Is Red Wine Good for your Health?
March 10, 2007
Welcome Moms! Please register as a user and feel free to submit your posts and comments often! We are link friendly and super excited about what you have to say!
It has long been debated whether alcoholic beverages, such as wine, have any medicinal attributes. If eating grapes is good for you, then why not drinking the wine that comes from those grapes? Research has found that substances contained in red wine can provide benefits for your heart and your cholesterol levels.
The proof is in the grapes. Well, it’s in the skin and seeds to be more exact. Substances called flavonoids. Flavonoids are antioxidants that reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. These substances decrease the “bad cholesterol” (LDL) in the blood and increase the ”good cholesterol” (HDL). They also decrease clotting in the blood which could lead to the formation of thromboses or embolisms, increasing the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction.
Another substance found to be present in red wine is resveratrol. Resveratrol is another antioxidant that is found in grape skin. It also works on the cholesterol levels in the body to lower the risk of heart disease. This antioxidant has been speculated to be helpful in cancer research and in nerve cell formation.
One other substance found is called saponin. Saponins are plant compounds found in some of the foods we eat like soybeans. Saponins are believed to block cholesterol from being absorbed by the blood, thereby lowering the levels of blood cholesterol. Saponin levels in red wine have been found to be near or equal to the levels of resveratrol also found in the same red wines.
Though there are benefits to drinking red wine, this does not mean you need to go out and stock up on alcohol if you currently do not drink. The varieties they recommend that you drink for the greatest health benefit are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, red zinfandel, and Petit Syrah. The recommended serving is a glass a day. Here, a serving is defined as four ounces of alcohol. Depending on the size of your wine glass, it should be about half. Not much is needed to reap the benefits from the grapes it contains.
People who don’t drink may want to know if grape juice can produce the same results as red wine. The answer is yes and no. Drinking grape juice will reduce the occurrence of clots in the blood but it will not offer any significant benefit to the level of bad cholesterol present in the blood. Research has shown that non-alcoholic red wine does contain the same antioxidants that are found in fermented red wine. This begs the question: what is really responsible for the heart healthy benefit-the specific grapes, the alcohol, or something else?
For now, relax. Enjoy a drink with your dinner if you choose. A glass of red wine is good for your heart.
Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.
Posted by admin | Filed Under Health & Wellness
Similar Posts
- Cholesterol Levels On The Rise - Why You Should Monitor Yours
- The Benefits of Fish Oil - Good For Your Heart
- Fruit Juice: Should You Eliminate It From Your Child’s Diet?
Comments
(Join our Ad Spinner)
How to finally bring a hot meal to the table every night of the week - even if you work full time or think you have the craziest schedule on earth!