We are often being told that red wine is good for our health, but do we really know why?

In countries where red wine is consumed in larger quantities, such as Italy and France, there is less of a problem of heart disease and fatal strokes. Whereas, in countries like North America and the United Kingdom, where red wine is consumed in smaller quantities the problem is considerably higher. The reason for this is down to chemicals in the red wine which include polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants, and are found in a number of different sources, including grapes/wine, as well as beer, tea, coffee, olive oil, chocolate/cocoa, peanuts, and several other fruits and vegetables.

The skin of the red grape, (and so a constituent of red wine), contains Resveratrol which is a phytoalexin or naturally occurring antibiotic. This is produced when the plant is being attacked by bacteria or fungi, and is a vital antioxidant to the cardiovascular system. These antioxidants work by helping to reduce the damage from oxygen, caused by substances called free radicals, which can lead to cell dysfunction and the onset of heart disease and diabetes. Resveratrol is known to help increase the levels of HDL or good cholesterol, while trials are on-going as to its anti-cancer properties.

Is all cholesterol bad?

No, the body needs cholesterol, it is vital to ensure normal function. Without it, the body would not work, however, high levels in the blood system are associated with atherosclerosis, which is the main cause of coronary heart disease. The cholesterol is carried around the body by proteins called lipoproteins.

The two main types of lipoproteins are LDL and HDL:

LDL – low-density lipoprotein – is the bad, damaging type of cholesterol. Having excessive LDL cholesterol in your blood can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. The risk is worse if you have higher levels of LDL cholesterol with a lower level of HDL cholesterol. If you are at risk of developing heart disease and your LDL level is 100 mg/dL or higher, your cholesterol could be too high. HDL – high-density lipoprotein – is a good, protective type of cholesterol. HDL stops cholesterol build up in the walls of the arteries. If the level of HDL cholesterol is below 40 mg/dL, your risk from heart disease is much greater. The higher your levels of HDL cholesterol, the better. The average for men is around 45 mg/dL, and for women 55 mg/dL.
Cholesterol, food and red wine.

A major misconception many people have is that most food is full of cholesterol. This is not so, there is actually very little cholesterol found in foods. Those to be wary of are eggs, shellfish and offal. The type of fat in the food is the key, so when you choose a food, ensure that it contains unsaturated fat and not saturated fat.

Saturated fat (the bad fat) is found mainly in animal products such as sausages, butter, lard, bacon, pies, biscuits, cakes and pastries. This the fat that we need to cut down on. Excessive saturated fat raises cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Unsaturated fat, (the good fat), is found in oily fish such as mackerel, salmon, and fresh tuna, sunflower and olive oils, and nuts and avocados. These fats can greatly reduce cholesterol levels. Many of us need to cut down on the bad animal fats, and where possible replace them with a foodstuff high in polyunsaturated fat. By doing this, and having the occasional glass of red wine we will improve our health dramatically.

But remember, always drink your red wine in moderation, one glass of red wine for women and two glasses for men will lower the risks involved with heart attacks by between 30 and 50 percent. And of course take plenty of exercise.

Some of the varieties of red wine I would recommend are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Shiraz.

By: Rob Hemphill

A glass of fine red wine provides the classic accompaniment to a dinner at an upscale restaurant or a cozy supper at home with family and friends. But now, emerging research suggests that red wine might have health benefits to make it doubly welcome at the table.

However, the detrimental effects of excessive alcohol consumption are well known, and many people might avoid red wine because of concerns that the health risks associated with alcohol might outweigh red wine’s positive effects. In order to make a decision about whether drinking red wine is likely to contribute to your good health, there are a few basic facts that you should keep in mind.

The Pros And Cons Of Red Wine

Like any alcoholic beverage, red wine will become destructive to your health if consumed in excess. There are two major dangers associated with alcohol consumptions. The first is liver damage over time, which unfortunately is not a risk solely for people who drink in excess.

Individuals, who are on certain forms of prescription medication, or over-the-counter pain relievers, may be at risk for liver damage even if they drink in moderation. When considering whether red wine might be good for your health, be sure to talk to your doctor about any medications you may be taking and whether these will make you vulnerable to liver damage.

