Wine and health, French Paradox, and Resveratrol Comparing diets
among Western countries, researchers have discovered that
although the French tend to eat higher levels of animal fat,
surprisingly the incidence of heart disease remains low in
France. This phenomenon has been termed the French Paradox, and
is thought to occur from protective benefits of regularly
consuming red wine. Apart from potential benefits of alcohol
itself, including reduced platelet aggregation and vasodilation,
polyphenols (e.g., resveratrol) mainly in the grape skin provide
other suspected health benefits, such as: Alteration of
molecular mechanisms in blood vessels, reducing susceptibility
to vascular damage Decreased activity of angiotensin, a systemic
hormone causing blood vessel constriction that would elevate
blood pressure Increased production of the vasodilator hormone,
nitric oxide (endothelium-derived relaxing factor) Although
adoption of wine consumption is not recommended by some health
authorities, a significant volume of