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