I Just Knew That Wine Was Good for Me

Aside from feeling very sophisticated when you sip wine at dinner, wine is again in the news for its health benefits.

According to a new study released on July 13, drinking one cup of wine per day can reduce the risk of contracting Alzheimer's disease among those over 75. Even up to two glasses per day decreases the risk of Alzheimer's by 37%

And what is in the wine that is so healthy? Well in red wine in particular it's the antioxidants, called flavonoids, that is found in the skin and seeds of the red grape.

These flavonoids reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by:

-- reducing production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also know as
the "bad" cholesterol)
-- by boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the good cholesterol)
-- by reducing blood clotting

Red Wine Can Fight Fat

Great news to those of us who enjoy red wine or who drink it for the heart benefits. The compound in wine (and grapes) can now fight fat as well. Resveratrol can inhibit the development of fat cells according to a study done at the University of Ulm in Germany, as reported in the New York Times.

What happens is that Resveratrol prevents "pre-fat cells" from converting into mature fat cells. This wonderful compound can also hinder fat storage in cells.

And wait there's more. It can reduce production of certain cytokines, which are substances that may be linked to the development of obesity-related disorders like diabetes and clogged coronary arteries. Resveratrol also stimulated the formation of a protein called adiponectin. The substance, known to decrease risk of heart attack, is diminished by obesity.

L'Chaim!

Red Wine - Drink To Your Health

Wasn't there a song a million years ago extolling the virtues of red wine? I think it went red, red wine, stay close to me...
The song writers knew something that we have learned only last week, that the resveratrol, found in red wine, helps mice to live longer.

If it works for mice, it's good enough for me.

The study was conducted by Harvard Medical School and the National Institutes of Health. (Let's note however that the amount of resvertol that were given to the mice was equivalent to 300 glasses of wine per day, so we'd need supplements to get such high doses.)


Since other studies have also extolled the virtue of drinking red wine, I think I'll join my French friend who drinks one glass of red wine per day.

The additional health benefits are that when I have a glass of wine with him we relax, laugh and share our thoughts for that day and we feel happy. And I know happiness is good for your health.