| While drinking alcohol to excess leads to health | | | | deliver the resveratrol to the bloodstream. |
| problems in multiple organ systems, you've | | | | Sips that are slow and savoring work far better |
| probably also heard of red wine health benefits | | | | allowing the absorption of this oh-so-beneficial |
| when drunk in moderation. Long standing research | | | | compound. |
| backs up the benefits, but until now researchers | | | | Though it sounds complex and convoluted, |
| couldn't explain precisely how this might work. | | | | experts have found that high doses of |
| "Reports on the benefits of red wine are almost | | | | resveratrol increase a process called apoptosis |
| two centuries old," points out Lindsay Brown, | | | | (programmed cell death); while lower doses are |
| associate professor in the School of Biomedical | | | | thought to improve cardiac health by preventing |
| Sciences at The University of Queensland. | | | | cell damage. |
| "The media developed the more recent story of | | | | A likely explanation for this level dependent effect |
| the French paradox in the early 1990s. However, | | | | is that smaller concentrations of the compound |
| studies on the actions of resveratrol, one of the | | | | activate cell survival mechanisms, while high |
| active non-alcoholic ingredients, were uncommon | | | | concentrations turn on built in death signals in |
| until research around 1997 showed prevention of | | | | those same cells. |
| cancers. This led to a dramatic interest in this | | | | The compound might also help maintain health by |
| compound." | | | | removing very reactive oxidants in the body while |
| Not surprisingly, red wine brings together a | | | | aiding the supply of blood to cells. |
| complicated mix of antioxidants and other | | | | "The simplest explanation is that resveratrol turns |
| compounds, one of which is a polyphenol known | | | | on the cell's own survival pathways, preventing |
| as resveratrol that is showing itself to have some | | | | damage to individual cells," explains study author |
| amazing disease prevention abilities. | | | | Brown. "Further mechanisms help, including |
| The health benefits of this substance are certainly | | | | removing very reactive oxidants in the body and |
| impressive, everything from preventing cancer to | | | | improving blood supply to cells." |
| protecting the brain and heart from damage and | | | | If red wine isn't your thing, experts suggest that |
| age-related diseases, reversing diabetes, reducing | | | | by eating a couple of servings of blueberries (or |
| "bad" cholesterol, preventing blood clots, obesity | | | | red grapes, purple grape juice, peanuts or some |
| and more. | | | | berries) a day from now on you may well get the |
| But by far the most fascinating tidbit is the way | | | | same benefit. |
| the body gets the beneficial compounds. | | | | You might also have heard about resveratrol and |
| It appears that absorption of resveratrol through | | | | red wine health benefits in the news or on recent |
| the mucous membranes in the mouth results in | | | | 60 Minutes reports, but be wary of supplement |
| around 100 times the blood levels of the | | | | claims that use footage from the report, or cite |
| compound than a drinker would get via the | | | | an endorsement of Oprah Winfrey's medical |
| digestive system and liver. | | | | expert, Mehmel Oz, M.D. Dr. Oz hasn't endorsed |
| These body systems inactivate this helpful | | | | any product. |
| substance, so those gulped down glasses don't | | | | |