What's resveratrol?
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PrintSo if you have ever heard me give a presentation on being heart healthy, you may remember a slide talking about wine. Or maybe you heard through some other source, that drinking wine is healthy for you. Did you ever wonder why?
Wine is FULL of antioxidants: flavonoids and resveratrol!
These wonderful phytochemicals help to reduce heart disease in the following ways:
- Preventing molecules known as “free radicals” from causing cellular damage in the body
- Blocking cholesterol oxidation
- Reducing the risk of blood clots by preventing platelets from being sticky
- Reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol
- Increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “healthy”) cholesterol
- Preventing damage to blood vessels in your heart
- Helping maintain a healthy blood pressure
According to the Mayo Clinic,
Resveratrol might be a key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces "bad" cholesterol and prevents blood clots. Research in mice given resveratrol has indicated that the antioxidant might also help protect them from obesity and diabetes, both of which are strong risk factors for heart disease. However, those findings were reported only in mice, not in people. In addition, to get the same dose of resveratrol used in the mice studies, a person would have to consume 100 to 1,000 bottles of red wine a day.
Some research shows that resveratrol could be linked to a reduced risk of inflammation and blood clotting, both of which can lead to heart disease. More research is needed before it's known whether resveratrol was the cause for the reduced risk.
Ultrawellness.com has an interesting point about resveratrol. It notes that one study claims to "live to be 120 years old by eating as much as you want and drinking lots of red wine." However, to get this result, you would need to drink 1,500 bottles of wine a day. To do that, would probably result in death. So just taking resveratrol is not the magic pill answer either.
Moderation is the key:
A moderate amount of wine may lower your risk of heart attack. The key here is the word MODERATE.
Men: 2 drinks per day
Women: 1 drink per day
One drink is defined as a 5-ounce glass of red or white wine, 12 ounces of regular beer (1 bottle) or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
Eating whole red or purple grapes has benefits, as well. The antioxidants are found most in the seeds and skins of the grapes. Peanuts, blueberries and cranberries are also great sources.
Caution: there are also serious side effects of alcohol. If you do not already drink alcohol, do not start for the reasons stated above. Alcohol may increase triglycerides, contribute to high blood pressure, heart failure and excessive calorie intake. Follow the guidelines for moderation and please drink responsibly.
