Should Resveratrol be the reason for you to raise a red wine toast?

Limited intake of alcohol providing health benefits is quite a debatable topic. However, when it comes to red wine, it is Resveratrol that gains more attention, instead of alcohol. Though you may find Resveratrol in plants like eucalyptus, lily, spruce, mulberries and peanuts but it is grapes which are the rich source of this wonder nutrient. Labrusca, muscadine and Vitis vinifera are the grape varieties that have higher Resveratrol content.

Red wine or white wine?

Roots, stalks, vines, seeds, you can find Resveratrol in all these parts but you can bet to find the highest concentration in the outer layer or the skin. Resveratrol content in wine depends upon the duration for which grape skins are put in fermentation process. That is the reason Resveratrol concentration is a lot higher in the red wine, in comparison to white wine. In white wine, only juice is squeezed from grapes, while their skins are eliminated quite early in the process of making wine. As grape juice beverage is not fermented, it is not a rich Resveratrol source.  

Some Resveratrol facts

Resveratrol is actually produced as the defense system of plants and is one antibiotic that protect plants from diseases. It is quite interesting to know that grapes that are grown in lower temperatures and places that commonly have fungal infections usually have higher Resveratrol concentrations. 

Resveratrol is used as an active ingredient by Chinese and Japanese to treat inflammatory, allergic, lipid, hypertensive and human fungal diseases since decades. However, Resveratrol benefits in red wine has recently gained attention as many recent studies pointed out towards this amazing nutrient as a likely explanation for French Paradox that raises the question about lower health diseases among French people instead of a diet high in saturated fat?

Fact you must know before you rush for a red wine toast

Knowing so many benefits along with interesting facts about red wine, it is very much likely that you wish to catch hold of a red wine toast to cure your heart diseases, diabetes and other ageing problems. But before you purchase red wine to take advantage of Resveratrol benefits, it is essential to understand that excess of everything is bad, no matter if the thing is good or bad. 1-2 alcohol glasses daily are suggested by The American Heart Association as the optimal quantity to keep a check on your cardiac health. 

Intake of any quantity more than that may cause health risks in the long term that outweighs any health advantages that you might have gained with Resveratrol as your anti-cancer and antioxidant agent. So, raise a toast to red wine with a word of caution and enjoy healthy living.

Resveratrol