Red Wine: Exercise in a Bottle?

[steven johnson]

Bon apetit.

ScienceDaily (July 3, 2011) — As strange as it sounds, a new research study published in the FASEB Journal, suggests that the "healthy" ingredient in red wine, resveratrol, may prevent the negative effects that spaceflight and sedentary lifestyles have on people. The report describes experiments in rats that simulated the weightlessness of spaceflight, during which the group fed resveratrol did not develop insulin resistance or a loss of bone mineral density, as did those who were not fed resveratrol.

According to Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal, "There are overwhelming data showing that the human body needs physical activity, but for some of us, getting that activity isn't easy. A low gravity environment makes it nearly impossible for astronauts. For the earthbound, barriers to physical activity are equally challenging, whether they be disease, injury, or a desk job. Resveratrol may not be a substitute for exercise, but it could slow deterioration until someone can get moving again."

Scientists studied rats that underwent simulated weightlessness by hindlimb tail suspension and were given a daily oral load of resveratrol. The control group showed a decrease in soleus muscle mass and strength, the development of insulin resistance, and a loss of bone mineral density and resistance to breakage. The group receiving resveratrol showed none of these complications. Study results further demonstrated some of the underlying mechanisms by which resveratrol acts to prevent the wasting adaptations to disuse-induced mechanical unloading. This study also suggests that resveratrol may be able to prevent the deleterious consequences of sedentary behaviors in humans.

"If resveratrol supplements are not your cup of tea," Weissmann added, "then there's good news. You can find it naturally in red wine, making it the toast of the Milky Way."




Red Wine: Exercise in a Bottle?

[Hestia]

1. Brought to you by the Wine Growers Assn of America -

[classof56]

2. Well, looky there--I'm vindicated!

I do like my Merlot in the evening!

:9

[applegrove]

3. Hopefully they will come out with a pill some day.

[The Doctor.]

5. The concentrated form of it is VERY 'tart'.

Almost to the point of overwhelming.

Not bad though.

[The Doctor.]

4. I will live forever!

A dear friend of mine does Shaklee. They have concentrated resveratrol available. I've tried it, it seems good, but I didn't do it under controlled or monitored conditions, so I'm not really sure it was doing much.

She claims that it 'repairs DNA', which is literally incredible. I've tried to explain why it doesn't precisely work that way, and it would mean we have a key to immortality in that stuff.

She still believes it.

I'll give her credit though. It appears the stuff is a super-anti-oxidant. Anything that prevents cellular turnover from free radicals is bound to produce benefits.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. It would seem that resveratrol is being studied for a vast number of reasons. It has

been available in pill form for years.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=resveratrol%20dna

[unblock]

6. why do all these studies tout red wine and not grapes or grape juice?

oh yeah, the profit margin on wine is ginormous compared to the profit margin on grape juice.

(yes, resveratrol is found in grapes and grape juice as well.)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. Some other sources....

http://www.livestrong.com/article/422207-wines-with-high-levels-of-polyphenols/

Other Options

Red wine is just one source of polyphenols. Unfermented grape juice provides an ORAC score of 2,400, while 100 g of dark chocolate provides a whopping 21,000 ORAC units. Other sources of polyphenols include blueberries, pomegranates, cranberries and purple sweet potatoes. Look for fruits and vegetables with deep, dark colors when grocery shopping, recommends researcher Andrew Waterhouse in the book "Handbook of Antioxidants."

[supernova]

9. grapes and grape juice have a high sugar content

Not great of you are verging on diabetes, tho' a handful of grapes is a good option. But not likely to give you much resveratrol.

Personally, I prefer wine, it's sugar content is low and tastes delish! :9

[21st Century FDR]

10. Sulfites are what keep me from drinking wine.

Even the "organic" brands seem to have that crap in it, and I'm highly allergic.

So I guess I have to remain a beer drinker and get my resveratrol in supplement form. :beer: