"resveratrol" news and stories

Concord grape pie. Photo: Jennifer Iserloh

Grapes have become my latest post-workout snack because they are water-packed and also help to curb my hunger when I come out of the yoga studio with serious munchies.

But don't limit grapes to snack food -- you can also make surprising, gorgeous desserts with them.

Concord grapes have a short season, but their flavor is unique and honey-kissed. Search them out at a local farmer's market.

It's now common knowledge that a glass of red wine can lower the risks of heart disease. Last month, "60 Minutes" covered a story explaining that scientists have identified the substance in wine that protects the heart: resveratrol. Scientists are discovering that resveratrol, in high concentrations, can do a lot more than keep your heart healthy. It can significantly prolong your life.

How much longer can this "fountain of youth" pill extend life? Scientists predict as much as twenty years. Dr. Christoph Westphal states: "Our goal is to prevent and forestall many of the diseases that strike us as we reach 50, 60, and 70. All with one pill." The resveratrol pill works by slowing down genes that control the aging process.

According to our recent Valentine's Day post, you can already purchase resveratol in the form of a necklace. However, if you are now concluding that you can drink enough red wine to get the same benefits, think again. To get the same effects from just one pill, you would have to drink over 1000 glasses of red wine. Nevertheless, this discovery may explain why there is such a low incidence of heart disease in France, despite a high fat diet. So, until the pill becomes available, a glass of red wine with every meal can't hurt.

So by now you've probably heard on 60 Minutes or read in numerous news stories that red wine is good for you, and that you have resveratrol to thank for the excuse to tip one back every night. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant found in the skin of the grapes that has numerous health benefits, most especially for the heart.

So, really, can you think of a better love gift than a resveratrol necklace, handmade by a scientist-turned-artist in San Francisco? It's the perfect expression of wine, science, and love, all rolled into one piece of jewelry.