Go ahead and pop that cork. Science may have discovered a fountain of youth, and it’s right there in that bottle of vin rose.
Though for over-50s “if it feels good, do it” has been largely replaced by “if it feels good it’s probably bad for you”, medical science has pitched us a delightful change-up: it seems that drinking wine, and red wine in particular, is actually pretty darn good for you. In fact, it may even help keep you young.
The key is resveratrol, a natural antibiotic produced by plants to help them ward off disease. It’s present in many plants but is particularly abundant in the skins of grape species used to make red wine. Some have suggested that resveratrol is the secret behind the “French Paradox”, which refers to the fact that though the Gallic diet is typically high in fat, the French have a low incidence of heart disease. Could the French wine-with-everything ethic be why?
Yes, probably. Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant, and as such is a powerhouse of health benefits. Antioxidants are substances that can neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that scavenge and damage other cells. Antioxidants can not only prevent free radical damage, they can sometimes even reverse the process and repair damages already done.
Since recent research indicates that free radical damage is either a cause of or contributor to most age-related diseases and disorders, antioxidants are particularly important for the over-50 crowd. The body does produce some antioxidants, but our ability to synthesize them decreases with age.
In a nation where more than 8,000 people are turning 60 every day, it’s easy to see why resveratrol is a hot research topic. Though so far all resveratrol research has been cellular or animal studies, the initial findings are promising: it looks like that glass of wine could be protecting your heart, boosting your immune system, and perhaps even protecting you from cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Most intriguiging of all, however, is connection between resveratrol and sirtuin, a substance some have called a “longevity gene” which can actually make life longer. Since 2003 a number of studies have proven that resveratrol activates sirtuin in a number of life forms, and has effectively extended the life span of yeast, fruit flies, worms, and certain fish. Interesting, yes – but downright exciting in view of the fact that it has been proven that there is a human version of the longevity gene.
So drink up – moderately, of course – and bask in the knowledge that you may be adding some time to your stay on the planet. Of course there are other ways to get resveratrol – but why would you want to?
