The Best Red Wines For Your Heart
by Punctual AbstractEveryone knows that red wines are supposed to be good for your heart. How much of that is true and how much is wishful thinking? You’re in the right place.
Red Wines for Your Ticker
Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent coronary artery disease, the condition that leads to heart attacks.
It should be understood, however, that the link between wine and heart health is not fully understood. Two of the most promising compounds in red wine are resveratrol and procyanidins. Today we will look at red wines that contain high levels of these compounds.
Pinot Noirs
Resveratrol is a compound naturally produced by various plants to withstand drought or lack of nutrients, and to fight off bacterial, fungi or microbial attackers.It is found in red and purple grams in high amounts, but also in cranberries, blueberries, lingonberries, peanuts and pistachios. Resveratrol is often credited with the reported cardiovascular benefits of red wine.
Leroy Creasy, PhD, a professor emeritus in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University, analyzed hundreds of kinds of wines and consistently found the highest concentrations of resveratrol in pinot noirs that were grown in cool, rainy climates. The highest levels were also found in wines created by boutique and small wineries. Many large wineries cut corners using chemistry to reduce the aging time, which also reduces the levels of resveratrol.
Madiran and Cabernet
Another important compound in wine is procyanidins. Procyanidins are condensed tannins that have shown strong antioxidant effects and have been shown in vitro to improve arterial and cardiovascular health. They are found in many plants, from red wine grapes to cocoa beans and cranberries, black currants, as well as green and black tea. A 2006 paper published in the journal Nature also showed a strong link between procyanidins and increased longevity. Rustic wines, like madiran and cabernet, are both made from tannat grapes and contain high levels of procyanidin.
Merlot and Syrah
Merlot and syrah, like other deeply-colored red wines, contain high levels of procyanidins. This is due to their relatively long “contact time” between the liquid, grape seeds, and skin during fermentation.
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