According Agra-Food Canada most of us Canadians are drinking more red wine than ever before. Is this cause for concern? As if you needed an excuse… other than the obvious after work stress release that comes with a glass of red wine, the habit of drinking red wine a daily can help you lose weight, and keep your heart healthy. Here are the facts about red wine.
It can help lower your cholesterol levels. A University in Spain found that the fiber found in Tempranillo red grapes can play a significant role in reducing cholesterol in the body. Healthy participants in one study consumed the same grape supplement found in red wine and saw a 9% drop in “bad cholesterol”. And unhealthy study participants (with high cholesterol levels) dropped bad cholesterol levels by 12%. Since bad cholesterol or LDL is a direct link to arterial wall plaque, high blood pressure, and ultimately heart attack, red wine can be considered a health drink!
It protects the heart. Polyphenols (or antioxidants in red wine) keep blood vessels from becoming ridged and reduce clotting according to Dr. John Folts PhD of the University of Wisconsin, USA. He says that these Polyphenols are “almost as effective as aspirin” but that’s only in moderation as chronic heavy drinking damages the heart.
Red wine can help control blood sugar. A rich source of the natural compound resveratrol is found in the skins of red grapes. One study published in the journal Nutrition found that when participants took just 250 mg of resveratrol once a day for three months, they had lower blood glucose levels than others who didn’t take resveratrol. Participants taking the supplement also had lower cholesterol, and lower blood pressure. Some researchers speculate that resveratrol may stimulate insulin secretion or activate a protein that may help regulate glucose and insulin receptiveness.
Can make you smart. One scientist thinks that resveratrol found in red grape skins may also help keep your memory sharp. Resveratrol can slow the formation of the protein beta-amyloid a building block of the plaque found in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers.
Antioxidants in red wine can help you avoid getting a cold. The American Journal of Epidemiology followed 4000 faculty members at five different Spanish universities and discovered that people who drank 14 + glasses of red per week were 40% less likely to catch a cold. This is because Antioxidants are thought to help fight infection and protect cells against free radical effects that might play a role in more serious illnesses or disease.
