The Benefits of Resveratrol » Wine and Health

Does Sherry contain any Resveratrol? If so, how much?

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:02:13 +0000

“Kahn” ! ! asked:Here is a link about Resveratrol:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resveratrol

It does not mention Sherry, but maybe there is more of it in Red Wine.

Flavonoids and Red Wine

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:22:09 +0000

We have all heard that red wine is part of a healthy life, but it is important to understand the specifics of the benefits of red wine, so you can make the best of them. For instance, not many people are aware that it is only red wine that offers many benefits, because it contains certain flavonoids which white wine does not.

What Are Flavonoids?

Flavonoids are natural chemicals found in plants, fruits and vegetables. In terms of wine the flavonoids are found in the skin of the grapes. That is why they are only found in red wine. To make white wine you need to skin the grape.

Flavonoids keep your heart healthy in three important ways:

* They prevent blood clots

* They protect against oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol

* Lower high blood pressure

Through these hearth healthy benefits red wine helps prevent heart disease. In fact, studies have actually shown that one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men lower the risk of heart attack for people in middle age by 30-50 percent.

The Benefits Of Resveratrol

Resveratrol is one of the other benefits of red wine. This substance increases HDL, or good cholesterol, and also exhibits various antioxidant properties that help to prevent blood clots and plaque formation in the arteries.

Resveratrol can also be taken on its own as a dietary supplement. This is especially helpful for people who either don’t drink alcohol, can’t drink for medical reasons, or recovering alcoholics.

But Don’t Drink Too Much

Remember that wine can be a double edged sword, so moderate your drinking. Too much red wine, because of the alcohol content can put you at higher risk for conditions like:

* Alcoholism

* High blood pressure

* High cholesterol

* Stroke

* Obesity

* Cardiac arrhythmia

* Sudden cardiac death

Also be sure to check with your doctor to make sure that drinking alcohol is okay if you are on any prescription medication. Combining alcohol, even small amounts in come cases, with prescription drugs can cause harmful side effects.

Health always encompasses many things. Never think that one type of drink, such as wine, or one type of supplement, or one kind of food is going to make you healthy on its own. It takes a combination of things and a consistent commitment to your health and well-being.

So if you want to reap the benefits of red wine then you should also be eating a healthy, well-balanced diet of raw organic fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of pure water, and getting a lot of regular exercise. Good luck on your journey towards health and wellness!

Which Winemakers Produce Pinot Noir Wines Having the Highest Resveratrol Levels?

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:38:47 +0000

dflores777 asked:
I know Pinot Noir wines have some of the highest resveratrol levels. I’m interested in finding the winemakers that produce Pinot Noir wines that have the highest level of resveratrol.

White Wine Has Health Benefits Too

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:05:12 +0000

In my quest to learn more about wine, I always wondered what was better red or white wine, not only from a health point of view, but also in regards to etiquette as well.

Which is better for your heath?

Research has shown that wine in moderation can reduce mortality in the areas of cardiovascular disease (up to 50%) and cancer (up to 24%). But how?

Alcohol

Alcohol consumed in moderation can reduce bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol (HDL) levels, and can prevent blood clotting.

Antioxidants

Wine contains antioxidants which can reduce the ability of bad cholesterol being deposited into the artery wall thus reducing heart disease. These antioximdants also reduce the damage caused by toxins in the body (free radicals) which is linked to degenerative diseases such as cancer, alzheimers and parkinsons.

When grapes are converted to wine, it increases the antioxidant levels as well as producing alcohol thus containing far more antioxidants than taking things like concentrated grape extract.

Research shows that red wine contains more antioxidants than white wine but the amount does vary depending of things like the grape type, region, climate, soil, and oaked wine (oaked wines have more antioxidants than unoaked wines).

Research also shows that even though red wine may contain more antioxidants, there are different types of antioxidant molecules and the antioxidants found in white wine actually has increased beneficial effects on the health than those found in red.

So in summary, even though red wine contains more antioxidants, white wines antioxidants are better for the health thus research states that both red and white wines are comparable in regards to health benefits.

Red Wine and Cancer

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:38:02 +0000

Researchers have found that men who drink an average of four to seven glasses of red wine per week are only 52% as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as those who do not drink red wine, reports the June 2007 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch. In addition, red wine appears particularly protective against advanced or aggressive cancers.Researchers in Seattle collected information about many factors that might influence the risk of prostate cancer in men between ages 40 and 64, including alcohol consumption. At first the results for alcohol consumption seemed similar to the findings of many earlier studies: There was no relationship between overall consumption and risk.

But the scientists went one step further by evaluating each type of alcoholic beverage independently. Here the news was surprising-wine drinking was linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. And when white wine was compared with red, red had the most benefit. Even low amounts seemed to help, and for every additional glass of red wine per week, the relative risk declined by 6%.

Why red wine? Doctors don’t know but the answer may be in Resveratrol. But much of the speculation focuses on chemicals-including various flavonoids and Resveratrol missing from other alcoholic beverages. These components have antioxidant properties, and some appear to counterbalance androgens, the male hormones that stimulate the prostate.

Many doctors are reluctant to recommend drinking alcohol for health, fearing that their patients might assume that if a little alcohol is good, a lot might be better. The Harvard Men’s Health Watch notes that men who enjoy alcohol and can drink in moderation and responsibly may benefit from a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and cardiac death. Alternately,
Resveratrol supplements are available and the research on them is promising.