Red Wine
Part 6

A look at how resveratrol, a component of red wine, may be used to treat HD

The amount of resveratrol in red wine

According to the Journal of Chromatography and Clinical Biochemistry, drinking a moderate amount of red wine (1 to 3 glasses a day, depending on one’s size and ability to tolerate alcohol) may provide enough of the active compound resveratrol to exert preventative effects. Although resveratrol can be obtained in capsule form, taking these supplements may not have the same effect as drinking red wine. When resveratrol is exposed to oxygen (as is the case when it is extracted and manufactured into pill form), it becomes less effective. Eating grapes probably won’t have the same effect as drinking red wine either because the resveratrol in grapes is not extracted as it is in the delicate winemaking process. Thus, it appears that until researchers are able to isolate an active form of resveratrol, drinking red wine may be the best way to obtain the benefits of resveratrol. It is also important to note that not all red wines contain resveratrol. Red wines made from grapes that were sprayed with pesticides to prevent fungal infection contain very little resveratrol. Wines made from grapes grown in dry climates have a lower resveratrol content than those grown in humid areas. Organic red wines from certain areas of Europe contain the highest levels of resveratrol.

Last Modified: 04/12/2007

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