Print |
E-mail to a friend
FEATURED
YOU Docs: Vitamin B-6-rich foods a must for alcohol drinkers
Tonight at dinner, think in reverse. Instead of selecting a wine that complements your meal, plan what food you'll have with your wine. Pairing foods high in vitamin B-6 with your favorite vintage may help you defeat one of the leading cancers.
The thing about wine or any other form of alcohol is that women who drink more than two glasses per week tend to have lower levels of vitamin B-6. That's not great, because a large study found that women who ate the most B-6-rich foods were 34 percent less likely to develop colon cancer during the next seven to 10 years than women who consumed the lowest amounts. Your body needs B-6 to synthesize DNA, red blood cells and the brain chemical serotonin, among other things. Lack of this vitamin may cause irritability and depression (and you thought it was because your favorite American Idol didn't win).
So, what should you order with your pinot? Chicken (skinless, of course), turkey (no skin here, either) and tomato paste are rich in B-6, and also conveniently work well with red or white wines. Tell friends who aren't enjoying wine about B-6, too.
But don't stop there. To help keep colon cancer at bay (not to mention breast, prostate, lymphoma and ovarian cancers), you and your buddies should partake of vitamin D. Get 1,000 IU per day; 1,200 if you're over age 60. Also key for colon health: Eat no more than one serving of red meat per week, have plenty of fruits and vegetables, talk to your doc about aspirin, exercise regularly and follow the colon cancer screening schedule recommended by your doc.
The YOU Docs -- Mike Roizen and Mehmet Oz -- are authors of the best-selling "YOU: The Owner's Manual" and "YOU: On a Diet." To submit questions and find ways to grow younger and healthier, go to www.RealAge.com, the docs' online home.
