Red Wine and Resveratrol
For a Healthier, Longer Life

In the last two decades,sales of red wine have skyrocketed.
In part, here's why.

In November of 1991, Morley Safer, of CBS’s 60 minutes explored the reasons the French live longer and have less heart disease than we Americans. The conclusion was that what keeps them healthy is their consumption of red wine.

From The French Paradox and Beyond by Lewis Purdue Dr. R. Curtis Ellison, M.D., is chief of preventive medicine and epidemiology and professor at Boston University School of Medicine. He suggests the French secret boils down to wine, food and lifestyle.

The French, Dr. Ellison says:

-- Are regular consumers of moderate amounts of alcohol, especially red wine, primarily with meals
-- Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables
-- Take longer to eat meals and snack less
-- Eat less red meat
-- Eat more cheese, less whole milk
-- Use more olive oil and less lard or butter

Although we may want to think red wine is the answer, look closely at their other habits.

. Eat more fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants which help to lower blood pressure, strengthen the heart and retard the aging process.

.Take longer to eat and snack less. When you eat more slowly, you consume less and stay full longer. That means you take in less calories in a day. Is that why only 11% of French people are obese compared with 67% of Americans?

. Eat less red meat. Red meat is known to raise cholesterol levels. Less red meat equal lower cholesterol and that deters the onset of heart disease.

. Use more olive oil and less butter. The Meditteranean diet uses lots of olive oil. This ingredient has proved to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. as well. Butter tends to clog arteries.

FOOD MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ANSWER

Often we rush to judgment on research. This could be the case with The French Paradox. Remember, Europe is a much smaller country than the US. Destinations such as jobs, schools and restaurants are closer. Families usually live in the same neighborhoods. Therefore, people are used to walking to destinations. French people, as a rule, get much more exercise than the typical American who drives to work, drives to visit family, drives to most places.

In her book, French Women Don’t Get Fat, author Mireille Guiliano makes some valid points.

. A Happy Meal in Paris may be high calorie cheese and bread. No matter what the ingredients, the French eat much smaller portions than Americans.

. She agrees that the French walk everywhere. Exercise is one of the best anti-aging habits you can practice.

. There are few elevators in apartment buildings, so people climb stairs. This is a great cardio workout which strengthens the heart and reduces body fat.

. They don’t rush through their meals, so they fill up faster. Hurry creates stress. Relax and don’t multi-task through meals. Enjoy!

.The French are not obsessed with a scale. They just know when their pants are tight. There’s a famous Bible verse, “That which you fear is upon you” is true. We worry so much about gaining weight. Maybe our fear becomes our truth.

Resveratrol in red wine is a powerful antioxidant. But before you rush out and by a case of Cabernet, or fill up on cheese and bread, look at the rest of your lifestyle. Make some positive changes and you’ll live healthier and longer.

To learn more about the French Paradox, here are a few resources

French-paradox.net Wikipedia Nature.com PubMed.com

Red Wine for Resveratrol Resveratrol in Nature