Early nights, physical exercise and plenty of water may be all well and good when it comes to slowing down the ageing process, but there isn’t an awful lot of fun to be had in some of these particular anti-ageing techniques. It’s small wonder, then, that the world has reacted so enthusiastically to the notion that drinking wine could also be beneficial in helping us to hold back the years.
Unfortunately for those of us who like to (over?) indulge occasionally, the benefits of red wine are seen when it is drunk by the glass, rather than the bottle, but it is still good news for anybody looking for something a little more natural and enjoyable than Botox and chemical peels.
When consumed in moderation, it seems that certain substances in red wine can have positive effects on our bodies, both inside and out, helping to keep the ageing process at bay.
The anti-ageing effects of wine first came under serious medical scrutiny in the early 1990s, as a result of research into what has been dubbed ‘the French Paradox’. This relates to the fact that as a nation the French appear to be able to guzzle rich, high-cholesterol foods at will without developing heart disease. Many scientists believe that one of the major contributing factors to this seemingly contradictory situation is the enthusiastic intake of red wine in France. Typically, the French will enjoy a glass of wine with each meal and it is believed that the antioxidants and other beneficial properties present in red wine have long played a key role in balancing out the negative effects of cholesterol-raising foods such as fatty cheeses, meat, cream and butter.
Medical opinion is somewhat divided as to why red wine appears to be so effective in fighting heart disease and other problems associated with ageing, but there are several properties present in red wine that are now widely believed to have potent anti-ageing effects. For starters, red wine has high levels of a strong antioxidant substance known as Resveratrol, found in the skins and seeds of grapes. As grape skins are usually removed in the production of white wine, the substance is found in much more concentrated proportions in red wine than in its white counterpart. Antioxidants are known to help not only in warding off disease, but also in preventing free radicals from damaging skin cells. Bearing this in mind, many scientists believe that red wine can even help to prevent those pesky wrinkles which are such a tell-tale sign of the relentless march of time.
The evidence of red wine’s antioxidant properties is so convincing that the World Health Organisation (WHO) now recommends red wine drinking as a key aid in reducing the risk of heart disease. The organisation notes that the presence of the Resveratrol molecule has been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by up to 40 per cent. Anyone concerned about heart disease should note that the highest concentrations of Resveratrol can be found in wines made from the Muscadine grape – with Muscadine wine boasting up to 12 times the Resveratrol concentration than that of a standard red wine.
The Resveratrol molecule has been credited with helping to ward off everything from cancer, heart disease and skin damage to the common cold and wine lovers have every reason to be delighted by the fact that their tipple of choice contains such high levels of what appears to be a wonder chemical.
But does that mean we can all sunbathe and smoke with impunity just as long as everything is washed down with a nice glass of red? Unfortunately, it seems not. For starters, the anti-ageing benefits are unlikely to be observed unless red wine is consumed as part of a generally healthy and balanced lifestyle that includes plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other similarly healthy produce, alongside those old favourites – fresh air and exercise.
And while it might be tempting to go out and glug a bottle of wine in celebration of this most welcome of scientific positions, the best way in which to benefit from drinking the wine is to drink it regularly and in moderation. That means one or two small glasses daily, rather than one or two bottles on Friday night. Whichever way, you look at it, however, it appears that red wine is officially good for us. So here’s to your health!
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Sat in a Bordeaux restaurant recently and watched a slip of a girl demolish an entire oven-baked camembert (in the box) for her starter (OK she didn’t eat the box) followed by a large steak. With red wine of course. Must be some truth in it….
Thanks for your comments Colin. Hope you stick around & feel free to leave some more. Any and all feedback is much appreciated.
mmm oven-baked Camembert
delicious!