In addition to bringing out the flavor in food, and being delicious on its own, red wine is strongly linked to a variety of health benefits. Studies have shown that drinking wine in moderation – a glass or two a day – can lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses.
Some health benefits of red wine include its antioxidant content. Antioxidants are molecule compounds that repair cell damage caused by harmful oxygen byproducts in the body. Some research has found that antioxidants can help reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer, heart disease, macular degeneration and diabetes – and red wine is full of them.
The skins and seeds of red grapes carry a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol. When red wine is made, the skins and seeds are fermented in the grapes’ juices, causing red wine to have high levels of resveratrol. Resveratrol has been shown to minimize the risks of some types of cancer. It helps prevent DNA mutations that could lead to cancer, and it prohibits new blood cells from encouraging cancer growth.
Resveratrol has blood-thinning properties. By keeping individual blood cells (“platelets”) from sticking to each other, resveratrol can limit the formation of blood clots. If blood clots form and become lodged in the smaller vessels of the heart or brain, oxygen can be prevented from reaching these vital organs. This lack of oxygen is called ischemia. Severe ischemia in the heart is known as a heart attack or myocardial infarction. Severe ischemia in the brain is called a stroke.
Neither the American Heart Association nor the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that you start drinking alcohol just to prevent heart disease. Alcohol can be addictive and is associated with other health issues. If you chose to stay away from wine altogether, and still receive the benefits of resveratrol, TWIHW offers Resveratrol supplements in quantities of 30 and 60 capsules. Read more in the “Supplement of the Month” article to the right.
Some portions of this article have been extracted from www.healthtree.com.