All of the men tried each combination of food and drink for four weeks.
The good news, for red wine lovers, is that it really can cut your blood pressure.
The bad news is the alcohol has to be removed first.
Drinking non-alcoholic red wine might not sound as much fun, but for people at risk of heart problems it could be a lifesaver, it is claimed.
A study shows for the first time that natural antioxidant compounds in red wine – not the alcohol – are good for your heart health.
Researchers in Spain say the alcohol weakens the ability of red wine to cut blood pressure, effectively cancelling out any benefits.
They found that men at high risk for heart disease had lower blood pressure after drinking non-alcoholic red wine every day for four weeks.
The researchers studied 67 men with diabetes or three or more cardiovascular risk factors who ate a common diet combined with different drinking habits.
The red wine and non-alcoholic wine contained equal amounts of polyphenols, an antioxidant that decreases blood pressure.
High blood pressure, or hypertension which is classified as more than 140/90, is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
The first figure, the systolic pressure, corresponds to the ‘surge’ that occurs with each heartbeat while the diastolic reading is the pressure in the ‘resting’ stage between beats.During the red wine phase, the men had very little reduction in blood pressure and there was no change while drinking gin.
However, after drinking non-alcoholic red wine, blood pressure decreased by about six in systolic and two in diastolic blood pressure, possibly reducing the risk of heart disease by 14 per cent and stroke by as much as 20 per cent.
The study is published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research.
BUZZ-WORTHY BENEFITS OF RED WINE:
- Memory Protection Against Alzheimer’s Disease: The powerful antioxidant resveratrol protects against cell damage and prevents age-related mental decline.
- Mimics Gym Time: Resveratrol is also responsible for heart-healthy benefits, including improved physical performance and muscle strength. It also mimics cardiovascular enhancements similar to exercise. But the benefits are limited, so don’t always trade in your cardio for cabernet.
- Cancer Treatment: Researchers aren’t exactly sure how, but another active antioxidant in red wine known as quercetin works against cancer cells, according to the American Cancer Society. It helps to induce natural cell death in certain types of cancers, most often colon cancer.
- Promotes Long Life: Red wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or vodka drinkers, according to a 29-year-long study. Resveratrol is the polyphenol that could be responsible for its longevity benefits. But researchers think any diet rich in polyphenols, which are known to protect against the development of chronic diseases — they're found amply in red wine — could be why.
- Lowers Risk Of Heart Disease and Stroke: Red wine tannins, which are what make red wine the color red, contain procyanidins — known for protecting against heart disease. Resveratrol also helps to remove chemicals responsible for causing blood clots, which is the primary cause of coronary disease. A daily dose of red wine cuts blood clot-related stroke rates by 50 percent.