The other major risk is the danger associated with driving while intoxicated. Luckily, this danger is easy to avoid if you take some time to plan your evenings. A designated driver takes the risk out of evening get-togethers where a bottle of wine will be shared, and many people live within walking distance of excellent restaurants where a good glass of red wine can be enjoyed.

Taken in moderation, red wine has many benefits that far exceed the risks. For healthy individuals with no predisposition to liver problems, red wine is a source of abundant flavonoids, a type of antioxidant linked to a many indicators of good health.

Flavonoids have been particularly associated with good cardiovascular health and show the potential to lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties.

These potential health benefits are the result of a compound called reservatrol, which can be found in the skins and seeds of red grapes. This compound puts red wine in a class of food sources of antioxidants, a group which also includes dark chocolate, green tea and citrus fruits.

When weighing the advantages and disadvantages of red wine, it is important to consider the fact that red wine’s benefits represent small amounts of protective and positive value over time.

Increasing the amount of red wine you drink will not increase the positive health outcomes associated with red wine and in fact would probably undermine any benefit that you might be receiving. While the dangers of liver damage and drunken driving are significant, there is also a slight elevation in the risk of breast cancer associated with alcohol consumption.

For this reason, many health experts advise women to drink no more than one alcoholic beverage per day and men to drink no more than two.

By: Jon Kelly

There is no denying that eating fresh vegetables has many great health benefits. However, it can be inconvenient to run to the market every other day or store fresh vegetables in your refrigerator or pantry. A small garden would be a viable answer to this dilemma. Survey your yard and see if you have the space for a small garden. If so, it is fairly easy to start your first vegetable and soon you will have fresh, delicious vegetables to feed your family.

* Start small. Don’t attempt to make a huge garden with lots of different vegetables – at least not at first. Take it a few small steps at a time. A good beginner garden is 8 feet by 10 feet, no larger. If you decide that this endeavor is something that you can keep up, you can always expand your garden.

* Location is everything. Select a location that will receive a great deal of sun during the day. If you have a northern garden, then you should have full sun.

* Work up the earth. You need to work the soil to prepare it for the seeds and plants that you will put in your garden. You can rent or borrow a rear tine tiller and work the soil up, sod and all. Don’t remove the sod, you will need it to facilitate proper drainage.

* Know your soil. You want sandy loam as opposed to predominantly clay or sand. The way to test your soil to make sure it is good, sandy loam is to take a handful of the dirt and squeeze it. If it crumbles when you release it, then it is sandy loam.

* Test your soil. You may choose to have your soil tested to may sure that it has the proper pH levels. You may also want to have it tested for the three major nutrients which are nitrogen, potassium and potash.

* Add some topsoil. If you have sand or clay soil, you would benefit from adding some topsoil to even things out. Even compost can add the proper texture and consistency if topsoil is too expensive.

* You can also make a raised bed with topsoil. Use landscape timbers to accomplish this. Treated 2 X 12s are also effective for this. Stack about five high. A raised bed will be very easy and convenient because you can each it easier when you are planting and weeding.

* Plant! Once you have the bed of your garden set up, it is time to put some plants and seeds in it. Purchase seeds from stores or order them online or through catalogs. You can also pick up seedlings (baby plants) and plant them as well. Take some time to plan your garden, deciding where you will plant each vegetable.

* Watch your crops. Onions, peas, beets, zucchini squash and rutabaga are all easy to grow, as are tomatoes and peppers. Corn, squash and pumpkin can take up a lot of space so you may want to limit them or eliminate them altogether in your first garden.

Your first vegetable garden can be very rewarding, fun and even therapeutic. On top of that, you will be able to give your family the freshest possible vegetables.

By: David Wegener

Anyone who’s seriously considered undergoing a plastic surgery procedure knows that it’s not a cheap ordeal. To make matters worse, most insurance companies are extremely quick to deny coverage for these procedures. But if you’re really intent of having something nipped and tucked, you may want to consider the ways in which you can obtain the money. In this article, we will provide a few ideas on how to raise the funds.

