Why a glass of red wine could win the battle of the bulge
By FIONA MACRAE
Last updated at 1:23 AM on 2nd July 2011
Health benefits: A glass of red wine a day could keep the bulge away
It is the perfect excuse to crack open a bottle of Chianti and put your feet up.
Resveratrol, the ‘miracle ingredient’ in red wine, credited with warding off a host of ills from old age to cancer, may provide exercise benefits without moving a muscle as it seems to keep bones strong and diabetes at bay.
With previous research endowing resveratrol, which can also be bought in supplement form, with tricking the body into burning off fat, it could be the couch potato’s dream.
Gerald Weissmann, editor of the journal that published the latest research, said: ‘There is overwhelming data showing the human body needs physical activity, but for some of us, getting that activity isn’t easy.
‘Resveratrol may not be a substitute for exercise, but it could slow deterioration until someone could get moving again.’
To study whether resveratrol has similar effects on the body to exercise, French researchers devised an experiment in which rats experienced the weightlessness more usually associated with astronauts in space.
The physical changes seen due to lack of gravity include slower circulation and floppy muscles, meaning there are parallels with bed-ridden patients and those who do little or no exercise.
The ‘astronaut’ rats given a daily dose of resveratrol stayed in good health, the FASEB journal reports.
Thing of the past: Resveratroi, the 'miracle' ingredient in red win, may provide exercise benefits without moving a muscle
But in those kept in weightless conditions and not given resveratrol, bones became brittle and muscles wasted and weakened.
For those who need more encouragement to sit down with a glass of red, previous research has linked the drink to slimmer waistlines.
The long-term study of almost 20,000 women found those who enjoyed a glass or two of alcohol a day, particularly red wine, put on less weight than those who stuck to water or soft drinks.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2010486/Why-glass-red-wine-win-battle-bulge.html#ixzz1Qx3hFeyX
No comments:
Post a Comment