I am sure this question arises in every doctors office and is the subject of conversation at many parties; is red wine good for you? I believe the simple truth is if you already drink wine keep consumption to one glass per day for a woman and up to two for men. If you don't drink, don't start.
Despite some limited research done predominately on mice the antioxidant properties of red wine are still debatable.
Polyphenols,the antioxidant portion of red wine are believed to protect the lining of the vessels in your heart.
There are two forms of polyphenols:
Flavanoids which are found in grape juice, onions, tea and cocoa. (Other forms of alcohol contain flavanoids but not nearly as much as red wine)and Nonflavanoids found in red wine and in particular Reveratrol. Nonflavanoids are thought to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, the clogging of arteries with fatty deposits. Because of this potential Revesveratrol is receiving a lot of attention.
The point to be made is that many foods contain antioxidant properties, some have extensively more but eating massive quantities of these foods does not ensure health. That is because our bodies need a variety of food in order to ensure micronutrientneeds are met.
Most research on resveratrol has been conducted on animals, not people. 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.
There of course companies selling supplements with resveratrol and Pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer who are conducting research on resveratrol and resveratrol like chemicals in hope of finding an answer to metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
The primary target of the research is a specific protein, SIRT1,which resveratrol is thought to activate and in turn causes increased insulin sensitivity. Thus far the resveratrol and it's chemical cohorts have fallen short.
Don't be fooled into believing man can make a better product than Nature. Stick to whole foods challenging your palate with an ever increasing variety of fruits and vegetables.
Work Smarter Not Harder!
Dr David Marcon
Cincinnati, Ohio
drdavidmarcon.com
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