Step 1 – Before anything, check with your health insurance. In some cases, if you require a surgery due to physical deformity or repair, your procedure may be covered in your plan. It’s better to know now, than find out once the treatment has already been done.

Step 2 – Talk to your physician regarding ways which you might be able to have your procedure covered by insurance. In some cases, it simply depends on how things are worded. By making the insurance understand the health benefits on having the procedure, you just may be able to get around paying.

Step 3 – SAVE SAVE SAVE. Yes, it’s rough, but starting a savings account may be the best option for you. Start by taking a specific amount out of each paycheck and adding it to the fund. Add extra when you’re able. Not only will this help you manage your money better, but will also allow you the time to properly think about the procedure. If you end up gathering the funds and still have the itch, then you know you made the right choice.

Step 4 – Call your credit card company and find out what your credit limit is. You just may be able to charge it.

Step 5 – As a combination effort, try saving half of the money and then charging the remainder to your credit card. It can act as a reward! Put the amount you were saving each paycheck toward paying off the bill.

Step 6 – Try taking out a personal loan from a bank or credit union. This is not only a cost efficient way to go about it, but will also help to build your credit over time.

Step 7 – Talk to your physician about their financing options. Most surgeons offer financing for procedures. Know your options and evaluate them.

Step 8 – Instead of birthday or Christmas presents, have your family simply contribute to your surgery fund.

While it may take a great deal of discipline and time, if you’re really set on something, it’s all the more rewarding once you finally get it.

By: A Aaronson

Champagne a festive wine was actually the first wine which was made 2,000 years ago, was named after a small town in France. Wines from the champagne region were known from the middle-ages. During those periods wines were either red or white. The first commercial sparkling wine was produced in the Limoux area of Languedoc in the year 1535. Sparkling wines usually come from areas where grapes don’t have enough sun to ripe according to other wine standards.

We have all heard about the medical benefits of red and white wine. But recent findings have revealed that champagne has got medical benefits too. When raising a glass of Champagne and toasting ‘Cheers’, the attitude is generally a way of praising one’s health and well being in a figurative way.

According to the JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY published in April 2007 revealed that moderate consumption of Champagne as a source behind brain protection. This sparkling wine according to the recent joint study of University of Reading and University of Cagliari may help protect the brain against injuries incurred during a stroke and other ailments, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. So now when we raise a glass of Champagne and shout ‘Cheers’, we can really mean it.

The reason for the Champagne’s ability to cope with the brain according to the researchers lies in the high presence of polyphenols packed within every bottle. Red wine was declared as the healthiest types of wines to drink, because of the highest concentration of polyphenols. Polyphenols are known antioxidants, which are believed to help avoid cell death due to oxidative stress. Previous research found Champagne to contain high amounts of other types of phenolic compounds, such as tyrosol and caffeic acid.

Scientists carried out tests in order to find out if the polyphenols found in Champagne are similarly beneficial to those in red wines. Measurable levels of polyphenols were extracted from Chardonnay and Pinot noir/ Pinot Meunier and several samples of cortical neuron were prepared cells from mice. After separating mice cells into two groups “one that would be let alone and one that would be penetrated with Champagne extracts” the scientists simulated a stroke on the cells and saw the reaction. The scientists monitored how the brain cells reacted to the presence of the peroxynitrite, which is a reactive compound found in the brain during inflammatory conditions. It was found that the pretreatment with Champagne wine extracts resulted in significant protection against neurotoxicity.

The scientists trust that the Champagne extracts protected neuron cells in numerous ways, noting that in the sample with the highest concentration of sparkling wine, brain-cell function was completely restored over time. They also believed that caffeic acid and tyrosol may help to normalize the cells’ response to injury with their anti-inflammatory attributes. The compounds also act as cellular-level mops, essentially cleaning up and removing hazardous chemicals from the body. The researchers also wrote that there was evidence that dietary polyphenols can cross the “blood-brain barrier” which would suggest that the above molecular behavior has the potential to act in the same way, within the human central nervous system, if consumed.

It is too early to tell if consuming Champagne will have benefits for a long time, because the amount of polyphenols in Champagne varies greatly from “variety, vintage and a wide range of environmental factors”. But scientists are hoping to be able to shed more light on the potential beneficial effects of Champagne on human health and life span, with a specific interest on its influence over aging.

