According to MayoClinic.com, although most doctors agree that red wine, in moderation, is good for your heart, they're not quite sure what component of red wine provides these benefits. Scientific research has focused the possible heart health benefits of two key components of red wine, antioxidants such as flavonoids and resveratrol.
Flavonoids
According to MayoClinic.com, the antioxidants in red wine exist in two forms, flavonoids and nonflavonoids. The first form, flavonoids, helps your body by providing protection against LDL cholesterol oxidation, as evidenced by a 2002 study published in the "Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology" journal by J.D. Folts, a researcher at the Coronary Thrombosis Research Laboratory, University of Wisconsin Medical School. Flavonoids are found in other foods, such as dark chocolate and certain types of alcohol, but are highly concentrated in red wine.
Resveratrol
The second form of polyphenols, known as nonflavonoids, includes the compound resveratrol. Resveratrol is a nutrient that acts as an antioxidant. It is found primarily in red wine, grapes and peanuts. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, the antioxidant properties of resveratrol neutralize free radicals. Free radicals can contribute to aging and cell damage and may alter your DNA. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, free radicals are found in cigarette smoke and smog, and are also produced naturally as a by-product of certain bodily processes such as digestion. According to MayoClinic.com, resveratrol may help to combat free radical damage, reduce your LDL, or bad, cholesterol levels and prevent fatty buildup in your arteries.
Alcohol
The alcohol found in red wine may have heart health benefits. According to the American Heart Association, moderate amounts of alcohol may help to raise levels of HDL, or good, cholesterol, and may also help to prevent blood clots from forming in blood vessels by preventing platelets from gluing themselves together. Further scientific research is being done to validate the benefit of alcohol and heart health.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Red Wine
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Resveratol
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea
- "Potential Health Benefits from the Flavonoids in Grape Products on Vascular Disease"; Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology; J.D. Folts; 2002
- American Heart Association: Alcohol, Wine and Cardiovascular Disease
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