We all know the saying: a glass of wine a day, keeps the doctor away. Or maybe that was for apples. Regardless, we've all heard that a glass of wine can be healthy for us. We look at some of the health benefits that we can derive from drinking wine.
- Makes you young
Reservatrol is an ingredient found in grapes and wine. According to scientists at Scripps Research Institute, reservation powerfully activates and evolutionary ancient stress response in the body that is responsible for limiting stress and damage to our DNA. According to senior investigator Paul Schimmel "This stress response represents a layer of biology that has been largely overlooked, and resveratrol turns out to activate it at much lower concentrations than those used in prior studies."
-Makes you lose weight
Reservatrol once again gives us more reason to drink wine (in moderation). The Telegraph reports, research has shown that resveratrol can turn flab into calorie-burning "brown" fat. Mice were given resveratrol equivalent to humans consuming 12 ounces of fruit per day. These mice given resveratrol gained 40% less weight compared to mice not given reservatrol.
This is also the suspected reason for the "French paradox" wherein people from French region generally consume a higher cholesterol diet yet suffer fewer heart complications.
- Reduced Heart Risks
A new Harvard study provides that there are two sides of the coin for drinking. On one side are adverse effects in the short term and on the other, positive health benefits in the long term. According to Dr. Elizabeth Mostofsky of Harvard, "Just after drinking, blood pressure rises and blood platelets become stickier increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes." She went to on to add "However, regularly drinking small amounts of alcohol in the long term appears to both increase levels of HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), the so-called good cholesterol, and reduce blood clots. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation."
These are some benefits of drinking red wine. But like the later study suggests, drinking, in general, has two effects. It can be beneficial or detrimental depending on consumption. So to take advantage of the benefits, do so in moderate amounts.
