Wine, especially red wine, is believed to be heart healthy. The experts believe that antioxidants (flavonoids or a polyphenol called resveratrol) in red wine protect the inner layer of our heart blood vessels, preventing blood clots and reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol. As heart disease occurs, arteriosclerosis affects these blood vessels, a layer of plaque builds up inside and clogs the blood vessels, causing a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Sometimes a blood clot forms inside the heart blood vessels and clogs it with a resulting heart attack.
The experts recommend “drink in moderation or not at all.” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089 They recommend a maximum of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Too much alcohol causes many health problems including high blood pressure, liver damage, high triglycerides, cancer, etc. The experts have defined a drink as 12 oz beer, 5 oz of wine or 1.5 oz of 80-proof distilled spirits.
For people who don’t drink wine, the experts at Mayo Clinic suggest getting resveratrol from these sources: eating red grapes, cranberries, blueberries, peanuts, and drinking red and purple grape juice. More research is needed to show whether these food items will benefit a person’s heart or not, but I can easily add some blueberries and grapes to my diet. More information from Mayo Clinic on red wine can be read at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089
No comments:
Post a Comment