Drink Red Wine; Avoid Heart Disease

July 6, 2009 by  
Filed under Heart Disease

A lot of experts have wondered whether a glass of red wine can keep heart disease at bay. This question came to mind since the French, who love to drink red wine, have much lower heart disease risk factors than any other people. Although alcohol is supposedly bad for you, red wine, in moderation, can actually do you good.

A glass of red wine a day for relaxation is still acceptable in today’s society, no matter how much doctors try to discourage this habit. Really, the only thing they fear is that encouragement might lead to an actual drinking problem; so simply know your limits.

Until recently, there was no proof that red wine was beneficial to alleviating the risk of heart disease, but now we have an answer. Red wine contains resveratrol, which comes from the skin and seeds of grapes that is used to produce wine. Also, the alcohol itself that is made during fermentation has also come with special components good for alleviating the risk of heart disease.

Actually, there are several kinds of alcohol that can alleviate the risk of heart disease by hindering blood clot creation. They also heighten the level of good cholesterol and prevent the damages done by bad cholesterol.

Although several studies come with conflicting results, it can be concluded that red wine and some other alcoholic beverages are beneficial when it comes in giving tips to prevent heart disease. Mostly, though, research shows that a glass of red wine daily is most beneficial in preventing heart disease and for the best blood flow possible.

Red wine is mostly beneficial in preventing heart disease due to its antioxidants called polyphenols. These can be broken down into flavonoids and non-flavonoids. Flavonoids can also be found in beer, as well as various foods like chocolate, apples, oranges, onions, and tea. Non-flavonoids are the ones that can be found in the skin and seeds of grapes used to produce wine.

Several tests done on animals have shown that reservatrol helps protect the animals from obesity and diabetes, as well as other heart disease risk factors. Although this has not yet been tested on humans, it is certified to have the same results. Apparently, resveratrol’s antioxidants are essential in protecting the blood vessels of the body and preventing blood clots, while reducing LDL cholesterol.

If you enjoy drinking alcohol, then embrace the fact that red wine is beneficial in preventing heart disease. If you do not drink alcohol, however, you can opt for eating peanuts, cranberries, or blueberries instead for your daily dose of resveratrol. Avoid taking supplements that claim to offer resveratrol, as it probably will not have the same effect.