| Not all that long ago I used to attend art | | | | properly they freely dilate bringing down your |
| exhibitions in Sydney, Australia. No, I am not an | | | | blood pressure. The only question is how much of |
| artist but just a person who happened to live in | | | | the good red is too much? |
| the trendier parts of town. It was a nice way to | | | | Nobody is suggesting you go out and buy a crate |
| spend a Saturday afternoon - browsing new | | | | of red to be consumed immediately, but a glass |
| paintings by up-and-coming local artists. More | | | | or two a day is ideal for most people ... this is the |
| often than not they would offer the guests small | | | | perfect consumption to keep your heart and |
| portions of various cheeses along with a selection | | | | arteries young - and maintain your blood pressure |
| of moderately priced wines. I had a great time, | | | | at healthy levels. Which red wine is best? The |
| but I did not know that what I was doing was | | | | darker varieties are best as they are higher in the |
| also giving me a health boost bonus! You see, | | | | protective resveratrol flavonoid. As far as white |
| wine and cheese are the Batman & Robin | | | | wine is concerned, you really should not bother ... |
| dynamic duo for lowering your blood pressure. | | | | it has much less benefit than the mighty red. |
| When was the last time you had a wine and | | | | ~ A Chunk of Cheese ~ |
| cheese party? You do not need to be an artist to | | | | When we think of cheese we tend to think of |
| enjoy one; it is a great way to entertain guests | | | | how much fat it contains, and whilst cheese does |
| and a good excuse to get together. It is also a | | | | have more than enough saturated fat, a little is |
| nice way to ward-off high blood pressure. | | | | actually good for you. The key is, of course, |
| Cheese & wine parties are excellent for larger | | | | moderation. Just like red wine, if you do not go |
| get-togethers as well. You can make it lots of fun | | | | overboard, it can be healthy. Too much of it and |
| by having every guest bring a bottle of wine and | | | | your cholesterol levels can rise. |
| an exotic cheese. It is a great way to sample | | | | When cheese is being made and the milk is |
| new wines and cheeses ... and a perfect way to | | | | fermenting ... peptides are released from the milk |
| get to know your friends better with free-flowing | | | | proteins. Peptides, which are related to proteins |
| wine and conversation. | | | | and amino acids, help to control your blood |
| What better way to kick-back and relax ... both | | | | pressure by impeding the enzymes that convert |
| you and your arteries. Wine is good for lowering | | | | angiotensin. |
| your blood pressure ... and so is cheese. But not | | | | Angiotensin are made up of any of the three |
| just any old wine, make it a red one. Read on to | | | | polypeptide hormones, one of which is a powerful |
| find out why. | | | | vasoconstrictor (something that constricts a blood |
| ~ A glass or two of red ~ | | | | vessel). When the protein angiotensin gets |
| The flavonol called resveratol is a protective | | | | converted to angiotensin II it constricts your |
| antioxidant. Free radicals are agents that affect | | | | arteries and increases the retention of water and |
| chemical reactions in the body; they can cause cell | | | | sodium. This whole process has a rather adverse |
| damage resulting in cancer and other problems | | | | affect on your blood pressure - it pumps it right |
| such as high blood pressure. Resveratol as the | | | | up! |
| protective antioxidant protects your arteries | | | | You can stop the reaction that forces your blood |
| against the damage done by free radicals and also | | | | pressure up by taking in the other peptides - |
| assists in preventing the hardening of your | | | | those found in fermented milk products like |
| arteries. | | | | cheese. Eating a small wedge of cheese blocks |
| Flavonol also benefits you in another important | | | | the enzyme that creates angiotensin II, helps |
| way. The clumping together of blood platelets | | | | your arteries to stay relaxed, and thereby keeps |
| causes blood clotting and thrombosis - not | | | | your blood pressure down. |
| something you want to have to deal with as both | | | | ~ Take it easy with a nice glass of Shiraz and a |
| can be deadly serious problems! Flavonol is active | | | | Slice of Gruyere ~ |
| in stopping your platelets from bunching up | | | | Having been at the grinding wheel all day ... when |
| together; a glass of red wine helps your body to | | | | the tension built up during the day has pumped up |
| prevent these nasty problems by keeping your | | | | your blood pressure ... why not enjoy some nice |
| blood smoothly flowing through your arteries. | | | | cheeses with a glass of dark red wine. Relax your |
| And some more good news ... recent studies | | | | mind, relax your body, relax your arteries ... get |
| have shown that drinking red wine also helps to | | | | your blood pressure back to a normal level. It will |
| improve the operation of your artery linings. | | | | be greatly appreciated by your heart! |
| When the linings of your arteries are working | | | | |