| Q: Is it true that red wine is good for one’s | | | | it’s potential benefits for cancer patients, this |
| health? | | | | antioxidant appears to help in the formation of |
| A: As long as it’s not abused, red wine can, | | | | nerve cells, which makes it important in the |
| indeed, have a beneficial effect on your health. | | | | treatment of such neurological diseases as |
| For a long time researchers were aware of the | | | | Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. |
| cardiovascular benefits of the flavonoids contained | | | | There has also been some publicity to the effect |
| in red wine. More recently, they’ve discovered | | | | that resversatrol may have an anti-aging effect. |
| two other classes of antioxidants that further | | | | This is based on a Harvard study in which the life |
| contribute to the well being of the drinker. The | | | | span of yeast cells was extended by 80 % when |
| first, called saponins, act to prevent the | | | | resversatrol was added to them. It remains to be |
| absorption of cholesterol in the body while the | | | | seen whether the same benefits will result with |
| second, resversatrol, is thought to inhibit tumor | | | | human cells. |
| development in some cancers. | | | | Another compound found in the skins of red |
| Flavonoids are antioxidants found in the skin and | | | | grapes, polyphenol, acts to inhibit the chemicals in |
| seeds of red grapes. They are known to reduce | | | | the body that make blood vessels constrict. This |
| the risk of heart disease by lowering the levels of | | | | reduces the fatty streaks in the vessels, making |
| low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the | | | | them healthier which, in turn, makes their owner |
| so-called “bad” cholesterol, while boosting | | | | less likely to suffer a heart attack. |
| levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or | | | | However, there is a negative side to counter all of |
| “good” cholesterol. There’s also | | | | this good news. It appears that just one glass of |
| evidence that flavonoids help keep blood vessels | | | | wine (red or white) per day is enough to increase |
| dilated and stop red blood cells from clumping | | | | a woman’s risk of breast cancer by 6%. As |
| together, thus diminishing the risk of heart attack | | | | a result many health professionals are wary of |
| or stroke. | | | | recommending regular red wine consumption, |
| The skin of the red grape is also the source for | | | | despite the proven cardiovascular and other |
| saponins. This cholesterol inhibitor is also found in | | | | benefits. If you do decide to regularly partake for |
| soybeans and peas. Its concentration in red wine | | | | your health’s sake, keep it to around a glass |
| is 10 times higher than in white wine. Resversatrol | | | | per night. |
| also comes from the grape skin. As well as | | | | |