04-2018-GL-FINAL

2. Raising levels of
omega-3 fatty acids
A little alcoholic drink, and
especially red wine, appears to
boost levels of omega-3 fatty acids
in plasma and red blood cells.
Omega-3 fatty acids, believed to
protect against heart disease, are
usually derived from eating fish.
Researchers found that, in 1,604
adult participants, regular, moderate
wine drinking was linked to higher
blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
3. Heart health and
type-2 diabetes
One study has shown that
drinking a glass of red wine with
dinner "modestly decreases
cardiometabolic risk" in people with
type-2 diabetes, and that a moderate
intake of red wine is safe.
The scientists believe that the
ethanol in wine plays a key role
in metabolizing glucose, and that
the nonalcoholic ingredients may
also contribute. They call for more
research to confirm the findings.
Anyone with diabetes should check
with their doctor before consuming
alcohol.
4. Healthy blood
vessels and blood
pressure
In 2006, scientists from the
United Kingdom (U.K.) found that
procyanidins, compounds commonly
found in red wine, help keep the
blood vessels healthy. Traditional
production methods appear to be
most effective in extracting the
compounds, leading to higher levels
8 April 2018
of procyanidins in the wine.
Many people find an alcoholic drink
relaxes them, but results published in
2012 indicate that nonalcoholic red
wine, too, can reduce blood pressure.
This could be a more healthful option.
5. Brain damage
after stroke
Resveratrol may protect the brain
from stroke damage, according to
researchers at Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine.
Results from tests on mice showed that
resveratrol increased levels of heme
oxygenase, an enzyme known to protect
nerve cells in the brain from damage.
When a stroke occurs, the brain is
ready to protect itself because of
higher enzyme levels. It remains unclear
whether the health benefits are due to
the resveratrol itself, or if the alcohol in
the wine is needed to concentrate the
levels of the compound.