The French Paradox: a toast to red wine

People live longer in countries where they drink a lot of red wine, such as France, Italy and Spain.

Scientists coined the phrase "the French Paradox" to describe the discrepancy between the high fat intake of the French and their longevity. There is impressive evidence that supports the health benefits of red wine. It contains powerful chemicals such as resveratrol and polyphenols that prevent cell damage, increase HDL (good cholesterol) and prevent blood clots.

 A German study on mice found that resveratrol helped shrink fat cells. Resveratrol supplements prevented obesity in animals fed a high-fat diet.

Spanish researchers found that women who drank 2 glasses of red wine per day showed progressively reduced blood vessel inflammation during a four-week study. The study involved splitting the women into two groups; one group drank red wine the other half white wine. The red wine group showed higher levels of HDL, decreased blood platelet stickiness (sticky platelets cause blood clots and heart attacks) and lower levels of inflammatory chemicals C-reactive protein.

The studies help explain why red wine improves metabolic health and reduces the risk of heart disease.

I believe that while drinking red wine obviously has its benefits, alcohol consumption for some people is not workable.

It appears that one of the most prevalent beneficial chemicals in red wine is resveratrol, which now can be found in supplement form. Polyphenols can be found in fruits and their juices, such as pomegranates, red grapes, blueberries and cranberries. Choose juices that are sugar-free.

Comments

[Corey Bachmeier, M.Ed]

More good info on the benefits of red wine.

Great blog Jonathon.

Keep up the great work!

--Corey

[Fitness Surfer]

Alcohol is completely of the menu for me. Thank you for the tips on how to get the same benefits from red wine thru other means. I’ll look for that supplement and keep eating red grapes.