But, as more and more research is performed, Champagne has a chance to turn over a new leaf in medical science in the future. This life preserve task may be one, Champagne takes on a new, but it’s one we hope goes to its and our heads, for the sustainability of humanity. With the associates of the health community raising its rank, Champagne is our new champion. So, as it puts a cork in brain injury, we intend you have a toast to the Dom Perignons, the Veuve Clicquots, and the Louis Roederers of the world. Fill your glass with the sparkling wine and ease your mind, “Cheers”.

By: Devi Nisha

We all have raised our wine glasses in a special toast and said, “To your health”. While we do not throw our wine glasses in the fireplace anymore there is a good deal to be said about the health benefits of wine, both red and white varieties.

Will it give us an increase in longevity? Some very impressive statistics are coming out from Researchers who have found red wines rich in flavonoids are actually good for our health. These flavonoids are known for their antioxidant properties which work with the body to resist viruses and carcinogens among other perks, such as helping your body to resist cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Of course like anything else, moderation should be maintained, you do not have to get “tipsy”, everyday to get the health benefits of wine by the flavonoids in red wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir are the highest concentrations of antioxidants and flavonoids. A 16th Swiss physician wrote, “Wine is a food, a medicine and a poison – it is just a question of dose”.

The French people have a lower rate of heart disease due to the region that their red wine is produced. The French red wines are very tannic and contain high procyanidin (antioxidant) content of any wines worldwide.

The dryer red wines such as Merlots or red Zinfandels contain fewer flavonoids but more than white wines.

For a reasonable fill of your antioxidants so most health officials recommend, would be one or two four-ounce glasses of wine per day for men and one four-ounce glass for women. So adding a glass or two of red or white wine to your diet can be beneficial. “To your Health”

By: Gary Rogers

If you enjoy drinking alcohol now and then, you should think about drinking more wine than other types due to its proven health benefits. Basically red wine is a great source of phytochemicals usually found in plants. One of the most known such chemical is resveratrol, which I’m sure you’ve already heard of at least in passing.

Resveratrol provides valuable antioxidant protection from damages done by free radicals and it also helps the good (LDL) cholesterol, while at the same time keeps us from aging at a faster rate, helps out heart remain healthy and helps with cell regeneration.

Drinking red wine moderately also has shown to help with a balanced level of blood sugar. Also antioxidants are said to minimize the risk of various cancers and faster aging, however they have many more benefits that we are not touching in this article unless we want to write a novel.

Of course, just like with everything else, drinking alcohol should be done at a moderate pace. It won’t help anyone if you are constantly drunk and you might not only endanger your health but by a reckless behavior you might also put other lives at risk.

You can find many different types of red wines to enjoy, however if you really want to get the extra benefits that resveratrol can offer you, try to get your hands on a good bottle of European Pinot Noir, made in France. This grape is said to contain one of the highest amounts of resveratrol around.

If you are a wine lover and drinker, you should strongly consider getting yourself a practical wine decanter that will help you in storing and pouring your drink effectively without letting any deposits into the glass.

By: Vaso Johnson

The motivation to exercise- sometimes it can be hard to find, can’t it. You may have followed your New Year’s resolutions for a few weeks or a couple of months, but the newness has worn off and you find yourself in the same place you were before. You make excuses instead of finding the time to exercise consistently. Regardless of what season it is when you read this article, there is never a bad time to begin the process of getting more fit and the health benefits that come along with that. What better time to get your body in shape than right now!

As we have discussed on many occasions in other articles, putting an exercise program into your lifestyle is an essential component to being optimally healthy. Not only does it help you look and feel your best, but your organs and all of the systems in the body work better as well. Exercise has even been proven to create the internal environment that slows the aging process! I don’t know of anyone at any age reading this article that would not be interested in slowing the aging process to a crawl. Am I right?

The following is a simple, seven step program to help you get back in gear and begin exercising again. These are the keys to helping you get the most out of your own exercise program. Your part is to start!

