If you are like many Americans, you may be investigating possible steps you can take to improve your heart health. You may have heard about the potential health benefits of red wine and resveratrol and be wondering what resveratrol is and whether you should take it. The compound may be beneficial, but you should talk to your doctor about any medical concerns that you have.
Background and Sources
The MayoClinic.com states, resveratrol is a kind flavonoid, which is a category of antioxidants that may lower blood pressure or improve cholesterol levels. You can get it from red or Concord grapes, and the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center states, peanuts, blueberries and cranberries also have resveratrol. Grape juice and red wine can be good sources of resveratrol, and the amount in wine can change depending on the type of grapes, the crop location and the fermentation process.
Health Implications
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and the American Heart Association states that some individuals who drink alcohol in moderation may have a lower risk of heart disease. Alcohol may help protect your heart because it increases levels of good HDL cholesterol in your blood, but part of the protective effect may be due to the resveratrol in red wine. Resveratrol may inhibit platelet formation and reduce your risk of dangerous blood clots that can lead to a stroke or heart attack.
Alcohol Recommendations
Some red wines are among the best natural sources of resveratrol, and you may be interested in the potential benefits of drinking red wine regularly. However, the American Heart Association does not recommend drinking alcohol to reduce your risk for coronary heart disease because it may increase your risk for obesity, breast cancer, accidents and diabetes. Men should not have more than 2 drinks per day, and women should not have more than 1 4-oz. glass of wine.
Considerations
Along with an overall healthy diet, resveratrol may improve your heart health, but the American Heart Association emphasizes that other factors such as exercise or prescription niacin may be more effective than resveratrol for increasing your levels of good HDL cholesterol. If you are interested in increasing your resveratrol consumption, you might want to consider using a dietary supplement which can provide more resveratrol than the amount you can get from food or wine. Before taking any dietary supplement, or if you are concerned about your heart health, talk to your doctor.
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