Can a glass of red wine offer the same results as an hour of working out? Surely this cannot be true!
Modern living is incredibly busy, so after a long day at work the last thing most people want to do is put on their workout clothes and spend an hour running, cycling or lifting weights.
What most people are more likely to do is kick back with their feet up, stick a good film on and enjoy a glass of red wine.
“A good wine has many qualities, I think. If drunk moderately, it is healthy and good for your heart.” – Tom Araya
Whilst it might sound too good to be true, a recent study by researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada has shown that a compound found in red wine, resveratrol, could be offering your body some of the same benefits as an hour of working out.
COULD THE SECRET TO A LONG LIFE REALLY BE RED WINE? HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES:
• This 107-year-old’s secret to a long life? Four bottles of red wine a day
• Great-grandfather, 100, says the secret to a long and happy life is red wine
• 100-Year-Old Woman Says Drinking Red Wine Is the Secret to A Long Life
“Wine from long habit has become an indispensable for my health.” – Thomas Jefferson
Obviously, if you are a gym bunny who is dedicated to making muscle gains, we absolutely wouldn’t advise tossing aside the weights, binning the protein shake and drinking a glass of red wine each day for every hour you would usually spend in the gym. That’s only going to end horribly!
HEALTH BENEFITS
For some time, the health benefits of one small glass of red wine a day have been discussed yet most people would quote this without really knowing why it could be good for them. This is where we turn to the researchers who have spent time looking into it.
They have found that in red wine there are a number of different polyphenols – the scientific word for antioxidants – which are thought to help protect the blood vessels in your heart. It’s the polyphenol called resveratrol which is the one that we want to look at in particular.
Not unlike an hour of cardio or some light strength training, resveratrol is thought to both boost the heart rate and increase muscle performance.
“I’ve always wanted to improve on the idea of living well, In moderation, wine is good for you – mentally, physically, and spiritually.” – Robert Mondavi
BENEFITS OF RESVERATROL
Whilst the idea that drinking a glass of red wine instead of working out at all is questionable, this discovery could be particularly promising for anyone who is incapable of a full-on workout, as resveratrol could increase the benefits of whatever small amount of exercise they are capable of.
Looking further into the benefits of resveratrol, research has shown that it can offer protection of the blood vessels, as well as reducing the bad LDL cholesterol. Other research has shown that resveratrol can reduce any risk of inflammation and clotting of the blood which are both leading causes of heart disease.
Whilst this is all incredibly promising for anyone who loves a glass of red in the evening from their brand new wine cooler or even old cellar, there are other studies which were unable to find that resveratrol could prevent heart disease.
A SMALL GLASS OF WINE
Whilst a glass of red wine a day sounds lovely to some people, it’s important to still be aware that it does count towards your recommended daily allowance of alcohol, so don’t go sinking a few bottles with the mindset you’ll have a ripped, healthy body in no time.
If anything it’s likely to go the other way! It’s always good to remember that balance is important and the famous phrase ‘everything in moderation’ rings true here.
Feel free to enjoy a small glass of red wine each day, but ensure you are doing so as part of a healthy balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veggies as they are packed full of nutrients and will alkalize your body – diseases struggle to thrive in an alkaline environment!
EXERCISE EVERY DAY
If you are able to, it is very important to exercise every day, even if it’s only for a short amount of time. Studies suggest that even a small amount of exercise every day can lower the risk of an early death by 20 percent. If you can manage around 150 minutes per week, this jumps to a 31 percent drop, so even if you are going to enjoy that glass of wine, why not earn it first.
To recap, a glass of red alone isn’t going to give you that perfectly toned, healthy body. If you make sure you are eating right, working out and looking after yourself then you’ve earned a glass of red of an evening. Even if it doesn’t offer any fitness gains, it will certain help you relax after a long day.
“But nothing beats a Woody Allen film on a Sunday night, with a glass of wine and some leftovers.” – Kate Fleetwood
About the Author: Amily Blanch is a longtime vegan, red wine advocate and health ambassador. Member of a team of freelance writers from New York publishing product reviews for Consumerion site and recipes for the Secrets of Vegan Baking blog.