Posts Tagged ‘resveratrol’
Why Drinking Red Wine Can Prolong Your Life
During the 1990s, a study was undertaken to determine why there was a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease among the French despite their diet being one of high fat. The answer points to the citizens’ moderate and steady consumption of wine; this came to be known as the “French paradox.”
It is indeed a paradox that an intoxicating drink can bring health benefits, but studies have shown that wine has a high amount of resveratrol–a type of antioxidant found in red grape skins. In the case of red wines, the grape skins which contain resveratrol are fermented along with the grape.
Extensive research on the effects of resveratrol has been conducted and, more often than not, the results have been promising. Studies were made on worms, flies, fish, and mice, and a correlation between resveratrol and its anti-aging effect has been established. Initial findings show that the chemical compound can have both an anti-cancer and an anti-inflammatory effect. Currently, resveratrol is also being studied to see if it has potential to combat diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
So there is no reason to be afraid of drinking moderate amounts of red wine. Positive benefits can be obtained by drinking one glass, approximately five ounces, per day for women and one or two glasses per day for men.
There is a caveat however. Health benefits can be derived from wine drinking only if it is consumed moderately. Drinking more than ten ounces in a day can, in fact, be detrimental to your health. This means that you increase your health risks if you drink more than two glasses of wine per day. Likewise, cutting back on wine for six days only to drink the entire week’s allotment on the weekend will not have a positive effect.
As with most things, moderation is the key. As long as you take wine in small amounts you can toast your way to a long life and good health.