1. Take inventory. The first step in the process is to figure out where you are now and then decide where you want and need to be in the future. Remember, it’s the choices and decisions that you make today that will determine where you are in your life tomorrow! Don’t rely solely on your own perceptions- ask a trusted friend or loved one for their opinion of what would help make you your best. Do you need to lose weight, lower your body fat percentage, gain some muscle, build strength or just be more fit overall? Make sure that they are honest with you since you can’t fix what you don’t know is broken. This will help you determine what kind of a exercise program you would most benefit from implementing. If necessary, get a check up from your doctor, especially if you have been inactive for awhile. They can accurately assess your level of fitness along with documenting your starting blood pressure, body fat percentage, height and weight measurements, etc. This is important to protect yourself from overdoing when you start your program and it provides a basis for tracking and monitoring your progress during your exercise program.

2. Set specific and realistic goals for yourself. Decide if you are more interested in losing weight, reducing body fat, building muscle and strength, or gaining endurance and stamina. If you have a strong desire to succeed, you will have the most success by setting both long-term and short-term goals by which to monitor your progress as you go. Achievable goals will not only help you accomplish the desired end results but will keep you motivated in the process. If goals are too lofty, you may get discouraged and quit all together. An example would be to improve your eating habits and add daily exercise with a goal of losing 1-2 pounds per week. At the end of 10 weeks, that could add up to almost 20 pounds! That would be well worth accomplishing!

3. Begin gradually. No matter how excited you are, remember to begin slowly and make consistency your initial aim. Do not expect to pick up where you left off the last time you were exercising consistently 1- years ago! Make the first several exercise sessions a test to see where you are currently, and use this information to determine how you feel and how much your body can handle at one time. To avoid injury, include some form of stretching and flexibility training in your exercise program. Stretch the larger muscles of the body first (such as the legs and the lower back). Be careful not to bounce when stretching- carefully hold the stretch for 15-20 seconds and then relax/release that stretch. You will be surprised how quickly your body will adapt to the changes you are asking it to make!

4. Keep a journal. You must keep some kind of written record of your workouts whether you are walking or lifting weights. This will help you note your progress and provide a record for the planning of your next workout. Try to gradually add to what you accomplished on the workouts before the current days session. When you log the time and energy invested in the project, it makes it harder to quit, and the results help sustain your motivation. It is highly beneficial to be able to look back on where you started and remind yourself of how much progress you have made during the early weeks of your program. Motivation or the lack thereof is the main reason that people drop out after a short period of time and stop exercising all together. Progress, even in small increments, helps to keep you on target and on track to reach your goals.

5. Find a workout partner. Hold each other accountable to the goals that you set for yourselves. This makes it much easier to stay motivated and you have less excuse to “bail out” of a workout when someone else is depending on your support for their progress. Nothing is more effective than finding someone with similar goals and then supporting each other toward the accomplishment of them. Don’t get caught up in trying to be better than your partner, but use their current level of fitness to help drive you to catch up. If you are already ahead of where they are in their level of health, keep them encouraged and support them in the way that they tell you they need it. Don’t try to decide for someone else how quickly they should be progressing, and don’t let them tell you where you should be and what you should be doing. Just support each other in the accomplishing of the predetermined goals that you have each set for yourselves.

6. Learn to be flexible. Figure out what barriers or obstacles that might interfere with your consistency, then set a plan in advance of what you will do when they come up. Have a game plan for when you travel, when it rains, when your partner cannot train with you, or when you are sore from the last session. By pre-determining what course of action you will take when the obstacles surface, you will have no excuse to give up your exercise for the day. The last thing you need is another excuse NOT to stick with your program!

7. Remind yourself of the benefits of your exercise program. Remember that you will be around longer for your family, that exercise increases the production of endorphins in the brain so that you may even be a nicer person from exercise. The list of benefits is endless. Just find the ones that work for you in order to help you stay the course. Knowledge is power and in order for you to stick with your plan, you must understand the benefits to the program you are implementing. As you accomplish results it becomes easier to see the rewards, but early on you must remind yourself of why you are exercising and putting forth the effort in the first place. They include a reduced risk of heart disease, lower stress, improved longevity, a sharper mind, looking and feeling better, having more energy, etc. When it is time to shed your winter clothes, you do not want to look like you spent the winter hibernating!

