Wine Not?

In case you all didn't know, February is Heart Healthy month. So for this blog I am writing about the benefits of drinking red wine (in moderation of course!). Wine drinking has been a staple in the human culture across time, and has actually been traced back to as early as 6000 B.C. in Mesopotamia! Holy Moly! That's a whole lot of wine drinking ;)

So why has wine been so popular in human culture for so long? I know what you're thinking...for the buzz, right? Absolutely! You're probably right about that one. However, in recent years of drinking that sweet, sweet nectar, we humans have discovered that there are actually some pretty awesome health benefits to drinking wine, especially the red varieties of wine. So, from the research that I have gathered from credible and non-credible internet sources, I have compiled a list of the top 5 benefits of red wine.

1. Red wine contains antioxidants, specifically a particular antioxidant called Resveratol. Studies have shown that Resveratol helps to reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL (good cholesterol) in your bloodstream. What that means is that keeping these levels at an equilibrium decreases your chance for blood clots and protects against artery damage and blockages.

2. Red wine also contains other important antioxidants, such as polyphenols that have been shown to help protect the lining of the blood vessels in your heart (Mayo Clinic, 2014).

3. Red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, and Merlot, help trigger the production of melatonin in your brain, which of course triggers sleep. Adequate sleep and consistency in sleep cycle patterns have been linked to less stress throughout the daytime, which in turn places less stress on the heart.

4. Research has shown that the skin from red grapes may help regulate blood sugar levels, which is especially important for the prevention and maintenance of diabetes. Once glass of wine per day also helps to decrease systolic blood pressure and helps regulate glucose levels in your bloodstream.

5. My favorite - being a psychology person - drinking one glass of red wine per day may help to boost brain functioning by increasing the amount of bloodflow and preventing deterioration of arteries and plaques within the brain, which is the root cause of Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia.

With all this said....Why not drink up (in moderation) for your heart? Thanks for reading my blog. I would like to give a shout out to One Hope Wine for providing me with a gift card to purchase one of their delicious wines. If you are interested in trying a new wine, give them a try. Not only are you helping your heart, but 50% from each purchase of One Hope Wine is given to a specific charitable organization, to help fund research for Autism, Cancer, AIDS, and numerous other illnesses and disabilities. For those wine snobs out there (such as myself), you will also be interested to know that the One Hope winery is owned and operated by Rob Mondavi, Jr. (son of the famous Robert Mondavi who is known for his very popular Kendall-Jackson wines).

Cheers!!!!

Lori

                              One Hope Wine paired with a heart healthy bowl from Genghis Grill

Buy your bottle at www.onehopewine.com.