It’s been claimed that drinking red wine, apparently, has its health benefits. Now, this sweet revelation is by no way an excuse for us to go out there and drink as many bottles of Italian red wine as we can get our hands on!; but it’s good to know that, when taken in moderation, it can actually be good for our health.
Doesn’t that just fill your heart with joy? You knew there was a reason why red wine was your favourite wine of choice. And now you’re about to find out exactly why!
It’s been suggested that a glass of red wine a day (for women) and 2 glasses of red wine a day (for men) may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers; particularly in men aged over 40 and post-menopausal women. And not only that, it may also help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.
God, don’t you just want to dance round the room with your favourite bottle of red wine and pour yourself a glass knowing you’re doing your body a whole lot of good!
Red wine apparently also reduces the chances of kidney stones forming, as well as reducing the hardening of the arteries. It’s also claimed to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
So what is it about red wine that makes it so good for us? Well, red grapes (and other deeply coloured fruits and vegetables) are high in substances called flavanoids and resveratrol (also jointly known as ‘antioxidants’). These substances are responsible for the health benefits mentioned above.
White wine on the other hand, though containing antioxidants, contains nowhere near as much as its red counterpart and is therefore less beneficial health-wise (though it tastes just as good!).
(img by: robsmith-qld)
In November Harvard Medical School published consecutive papers in
the journals Cell and Nature showing that biotivia Transmax, a
commercial extract of the resveratrol compound found in red wine,
could reduce the impact of a high fat diet, increase stamina two fold
and extend the lifespan of mice by 31%. No other compound has been
able to do this. Resveratrol also prevented the normal diseases of
aging and obesity in these mice. The extract used in lab studies of
resveratrol, biotivia transmax, allows scientist to obtain an
equivalent dose of resveratrol equal to 200 bottles of red wine. Now,
scientists at Sirtris Pharmacuetical are trying to develop SIRT1
activating molecules that mimic the effect of bioforte resveratrol
extract but are even more potent. It is not obesity per se that is
the problem. It is the serious health consequences such as diabetes
and heart disease that cost society so dearly. Resveratrol research
appears to be a promisng candidate for preventing these disorders.
Thanks for your information! I’m going to drink much more red wine now!