Red, Red Wine
Bite This: According to the International Spirit and Wine Research (yes, there is such a thing), the US consumed 3.7 billion bottles of wine in 2011 surpassing France , Italy , Spain , Austria and Germany
I cannot think of anything better to do on Valentine's Day than dine at a fine restaurant and order my favorite bottle of red wine. Other than, perhaps, staying in and drinking my favorite bottle of red wine. Good news is that drinking this fine wine is not only good for the soul but may also be good for the heart. To continue to recognize American Heart Month this month, here's to you, red wine! As shared in my previous post, red wine contains a polyphenol called resveratrol. This fabulous antioxidant is found in the skin of grapes, eucalyptus plants, peanuts, cocoa and many other sources. Resveratrol is believed to be responsible for "the French Paradox."France
In a recent analysis of 13 studies, red wine was shown to have a 32% risk reduction of atherosclerosis (a disease in which the artery is thickened due to fatty acid buildup) compared with 22% risk reduction for beer intake. This antioxidant has also been shown to increase HDL (good) cholesterol by about 12%. The alcohol and resveratrol in red wine also has anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting action.
But when something sounds too good to be true, there is usually a catch - while alcohol in general has some beneficial properties for the heart, too much alcohol can be detrimental. As with anything, moderation is imperative. I cannot tell you how many times I repeat this phrase. A moderate alcohol intake is 1 drink per day for women (12 ounce beer, 5 ounce wine, or 1.5 ounce liquor) and 2 drinks per day for men. I do not have to tell you what kind of damage excessive alcohol can do to your organs, but you may not know how it affects your heart. Excessive alcohol intake can cause alcoholic cardiomyopathy (the heart muscle becomes too weak to pump blood), high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.
So as long as you are drinking in moderation, cheers to your health!
Sound bite: On Valentine's day, instead of drinking white wine, opt for red or incorporate red wine into your cooking. If you are a non-drinker, consume 1 ounce of dark chocolate which also contains this polyphenol power punch.
Chicken and Red Wine Sauce
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 tsp paprika
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup red wine
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook garlic in olive oil on large skillet until tender. Cook chicken in skillet until juices run clear. Drain oil from skillet and sprinkle chicken w/ paprika and brown sugar. Pour red wine around chicken. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes and baste w/ red wine while cooking. Salt and pepper to taste.
I cannot think of anything better to do on Valentine's Day than dine at a fine restaurant and order my favorite bottle of red wine. Other than, perhaps, staying in and drinking my favorite bottle of red wine. Good news is that drinking this fine wine is not only good for the soul but may also be good for the heart. To continue to recognize American Heart Month this month, here's to you, red wine! As shared in my previous post, red wine contains a polyphenol called resveratrol. This fabulous antioxidant is found in the skin of grapes, eucalyptus plants, peanuts, cocoa and many other sources. Resveratrol is believed to be responsible for "the French Paradox."
In a recent analysis of 13 studies, red wine was shown to have a 32% risk reduction of atherosclerosis (a disease in which the artery is thickened due to fatty acid buildup) compared with 22% risk reduction for beer intake. This antioxidant has also been shown to increase HDL (good) cholesterol by about 12%. The alcohol and resveratrol in red wine also has anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting action.
But when something sounds too good to be true, there is usually a catch - while alcohol in general has some beneficial properties for the heart, too much alcohol can be detrimental. As with anything, moderation is imperative. I cannot tell you how many times I repeat this phrase. A moderate alcohol intake is 1 drink per day for women (12 ounce beer, 5 ounce wine, or 1.5 ounce liquor) and 2 drinks per day for men. I do not have to tell you what kind of damage excessive alcohol can do to your organs, but you may not know how it affects your heart. Excessive alcohol intake can cause alcoholic cardiomyopathy (the heart muscle becomes too weak to pump blood), high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.
So as long as you are drinking in moderation, cheers to your health!
Sound bite: On Valentine's day, instead of drinking white wine, opt for red or incorporate red wine into your cooking. If you are a non-drinker, consume 1 ounce of dark chocolate which also contains this polyphenol power punch.
Chicken and Red Wine Sauce
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 tsp paprika
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup red wine
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook garlic in olive oil on large skillet until tender. Cook chicken in skillet until juices run clear. Drain oil from skillet and sprinkle chicken w/ paprika and brown sugar. Pour red wine around chicken. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes and baste w/ red wine while cooking. Salt and pepper to taste.
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