Drink Red Wine to Avoid Radiation Illnesses

The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that the latest explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant may have breached the primary containment of one reactor. Coupled with news Tuesday of a fire in a cooling pond where used nuclear material is stored, the IAEA report makes it clear that radiation is a serious concern for Japanese residents.

In the initial days after the earthquake and tsunami, a portion of the area surrounding the plant was evacuated, but now more than 140,000 additional residents are being told to stay indoors and seal their homes against the radiation. Low levels of radiation were beginning to reach the outskirts of Tokyo, a city of 39 million people. Though the threat to Tokyo is not yet considered a danger to human health, residents must be thinking about protecting themselves from radiation exposure, sickness and poisoning.

For those in outlying areas with minimal exposure risk, one proffered solution might even be enjoyable: drink red wine. In the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, researchers advised residents to drink more wine or vodka to help protect their cells from damage due to radiation. The key ingredient, also found in grape juice and some other plants, is the antioxidant Resveratol.

Many natural health food stores offer the antioxidant as a supplement and Resveratol drinks are available as a fruit juice in many Sam's Clubs, but the study showed it was even more effective when combined with alcohol. So for those facing minimal exposure, red wine can help protect the body and reduce the stress.

Additionally, a Boston University School of Medicine study in 2009 showed that synthetic antioxidants administered after exposure can reduce tissue damage due to radiation exposure.

Residents in the region exposed to contamination should be certain to avoid drinking water that may have come from the exposure zone or eating food produced in that region. They should also seek out medical assistance as it becomes available, including treatment with iodine pills, which may help reduce the chances of thyroid cancer.

If it is possible, people should move outside the area of contamination and then remove clothing that may have been exposed and wash gently to remove radiation on the skin. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency suggests:

"External contamination may be eliminated or reduced by simply removing clothing and using conventional cleansing techniques on body surfaces, i.e., gentle washing and flushing that does not abrade the skin surface. Internal contamination, however, does not lend itself to conventional treatment using techniques normally associated with such problems as chemical poisoning and must be evaluated by experts."

Plastic sheeting can be used to prevent additional contaminants from entering a structure, but when people must be out, the best thing to do is get out of the exposure area and increase consumption of antioxidants and iodine.