Red wine longevity is sometimes called, "the French Paradox", since French cuisine is known for its high fat content and yet the French enjoy a greater life expectancy than people in many other developed countries such as Canada, United Kingdom and the Untied States.
Researchers now believe that this French paradox is due to a substance found in red wine grapes( and in Japanese knotweed) called resveratrol. According to a study published in Genes & Nutrition, "Reserveratrol is associated reduced cardiovascular, cerebrovascular,
and peripheral vascular risk as well as reduced risk due to cancer." Note: That addresses three of the major causes of death in developed societies: Heart attack, stroke and cancer.
But researchers have found that resveratrol has other benefits too. It may protect nerve cells from damage and and prevent the buildup of plaque that can lead to Alzheimer disease. Also it appears to help prevent insulin resistance, the precursor of diabetes. No wonder the French live longer!
Of course it is important to note that the researches found that increases in longevity is ONLY associated with "mild to moderate" drinking of red wine. Greater alcohol consumption seems to 'cancel out' the usual beneficial effects of resveratrol.
And persons who do not drink alcohol for health or religious reasons can get the same effect by eating red grapes.(Organic grapes are best.) Of course they need to be red grapes. White grapes do not seem to have the same effect.
In recent years a number of supplement companies have created and marketed resveratrol products. Most of these use Japanese knotweed. Some of us think that a glass of red wine at night is a far more pleasant way of joining the French Paradox.
You can read more about resveratrol , source of the Red wine paradox at in the Anti-aging-supplemnt article Red wine longevity: Resveratrol
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