Red red wine
Here's a snifter full of good news for oenophiles: new research has shown that a compound in red wine can not only protect you from a stroke, but can also help combat the negative health impact of carrying extra weight.
In the first study, Johns Hopkins scientists found that rats pre-treatment with resveratrol, a compound found in red grape skins and seeds, suffered about 40 percent less brain damage after a stroke than untreated rats. Resveratrol seemed to exert its protective effects by increasing brain levels of an enzyme that guards nerve cells from damage.
In the other, researchers at Harvard Medical School found that when obese rats fed a high-fat diet were healthier and lived longer when resveratrol was added to their food.
This may be because resveratrol activates an important gene called SIRT1, which seems to lower blood sugar and decrease the formation of fat. It is the subject of considerable interest by research scientists and you're likely to hear more about it in the future.
Resveratrol is found naturally in red grape skins and seeds, as well as in some nuts. But red wine is the richest source, because the compound is concentrated during fermentation.
I'm always wary of recommending wine as a health food - after all, alcohol can also cause its share of problems. And no one should be fooled into thinking they can negate the health impacts of obesity by downing red wine. But if you don't have any health or dependency issues that preclude alcohol, a glass of red wine with dinner every night can be an enjoyable and healthy thing.
