As healthcare costs continue to escalate, the concept of disease prevention is becoming more and more attractive. The use of vaccines is well accepted by all reasonable people and even mandated by law in some cases. In terms of drug therapy, the use of tamoxifen for the prevention of breast cancer, celebrex for the prevention of colon familial polyps, and aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer is well established. It is likely that additional vaccines will be developed in due course, and it is likely that new drug therapies will be implemented as part of overall disease prevention strategies. In terms of disease prevention, a concept that must constantly be remembered is the creed of the physician: first, do no harm. This concept is distinctly related to the 5-A-Day for Better Health campaign.
Should the grape be included among the group of fruits and vegetables recommended for health maintenance or disease prevention? Based on existing data, the answer is yes. Grapes are a valuable source of numerous phytonutrients, including the intensively studied constituent, resveratrol. A question worth addressing is the potential of dietary grape consumption to positively modulate human health. Many studies have suggested cardiovascular benefits, and some work has indicated cancer chemopreventive activity. Data are particularly compelling in the area of skin cancer prevention. With financial support provided by the California Table Grape Commission, novel and exciting preliminary data are emerging from independent research suggesting beneficial activity against other less prevalent but devastating illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease and urinary bladder dysfunction. It is further suggested that some of the copious amounts of data obtained with resveratrol may be relevant to grape consumption, especially responses that can be mediated by low concentrations of the substance. Whether future specific health claims will be sought from or allowed by regulatory authorities is not known, but based on existing data, it is clear that grapes should be considered an integral component of fruit and vegetable enriched diets that are recommended by health authorities and widely accepted as beneficial for human health and disease prevention. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Aug 27
Blackcurrant compounds target Alzheimer’s progression
Armed with a ₤60 million war chest from the Scottish government, researchers in Aberdeen are aiming to slow the progress of Alzheimer’ with bioactive compounds from blackcurrants. ...http://www.nutraingredients.com
posted by Valery Yermalitsky at
6:53 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home