Recent studies confirm the protective effect of black grape and red wine against heart diseases but now they also have a further merit: cancer prevention. The key? It?s in flavonoids, which can also be found in tea and some vegetables.
The god Bacchus, or Dionysus, would be so happy knowing that science finally discovered the power that black grape and red wine have in preventing heart attacks, cerebral infarcts, as well as certain types of cancer . Antioxidant properties of grape seeds, usually used to produce red wine, have been demostrated. Grape seeds contains flavonoids which are also founded in some types of vegetables (mostly broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower), as well as in the great majority of fruits and in teas.
Flavonoids explain the reason why red wine has been indicated as a protector of arteries, heart, and brain, as long as it?s consumed in moderation: 2 glasses per day, maximum. These compounds, thanks to both their antioxidant and antitoxic action, can help patients affected by diabetes and atherosclerosis, or those who have undergone bypass surgery or liver transplant.
Both flavonoids and other types of antioxidants like selenium, zinc, beta-carotenes, as well as vitamins C and E, are employed to prevent cardiovascular disease and delay the process and apparition of cancer and of cataracts. They are also used against acute and chronic stress, against the damage caused by excessive exposure to sun rays and also when liver is been hacked by medications.
In the case of wine antioxidants, some of the latest research shows that drinking two glass of wine daily reduces mortality by 35% from cardiovascular disease and by 20% from cancer. The air we breathe is composed of 20% oxygen and 1% of this gas when absorbed by the organism transforms itself into free radicals, which are compounds that bombard cells and cause negative effects such as the transformation of cholesterol into a basic substance of plaques that can gradually obstruct the arteries. Antioxidants neutralize the damage caused by these oxygen free radicals.
This is the reason why doctors usually prescribe antioxidants starting at the age of 35 to 40, especially for people suffering from diabetes, obesity, sedentism, and for those who have genetic predisposition of cardiovascular disease and high colesterol, or those who are regular tobacco smokers. They are also presiscribed to patients suffering from angina pectoris, cerebral vascular insufficiency and heart attack.
It seems that, due to the lack of time necessary for a healthy and balanced diet, antioxidant supplements will start to be implemented in order to increase life expectancy. So let?s buy wine and have a nice glass of red wine. To your health!