| In studies conducted in 1992, it was observed | | | | is exhausted, LDL cholesterol is no longer |
| that in southern France, mortality rates from | | | | protected until the vitamin can be |
| heart disease were lower than expected | | | | reactivated by agents such as polyphenols. |
| despite the consumption of diets high in | | | | |
| saturated fat. | | | | · Increasing the production of |
| | | | nitric oxide, a substance that causes the |
| Researchers attributed the impressive low | | | | arteries and veins to relax. |
| incidence of heart disease, 50 percent lower | | | | |
| than in the Unites States, to the consumption | | | | · Preventing platelets from |
| of red wine. Since then, the possibility that | | | | sticking to the inside walls of the arteries. |
| drinking red wine might protect our heart | | | | Platelets are tiny particles found in the |
| arteries, has made the topic "wine and | | | | blood that play an important part in the |
| health" extremely popular. In fact, research | | | | clotting process². |
| has shown that taken in moderation -two 8 | | | | |
| ounces glasses for men and 1 glass for women | | | | Red versus white wine |
| per day, red wine may increase HDL | | | | |
| cholesterol, the "good" guy, decrease LDL | | | | White wines have shown the ability to |
| cholesterol, the "bad" one, prevent oxidation | | | | prevent the oxidation of LDL but generally |
| of LDL, and scavenge free radicals. | | | | are not as effective as red wines. Polyphenol |
| | | | content of red wine can be about 20 times |
| What is the secret in red wine? | | | | higher than in white wine and it has been |
| | | | observed in several studies that the |
| Since the discovery of the "French Paradox" | | | | antioxidant potential of red wine is six to |
| puzzle in 1992, researchers have been trying | | | | ten times higher than white wine. About eight |
| to pinpoint why red wine has a cardiovascular | | | | times more of white wine is required to |
| protective effect. While studies have been | | | | produce an effect equal to red wine on |
| focusing in the antioxidant properties of red | | | | preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. |
| wine, evidence suggests other mechanisms by | | | | Three factors account for these results: |
| which it might be beneficial for our health. | | | | |
| Research points toward a family of substances | | | | · Grape skins are not included in |
| called polyphenols which are found in plants | | | | the production of white wine. |
| and are abundant in grapes. Polyphenols are | | | | |
| part of a larger family known as | | | | · Red wine is made with whole |
| phytochemicals. | | | | grapes, including skins |
| | | | |
| Phytochemicals: Medicine of the future | | | | · The skins of red grapes contain |
| | | | higher amounts of polyphenols than the skins |
| The word "phyto" means "plant" in | | | | of white grapes. |
| Greek. Phytochemicals are nonnutritive | | | | |
| chemicals found in plants that protect us | | | | Wine or grapes for healthy arteries? |
| against diseases. Many fruits and vegetables | | | | |
| contain a wide variety of phytochemicals; in | | | | If the polyphenols in grapes are |
| fact, researchers have identified by now more | | | | mostly in the skins, can we just have red |
| then 900 different phytochemicals in foods | | | | grapes or red grape juice, which is also made |
| and they are not done yet, since every day | | | | with the grape skins, and obtain the same |
| they discover new ones. It is estimated that | | | | beneficial effects as drinking red wine? Yes, |
| there may be more than 100 different | | | | we can, researchers tell us. |
| phytochemicals in just one serving of fruit | | | | |
| or vegetables. | | | | This study, among others, showed that red |
| | | | grape juice and dealcoholized red wine can |
| Studies have long shown that | | | | significantly reduce arterial disease by |
| phytochemicals are present in plants to | | | | lowering the level of oxidized cholesterol, |
| protect them, but only recently we have | | | | preventing platelets to stick together, and |
| learned that they are also crucial in | | | | enhancing the production of nitric oxide³. |
| protecting humans against diseases. We know | | | | In another study, grape juice proved to be |
| that people who consume plant foods regularly | | | | more effective than red wine or dealcoholized |
| have a lower incidence of heart disease than | | | | red wine in inhibiting arterial disease at |
| people who do not include them in their diet. | | | | the same polyphenol dose. The researchers |
| | | | concluded that grape juice or non-alcoholic |
| How can phenol-phytochemicals protect our | | | | red wine are an excellent alternative to red |
| arteries? | | | | wine when in comes to disease of the arteries |
| | | | . |
| Polyphenols can protect our arteries through | | | | |
| the following mechanisms: | | | | Conclusion |
| | | | |
| · Lowering LDL cholesterol in the | | | | Although research has shown that in the |
| blood. A study conducted to evaluate the | | | | absence of contraindications, moderate red |
| effect of moderate Sicilian red wine | | | | wine drinking, two 8 ounces glasses for men |
| consumption on cardiovascular risk factors | | | | and 1 glass for women per day, may be |
| found out that at the end of the red wine | | | | beneficial to patients who have a |
| intake period, 4 weeks, LDL cholesterol and | | | | cardiovascular condition, those health |
| oxidized LDL had significantly decreased, | | | | effects disappear very fast and can have |
| while HDL Cholesterol and the total | | | | serious health implications when we abuse |
| antioxidant capacity of the blood had | | | | drinking. And since studies indicate that |
| increased¹. | | | | most of the beneficial effects of drinking |
| | | | red wine are attributable to the polyphenols |
| · Recycling vitamin E as an | | | | present in grapes, we may conclude that a |
| antioxidant. This is very important because | | | | diet that includes grapes as well as other |
| vitamin E represents the first line of | | | | fruits and vegetables containing polyphenols |
| defense against LDL oxidation. Once vitamin E | | | | may be even more beneficial. |