| Is red wine beneficial for health or a potent | | | | Furthermore researchers have found that |
| poison? In the old times Plato said that "nothing | | | | moderate red wine consumption may be beneficial |
| more excellent or valuable than wine was ever | | | | to more than just your heart. One study found |
| granted by the Gods to man." Nowadays | | | | that the antioxidant resveratrol, which is prevalent |
| research suggests that a glass of red wine each | | | | in the skin of red grapes, may inhibit tumour |
| day may be providing you with more than just a | | | | development in some cancers. Another study |
| little relaxation. | | | | indicated that resveratrol aided in the formation of |
| The French seem to know something about the | | | | nerve cells, which experts believe may be helpful |
| health benefits of red wine considering that | | | | in the treatment of neurological diseases like |
| studies that compared French and German red | | | | Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. |
| wines, revealed that the French red wines | | | | The most recent studies on red wine presented |
| delivered a greater health benefit due to their | | | | at the American Association for Dental Research |
| higher level of antioxidants. Experts believe that | | | | (AADR) annual meeting, in Orlando, Florida by the |
| red wine contains certain compounds that help | | | | Canadians show that Red wine polyphenols may |
| protect the heart. This has opened the door for | | | | help fight gum disease. V. Houde, M. Boisvert and |
| other researchers to study the components in | | | | their colleagues from University Laval in Canada |
| red wine that may be responsible for its health | | | | investigated the role of polyphenols, including |
| benefits. | | | | those from red wine, in scavenging free radicals |
| In the last 10 years, thousands of research on | | | | released by immune cells stimulated with |
| red wine showed that moderate intake of this | | | | components of bacteria causing periodontal |
| drink improves cardiovascular health. The cardio | | | | diseases. Free radicals are believed to be at least |
| protective effect has been attributed to | | | | partly responsible for the development of gum |
| antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of red | | | | disease and are generated by immune cells during |
| grapes. | | | | periodontitis. In order to have healthy gums it is |
| Based on the research experts advise that the | | | | important to that free radicals are maintained at |
| antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of | | | | low levels. Their results indicated that red wine |
| coronary heart disease in three ways: by reducing | | | | polyphenols significantly modulate several |
| production of low density lipoprotein (the "bad" | | | | inflammatory components released by |
| cholesterol), by boosting high density lipoprotein | | | | macrophages (a population of host immune cells) |
| (HDL) cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and by | | | | in response to bacterial stimuli. |
| reducing blood clotting. | | | | |