Originally published April 7 2005
Red wine is good for your heart, say researchers
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Journal of American College of Surgeons is publishing a review article that examines studies linking the connection between red wine and a healthy heart. The article notes that all forms of alcohol have beneficial effects when consumed in moderation (two or three ounces per day), but that red wine shows a much stronger effect.
--- A review article of the latest studies looking at red wine and cardiovascular health shows drinking two to three glasses of red wine daily is good for the heart, according to a Yale School of Medicine researcher in the Journal of American College of Surgeons.
"The current consensus is that it is not just the alcohol, but something else," said Bauer Sumpio, M.D., professor and section chief of vascular surgery in the Department of Surgery.
"There are probably several mechanisms of protection from a cardiovascular viewpoint."
He said researchers have been trying to pinpoint why red wine has a cardiovascular protective effect ever since the discovery of the so--called "French Paradox" in 1992 when researchers found a 40 percent lower mortality rate from ischemic heart disease among people in France despite the high amount of saturated fats in their diet.
Sumpio said there are several studies showing drinking two to three ounces of alcohol each day has a beneficial effect, but any more than that and the alcohol begins to have a negative health effect.
Studies comparing spirits, beer and wine show some benefit from spirits and beer, but an overwhelming benefit from drinking red wine.
His laboratory found polyphenols, minus the alcohol, are powerful anti--oxidants.
Polyphenols also are found in fruit, particularly berries, as well as green tea and chocolate.
"A better understanding of the health benefits of red wine and perhaps the specific polyphenolic extracts with the described properties would be a great contribution to society," Sumpio said.
The research was supported in part by the North American Foundation for Limb Preservation.
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