If you have heard that red wine is good for you, the main reason is probably its content of a very powerful antioxidant called resveratrol. Resveratrol is found in the skin of grapes, especially red grapes, and in the red wine popular in the Mediterranean Hot Spots (Campodimele, Sardinia and Symi), and in Hunza.
Resveratrol is thought to be the explanation for the French Paradox – the fact that the wine-loving French have much lower rates of heart disease than would be expected given the quantity of fatty cheeses present in the traditional French diet. This is because the antioxidant action of resveratrol helps prevent atherosclerotic plaque from forming, and resveratrol also lowers levels of LDL cholesterol and helps keep blood pressure down (something wine itself also does, of course).
Resveratrol also helps balance insulin levels and, due to its protective antioxidant effect on brain cells, to improve cognitive ability. Studies from the National Institute of Longevity in Japan show that those drinking moderate amounts of wine have higher IQs than those who do not. Take note, however, that those who drank larger amounts had lower IQs; since alcohol is a toxin, the risks can outweigh the benefits.
Resveratrol, being an antioxidant, should, theoretically, have an anti-cancer effect. This seems to be backed up by a large study of 34,000 middle-aged French men by Serge Renaud, who found that death rate from all causes, including cancer, was up to 30 per cent lower in moderate wine drinkers.
Resveratrol may help us to live longer in another way: by mimicking the life-extending effect of caloric restriction by stimulating certain enzymes to repair DNA damage in cells. Studies show that the life spans of yeast, worms, and fruit flies can be extended by up to 70 per cent with resveratrol.
If you wish to avoid alcohol, red grape juice is another way to get resveratrol, but the levels are not as concentrated as in wine. Akea Essentials contains resveratrol in concentrated levels but without the possible detrimental effects of alcohol.