.jpg "Wine is good for you now")
Wine lovers, rejoice! On those days when you're pressed for time and
just can't squeeze in your 30-minute walk (you do take one, yes?), pop open a
bottle of vino.
A surprising new study has found that resveratrol -- the heart-protecting
ingredient found in red wine -- may also help fight the muscle loss associated
with too much sitting around.
Use It or Lose It? Maybe Not
Looking for ways to prevent some of the toll spaceflight takes on astronauts --
muscle wasting, bone thinning, insulin resistance -- scientists subjected two
groups to weightless conditions for 15 days, and gave one group resveratrol
supplements. The supplements group emerged with their muscles, bones, and
insulin systems humming along. The group that did without resveratrol wasn't so
lucky.
The effects of space flight and a sedentary lifestyle are similar, say
scientists, and while resveratrol is no substitute for skipping exercise
altogether, it could be a way to slow muscle deterioration if you're sidelined
by an injury or chained to your desk during a nonstop work week.
Wine: It Does a Body Good
Resveratrol is an antioxidant that's abundant in the skin of red grapes, which
is why red wine has such a stash. While its ability to maintain muscle mass
needs to be confirmed, resveratrol is one of those plant nutrients that's been
piling up health benefits left and right. Among the latest: Recent research has
found that resveratrol
helps reduce body fat, contains powerful anti-cancer agents, and might help
you live longer. We'll drink to that!
If red wine isn't your thing, you can still reap the rewards by munching on
peanuts or a handful of blueberries -- both contain the natural chemical -- or
red grapes, of course!
Source: realage.com