There is no one who would not like an elixir that will help them live a longer and healthy life. What happens if the elixir is red wine as it is all the better! Red wine has a lot of health benefits, but it is far from a cure-all. The key is to consume it with a little bit of caution. This article deals with the relation of red wine and longevity.
Resveratrol is present in red grapes and is known to contain physiological and biochemical properties. Several studies have confirmed the fact that it is anti-aging compound and the health benefits of this compound is immense.
Red Wine and Longevity
There are many areas where people believe to have a glass of red wine before going to bed is perfect as it is good for the heart. But the question is are the benefits of red wine in real or is it a mere dangling statement! Hold on, A number of studies have indicated that the health benefits of alcohol and wine, in particular, relates to a longer life span. Let us understand the basis on which red wine is believed to be related to longevity.
But a point worth to be noted here is that all these benefits are only associated with the moderate consumption of it. Heavy drinking can take a toll on your emotional and personal lives. It is important to consider that a long life span is no way concerned with a better quality of life. Researches point that heavy drinking can not only lead to death, but it can pave the way for destructive behavior.
In a 2012 study, Holanan and his team came to the conclusion that moderate drinkers who drank wine had a lower rate of mortality than others who drank other types of alcohol. But when the researchers did a study on the social factors with wine- they were of the opinion that the wine drinkers had a healthy lifestyle and were more concerned with the socio-economic status. They found that the mortality rates between the wine drinkers and other categories of alcohol vanished away in due course of time. This shows that the wine may not only lead to low mortality rate, but the lifestyle factors of people have a definite say in this regard. This is possibly one of the studies that prompts the relation of red wine and longevity.
In the year 2014, a Czech study came to the fore, and the conclusion was that men and women with mild to moderate risk of heart diseases drank moderate amounts of wine in a year. The researchers were of the opinion that people who consumed wine and also exercised twice a week had lower levels of cholesterol which led to an increase in the good cholesterol levels. Individuals who did not exercise did not have all these benefits. This helped conclude that consumption of red wine along with exercise helped to reduce the risk of heart diseases. This too supports the belief that red wine and longevity are positively related.
Does Resveratrol Help You Live Longer?
Resveratrol, present in red wine, is a member of the plant compounds that are known as polyphenols. They are known to have excellent antioxidant properties and protect the body against any form of diseases related to the lungs as well as the heart. Though it is found commonly in red grapes, the other sources of it include peanuts as well as berries.
As the benefits of this compound are immense, no surprises to the fact that many manufacturers have included it as a part of their supplements. Most of them are obtained from red wine or the extracts of red grapes. You many come across plenty of versions of the same on that promise a healthy life to reduced ageing. But the real question is do they really deliver on the promises or are they more of a marketing hype.
So, does resveratrol help you live longer?
The fact regarding whether resveratrol helps you live longer, is backed by its popularity to combat illnesses and the anti-aging properties. In support of this, the findings of early research on animals may be useful, although, the real effects on the human body have not been proven.
Based on these studies, some of the benefits of resveratrol present in red wine, are as follows:
- Diabetes – is known to resist insulin, that is a condition where the body becomes less resistant to the blood sugar level of hormone insulin
- Heart disease – is known to reduce the formation of bad cholesterol that reduces heart disease. In a way, it makes it difficult for the pallets to stick together and the formation of blood clots are reduced.
As an antioxidant, resveratrol is known to destroy the free radicals that are free atoms with an electron missing. Free radicals are known to cause cell damage and increase the risk of inflammatory disorders and even cancers. Resveratrol can absorb free radicals and then neutralize them, thereby reducing the risk of several diseases. These properties suggest that resveratrol can promote longevity, thus supporting the question of whether resveratrol helps you live longer.
Experts believe that having 2 to 5 ounces of red wine can be helpful. However, as every person is different, it is important to decide based on individual health and medical advice.
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