Wheat for Health

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Wheat for Health

Feb. 25, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows wheat may pack a

powerful punch when it comes to fighting cancer and other diseases.

The potent component in whole wheat seems to be an antioxidant called an

orthophenol. Orthophenols are able to kill cancer cells and are more

common in whole-wheat products and less common in highly processed wheat

products, such as white bread. In a recent study, Dolores Takemoto, a

biochemist from Kansas State University, put mice on diets of wheat that

were either high or low in orthophenols. Takemoto says: " We were able to

reduce tumor size and number of tumors by about 60 percent in the

animals that go the really good diets. In wheat, we found that the

orthophenols were very high in the [diets] that killed cancer the best. "

Takemoto adds, " In the past, we thought the fiber in wheat prevented

cancer. This discovery shows that there are antioxidants, in addition to

fiber, which are responsible for preventing cancer. " With the results of

this research, she hopes to create a genetically modified wheat strain

with high levels of cancer-fighting chemicals. She does point out there

are already some wheat strains available that contain a significant

number of orthophenols.

Takemoto says the antioxidants in wheat can help rid the body of free

radicals. She says: " Throughout life you make a lot of free radicals.

You want to keep them from forming because they contribute to heart

disease, cancer, diabetes, cataracts, even wrinkling. "

SOURCE: Kansas State University, 2002