Remember, nothing is more important to optimal health than a consistent exercise program. Research has proven that it may even be more important to your overall state of health than your diet! And you know how important I feel diet is to your health if you have read any of the articles I have written on the topic of health and wellness. Just a few simple changes in your daily routine allow you to add enough exercise to change both your current state of health and your future. Carve out the time from your daily schedule- your body will thank you for it!

By: Dr. Tom Bolan

At the end of a trying day, there are not many things that can be more comforting than settling in with a nice glass of wine. If given the choice between a bottle of red and a bottle of white to unwind, moderate drinkers should take into account the health benefits of drinking red wine. There are antioxidants present in this type of wine that are removed in the process of making white wine and they can be extremely beneficial in preventing diseases and promoting overall health.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant found in the seeds and skins of grapes and there are significant levels of it found in red wine. This is because the skins and seeds ferment with the grapes while red wine is being made, leaving a high level of the antioxidant in the finished wine. Antioxidants prevent harmful elements in the body from attacking healthy cells, helping protect the body from the least to the most serious conditions.

One of the major issues that this wine can help protect against is heart disease. The blood thinning abilities of Resveratrol can protect the body against blood clots that keep oxygen from reaching vital organs, such as the heart or the brain. Drinking one or two glasses of red wine each day can provide protection from heart attack and stroke as a result of blood clots.

In addition to protection against heart and brain diseases, Resveratrol can also help prevent certain types of cancer. The antioxidant can help minimize the DNA mutations that lead to cancer. In addition, it can induce cell death in cancer cells.

Obviously, someone who has a pre-existing condition that prohibits them from drinking alcohol should not drink red wine in an effort to improve their health. However, generally healthy people who drink only in moderation should have no reservations about enjoying the health benefits of drinking red wine. Now adults can unwind after a long day while taking steps to improve their health.

By: Wes Hagan

A lot has been written about the health benefits of wine. But before you decide to start drinking there are some facts you need to be aware of concerning wine health benefits. Many studies have been done to try and determine if wine really is good for you. A lot of this started because of what’s called the French Paradox.

This refers to the fact that although the French eat a high calorie, high fat diet their percentage of heart disease is lower than in the U.S. One possible explanation is that they drink more wine. There has been some evidence that would seem to substantiate that theory.

What Is It In Wine That Helps My Heart? Red wine contains poly phenols which are antioxidants that can help keep the blood vessels in your heart from getting ‘clogged up’. Resveratrol comes from the skins of the grapes and since red wine ferments in it’s skin longer red wine contains higher concentrations of resveratrol. Some studies have shown that resveratrol can not only help keep your heart’s blood vessels clear it can also help prevent obesity and diabetes.

How Much Do I Need? The downside is that in the lab tests conducted on mice they were given extreme amounts. The average person would need to drink upwards of 100 glasses of wine a day just to get the same results.

There are also other foods that can give you a supply of resveratrol such as grapes, peanuts, blueberries and cranberries, although no one seems to be able to agree on whether or not you will get the same benefits from the fruits as you would from drinking the wine. Another point to keep in mind is that studies have shown that any type of alcohol can help raise ‘good cholesterol’ levels, lower ‘bad’ and help prevent blood clots.

Is It Good For Everyone? Of course we all know that there is a downside to drinking too much alcohol and studies have shown that not everyone will benefit from red wine consumption. For example, people with high triglyceride levels are not only discouraged from drinking wine, but from drinking any type of alcohol.

What You Should Do I know it’s confusing and there doesn’t seem to be any real consensus on the question of whether or not wine health benefits really exist. It’s times like this where you need to use your own judgment, and the advice of your doctor. If you love your daily glass of wine, keep drinking it. It’s a great way to relax at the end of the day and finding and trying new wines can be like taking a mini-vacation every week. But if you’re not that into drinking wine, or any other type of alcohol for that matter, there’s certainly no reason to start now.

There’s not enough evidence to conclude whether or not there really is such a thing as wine health benefits so no need to start drinking, if you want to keep your heart healthy you can settle for a nice long walk.

By: Tina Grove