Celiac.com 02/17/2009 - Texas AgriLife Research scientist Dr.
Nancy Turner has recently discovered that a microscopic compound
commonly found in plant-based foods reduces inflammation and
prevents the formation of cancerous lesions in the colon. The
tiny molecule, called quercetin, is easily absorbed when people
eat fruits and vegetables, and so requires no specialized
supplements or drugs. Quercetin is a tiny, but powerful compound
that is easily absorbed from onions, peppers, tomatoes and most
other common produce. According to Turner, nearly all plant-
based foods offer "some level of quercetin," including "fun
things like wine." Previous laboratory research has shown
quercetin to be effective in reducing rates of colon cancer, but
Turner's study is the first to illuminate the mechanism by which
quercetin works its magic. These results offer researchers
another line of inquiry into other inflammatory bowel diseases
such as Crohn's and celiac disease, as it's quite likely that
quercetin can offer some measur