| Does red wine protect against heart disease? | | | | show that in areas of France where the diet is |
| Maybe. Many studies investigated the benefits of | | | | high in fat those who drink red wine with meals |
| red wine suggested that moderate amount of red | | | | have a lower incidence of heart attack than other |
| wine (one drink a day for women and two drinks | | | | parts of the world. Due to vast differences in |
| a day for men) lowers the risk of heart attack | | | | diets, the evidence is inconclusive, but experts |
| for people in middle age by ~ 30 to 50 percent. It | | | | believe that red wine contains certain compounds |
| is also suggested that alcohol such as red wine | | | | that help protect the heart. This has opened the |
| may prevent additional heart attacks if you have | | | | door for other researchers to study the |
| already suffered from one. The compounds found | | | | components in red wine that may be responsible |
| in red wine that are responsible for its healing | | | | for its health benefits. |
| powers are antioxidants. Red wines contain | | | | Researchers at Northwestern University Medical |
| several antioxidants beneficial to good health. | | | | School have found that a chemical in red wine |
| Different antioxidants have different functions, but | | | | believed to help reduce risk for heart disease is a |
| the key feature of all these antioxidants appears | | | | form of estrogen. The substance, resveratrol, is |
| to be one of protection and prevention of disease. | | | | highly concentrated in the skin of grapes and is |
| Other studies also indicated that red wine can | | | | abundant in red wine. Resveratrol protects grapes |
| raise HDL cholesterol (the Good cholesterol) and | | | | and some other plants against fungal infections. It |
| prevent LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) | | | | has been shown previously to have a number of |
| from forming. Red wine may help prevent blood | | | | potentially beneficial properties, including |
| clots and reduce the blood vessel damage caused | | | | antioxidant, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and |
| by fat deposits. Indeed, studies showed that | | | | anti-cancer effects. |
| people from the Mediterranean region who | | | | Should I start drinking more red wine now? The |
| regularly drank red wine have lower risks of heart | | | | answer is no. Studies showed that alcohol drinking |
| disease. | | | | may increase triglycerides (another bad blood |
| Here is something very interesting. The French | | | | lipids) and result in weight gain due to its empty |
| seem to know something about the health | | | | calories. Other studies also suggested that alcohol |
| benefits of red wine. In a study that compared | | | | consumption is associated with cancer risk. The |
| French and German red wines, the French red | | | | American Heart Association cautions people NOT |
| wines delivered a greater health benefit due to | | | | to start drinking if they do not already drink |
| their higher level of antioxidants. This may partially | | | | alcohol. |
| account for the "French paradox," where studies | | | | Interested on this subject? |