other fruits and vegetables.

Here are a few of the polyphenol family’s most powerful members:

Curcumin

Recently, curcumin has emerged as a leading cancer fighter. Its nutritional profile includes antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin ranks among the polyphenols capable of disrupting a cancer that has started to develop and slow or stop tumor growth by apoptosis (cell destruction) and angiogenesis which limits blood vessel growth that tumors need to spread. Studies have shown that curcumin suppressed tumor growth in lab cultures better than a known chemo drug and with no toxicity.

Recently, it was discovered that a combination of curcumin and another anti-inflammatory polyphenol called quercetin (see below) could cause precancerous polyps to diminish substantially.

Resveratrol is a natural antibacterial agent and is found in many fruits and berries, including grapes, blueberries, and plums. It also appears in high concentrations in red wine. Clinical evidence suggests that resveratrol may specifically target colon cancer althought it is effective in fighting other cancers.
Researchers found that not only does it suppress cell proliferation—resveratrol activates the so-called “cancer-executioner protein” caspase-3. which starts apoptosis (cell destruction), but inflicts no cellular damage to normal human tissue. Resveratrol blocks the reproductive cycle in colon cancer cells by neutralizing the enzymes they need in order to replicate.

This makes resveratrol, along with curcumin, one of the most promising natural anticancer agents known to modern science.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a type of antioxidant called a flavonoid. Sources of quercetin are onions, garlic, tea, red grapes, berries, broccoli, apples and leafy greens. Quercetin also happens to possess a singular cancer-fighting feature: it can prevent cancer caused by chemicals. It blocks receptors that interact with carcinogenic chemical compounds. This makes it a perfect anticancer agent for the colon, where these chemicals tend to accumulate.

Quercetin dramatically suppresses one particular cancer-causing gene in colon cells so it is of great importance for individuals with a family history of colon cancer. As with curcumin and resveratrol, quercetin can block cancer development at many different stages.

Green Tea and EGCG

Green tea is rich in polyphenol compounds called catechins. The best-known cancer-preventive agent among them is called EGCG. Like resveratrol, EGCG slows blood vessel formation in tumors (angiogenesis), reducing the rate at which they can grow and spread. Consumption of green tea as a beverage may offer some protection against colon cancer. However, the higher, more concentrated doses of EGCG available in supplements may be required to get the maximum benefit. EGCG alongside curcumin and resveratrol is one of nature’s most potent polyphenols and a major force in fighting and possibly preventing colon cancer.

In addition, scientists discovered that green tea polyphenols generally deliver a direct preventive effect against colorectal cancer recurrence. In the study that was done, patients who had cancerous or precancerour polyps removed were given either a green tea-derived flavonoid mixture or a placebo. After four years. the placebo group experienced a 47% recurance rate and only 7% of the supplemented group had a recurrence.

The amount of research into plants-based treatments and prevention of many diseases is growing. While they don’t not have all of the answers, it is to our benefit to keep up with this every-growing body of information. We can indeed affect our health and in a very natural way.

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Sep

3

Resveratrol – A Life-Changing Substance?

Filed under: Resveratrol, health and nutrition; Tagged as: Caloric Restriction, calorie restriction, Cardiovascular Benefits, Cardiovascular Event, Clot Formation, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Failure, Life Span, Low Density Lipoprotein, metabolic syndrome, Platelets, resveratrol, Stickiness, Vascular Disease

Scientists are discovering significant preventive and therapeutic potential from resveratrol in fighting age-related diseases such as cardio-vascular disease, the metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.

It has long been known that caloric restriction slows the pace of aging. Now scientists are finding that resveratrol mimics the life-span-prolonging effects of caloric restriction also. Until recently, however, scientists haven’t known why drastic dieting increased longevity. Now they believe it is a type of protein called sirtuins. Sirtuins stabilize the DNA to prevent damage that can lead to age-related diseases as well as promoting DNA repair.

The benefits of resveratrol seem to be growing as more and more research is done. Here is some of the benefits.

Cardiovascular

Many studies have shown the impact of resveratrol on reducing the risks of heart disease and the damage from strokes. Some of these discoveries include the reduction of atherosclerosis, inflammation, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) oxidation, and a reduced “stickiness” of platelets leading to a reduction in deadly clot formation.

Findings show that resveratrol not only may prevent a cardiovascular event but it may reverse the damage should one occur.
Stroke is another devastating outcome of atherosclerosis. Through its activation of sirtuin molecules, resveratrol can prevent injury to brain cells.
Researchers have also measured how platelet aggregation or “clumping” which is an important factor in clot formation in heart attacks and strokes is affected by resveratrol. They found that there was an increase in nitric oxide which lowers the amount of clumping.
In the studies being conducted, the supplemented animals also had reductions in their blood pressure.

Lower Cholesterol

Scientists have now established a relationship between resveratrol, inflammation, blood lipids, immune cells, and the cells lining arterial walls. In studies with mice, they had consistently

Lower total cholesterol and LDL levels than did control animals as well as consistently higher levels of beneficial HDL (high-density lipoprotein).
Also, the resveratrol-supplemented group saw higher levels of an enzyme called paraoxonase, which is an HDL-associated protein that prevents the LDL oxidation. In addition, the cholesterol-producing enzyme HMG-CoA-reductase (HMGR) was significantly lower. The prescription drugs called statins are used to control HMGR activity.

Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome

Type 2 diabetes is associated with development of the metabolic syndrome, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Studies have established beyond doubt that red wine consumption is associated with a lower incidence of metabolic syndrome and heart disease. Resveratrol helps regulate glucose levels in the blood of diabetic patients while delivering glucose to skeletal muscles. In fact, resveratrol’s activation of sirtuins is so effective that many researchers are now interested in its use as a potential drug for the treatment of diabetes.

In endless studies, resveratrol continues to mimic many of the metabolic benefits of caloric restriction through its activation of sirtuins, without the deprivation associated with a reduced calorie diet. There will undoubtedly be more results from the myriad of studies being conducted. It seems that resveratrol may be a life-changing substance.

As a side note – resveratrol does quickly dissipate when in contact with oxygen. The level of resveratrol in wine will be drastically reduced in a bottle that is open overnight. Which also means that supplements on the market that do NOT guarantee the potency of resveratrol may have very little. Check the label for guaranteed potency.

Lower Your Risk of Colon Cancer, Naturally

Polyphenols, Plant-Based Anticancer Nutrients

Curcumin

Resveratrol

Quercetin

Green Tea and EGCG

Resveratrol – A Life-Changing Substance?

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