Drink Up to Prevent Heart Attack

Kendra at A Hearty Life reports on new research indicating that having one drink a day decreases women’s risk of heart attack. (However, getting drunk even once a month increases your risk, so moderation is key.) My recommendation? Have a glass of red wine with dinner. According to Yale-New Haven Hospital’s Nutrition Advisor,

…research has suggested that specifically red wine is the most beneficial to your heart health. The cardioprotective effect has been attributed to antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of red grapes.

Scientists believe the antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in three ways:

• by reducing production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also know as the “bad” cholesterol)
• by boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the good cholesterol)
• by reducing blood clotting. Furthermore, consuming a glass of wine along with a meal may favorably influence your lipid profiles following that meal

Recently, researchers have found that moderate red wine consumption may be beneficial to more than just your heart.

Here’s to your health!

Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King