Health Benefits of Resveratrol in Red Wine

There are numerous studies already conducted that Red wine is truly good for the heart, but some medical doctors warned the public, not to assume the study as “good for all” because of the hazard of alcohol and the future complication that may occur, they counter act that it’s not the alcohol itself that offer health benefits but the grape extract contained in the wine.

Red wine contained resveratrol, an antioxidant that helps lower cardiovascular disorder including heart ailment and helps prevent blood clots. This may be the responsible of the so called “French Paradox”. According to study, French people have known to be wine drinkers and have a relatively high fat in their diet, and yet they have a statistics of low occurring cardiovascular complications and other immune system problems.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound produced largely by plants and is abundant in grapevines. The highest concentration is found in grape skin. It counters oxidative damage to human cells and tissues caused by free radicals-the body accumulated from environmental pollution, toxic and UV radiation. Free radicals damage to body cells is associated with a variety of health complications including cardiovascular and immune system issues. Free radicals play a major role in the aging process, without the protection of anti oxidants in our body, the cells and other tissues slowly die.

Resveratrol comes from the skin of grapes used to make wine because red wine is fermented with grape skin with a longer period of time. However, there’s still continued studies conducted whether Red wine is recommended to have abundant content of resveratrol compared to White wine. But some health experts warned the public not to consume too much alcohol because of the future damages it will caused. While it is noted that wines are not harmful if taken in moderation, it is still an alcoholic beverage that has bad effects to the human’s health.

But we don’t need to drink alcohol to obtain resveratrol. Eating grapes and drinking grape juice is one way of getting this antioxidant. Women, especially in the child bearing stage are not recommended to consume alcoholic beverages because it can cause birth defects. In fact women are advised to consume good amount of Folate-roughly 400 micrograms a day-to have a healthy pregnancy in the future and to avoid birth defects (according to an article I read in the “Health and Home” magazine, women should be prepared for pregnancy at least two years before the first conception). Alcohol tends to block the folate absorption in the body.

The study conducted on the benefit of resveratrol in the body is exclusive only for wines and not for distilled drinks or hard liquors (brandy, gin, rhum, tequila, vodka, whiskey). Our body needs only 0.04% of alcohol and it is not advisable to devour any of those distilled drinks because our body manufactures alcohol itself, the food we eat yields enough alcohol to sustain this need. Other foods that contain resveratrol include: peanuts, blueberries andcranberries.

Maintaining a health lifestyle, however, is the best precautionary measure in creating a harmonious existence. Balanced diet, good exercise, a positive outlook and a well balanced mentality are the best medications to achieve total happiness.