Red wine may prevent stroke damage, research finds
The health benefits of enjoying a bottle of chateau Margaux or Lafleur have been suggested for some time, but researchers have now identified one of the ways in which red wine can help to protect the brain from stroke damage.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medical Institution found that resveratrol, a compound found in the skins and seeds of red grapes, increases the levels of an enzyme which has been proven to shield nerve cells from damage.
The amount of resveratrol needed may be quite small, as its presence appears to act as a "prompt" to the cells.
"Our study adds to evidence that resveratrol can potentially build brain resistance to ischemic stroke," commented Sylvain Dore, an associate professor of anaesthesiology and critical care medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
The news follows a recent study carried out at the University of Surrey and reported by Wine Spectator, which suggested that polyphenols in red wine can help to keep blood vessels healthy.