Can Drinking Red Wine Lower Hypertension?

The French Paradox is the name given to the phenomenon in which the French, who eat several times more butter and lard than we do and who smoke more, have 2 1/2 fewer heart attacks.

Researchers believe that the answer may be, in part, due to the fact that the French outdo us in the daily consumption of red wine which, in moderation, has long been thought to be heart-healthy.

Red wine contains flavonoids and resveratrols, substances that have been linked to a lower incidence of heart disease. Both of these compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers believe that these substances have the effect of increasing the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol, thereby reducing the formation of blood clots, and they also help in preventing damage to the arteries caused by high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) the "bad" cholesterol

The resveratrol in red wine comes from the skin of the grapes that are used in making the wine. In white wine the skins are not used. The grapes produce resveratrol as protection against fungal infection. Because of this, the amount of resversatrol in red wine varies from vineyard to vineyard depending on climate and other growing conditions. The amount of rersveratrol is greater in grapes that are grown organically or in dry regions.

For those who may consider drinking red wine as a remedy to heart conditions, a recent article posted by the Mayo Clinic urges caution. They point out in the article that while the heart-health benefits of red wine look promising, more research is needed in order to know if red wine is better for the heart than other forms of alcohol. For those who already drink red wine, they advise us to do so in moderation.

The generally accepted definition of "moderate" drinking is no more than two six ounce glasses of wine a day for men, and one six ounce glass of wine a day for women. Because men generally weigh more, and because they have more of an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol, their limits are higher than women.

In general, medical experts don't recommend that non-drinkers start drinking red wine as a means of preventing heart disease, as alcohol can be addictive and its misuse can cause other health problems. Women may want to take into account that there may be a connection between drinking alcohol and breast cancer. For teetotalers, there are happy alternatives. According to a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, purple grape juice, white grape juice and red wine were all tested for their heart protective effects. The results showed that purple grape juice was every bit as beneficial as red wine, perhaps even more so. Or, if you'd rather pop a capsule in your mouth when happy hour rolls around, a month's supply of resverasol can be had for about the cost of a medium-priced bottle of wine.

In summary, a limited amount of red wine can have the beneficial effect of relaxing the body so that blood pressure is lowered, whereas too much red wine, or any other alcoholic drink, increases the risk of high blood pressure. As the old saying goes: "All things in moderation."


Copyright (c) 2009 Bill Lewis