Wine, if used in moderation, especially red varieties, can help lower cholesterol and fight cardiovascular disease. Also, studies show that it can kill bacteria that cause food poisoning and diarrhea in travelers. Evidence suggests that moderate drinking can be a beneficial addition to a healthy diet. Investigators are still investigating the so-called French paradox, but it seems that the French have a healthy heart at least in part because of their love for red wines. Theses wines are rich in chemicals that help lower cholesterol and prevent low lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from sticking to the bone wall - a process that leads to heart disease. Red wines also help platelets in the blood to stick together and form clots.
Heart protection The ways red wine protects your heart are complex. There are more than one chemical compound in the workplace and some of these compounds have more than one benefit, according to research. Alcohol in red wine can be beneficial. People who drink less alcohol appear to be more immune to heart disease. The reason, according to research, is that ethanol, or alcohol, in high-alcohol drinks raises good levels, protecting the heart's high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. But if raising HDL cholesterol was the only benefit, drinking red wine would not work better than, for example, drinking scotch or a glass of beer. And while beer and other alcoholic beverages have certain benefits, wine is the only source of health-promoting polyphenols.
The reason why wine seems to provide high protection is that it contains strong flavonoids such as quercetin. Along with other potentially protective chemicals such as resveratrol, it is apparently helpful in preventing the body's harmful cholesterol LDL from entering oxidizing. This in turn makes bad LDL cholesterol less likely to stick to the walls of the arteries. In lab studies, resveratrol has been shown to reduce aging in mice, prevent weight gain and improve endurance. How does this work? Resveratrol seems to improve the performance of mitochondria - these are tiny energy plants within every cell in your body. Flavonoids in red wine are more potent than vitamin E, everyone knows it's an important antioxidant, according to John D. Folts. PhD. Professor of Medicine and director of the coronary thrombosis laboratory at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison.
Keeping LDL cholesterol under control is a good start in the fight against heart disease. But that is not all. Quercetin in wine also helps to prevent blood platelets from sticking together. Indeed, a study led by Drs. Folts have found that when red wine is given to laboratory animals, it removes clots that can be dangerous, which can cause heart disease and stroke. "Red wine does a double job, giving you two major benefits in one place," said Dr. Folts.
Color makes a difference When researchers talk about the healing power of wine, they refer to red wine. When it comes to heart health, sparkling wine is unmistakable compared to its bright red brethren. In a laboratory study at the University of California, researchers found that red wine could prevent from 46 to 100% LDL cholesterol from oxidizing, while white wine where it did not protect. Also, white wine does not have the ability to block clots in red wine, says Dr. Folts. Why is red wine much higher than its subordinates? Everything is done, According to experts. When the winepresses made wine, they threw everything into the pit - not only grapes but also skins, seeds and stems. They are all intertwined to create a basic combination called must. This is where healthy flavonoids come from. Drs. Says Folts: “The longer it takes to ferment alcohol, the more the compounds are released into the wine. With white wine, it must be removed early so that the wine does not darken. With red wine, the must be stored longer, and the wine absorbs more flavonoids. ”UC Davis researchers found that some red wines are also rich in saponins, which increase the risk of heart disease by binding to cholesterol and preventing its absorption. Saponins can also cure widespread inflammation, which can reduce heart disease and the risk of cancer. Researcher Andrew Waterhouse, PhD, professor of enology (wine chemistry) at UC Davis found that red wines contain three to 10 times more saponin than white wines. The richest source is the red Zinfandel, followed by Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Saponins can come from dense grape skins and appear to dissolve into wine during fermentation. Wines with a high alcohol content also contain a lot of saponins. In moderation, wine can help you maintain a healthy weight. When researchers at the Mayo Clinic monitored the behavior of 8,200 women and men, they found that those who enjoyed one or two alcoholic beverages a day were 54% less likely to be obese than drug dealers. Non-drinkers and binge drinkers were twice as likely to be obese. Those who swallowed four or more drinks a day were about 50% more likely to be overweight than those who did not.
Grapes of Anger For some people with a migraine headache, even a little wine can cause a lot of headaches.
Red wine contains amine substances, which cause the blood vessels in the brain to contract and grow. For sensitive people, this can lead to headaches from the eyes. Although white wine has fewer amino acids than red varieties, it does not have many healing chemicals. Therefore, if headaches are a problem for you, you may want to ask your doctor if a non-alcoholic beverage will allow you to enjoy good taste without pain.
Know When to Stand The most important tip for getting great health benefits in your wine cellar is knowing when to put your glass down, experts say. The daily
