Red Wine & Ripped Abs?

It’s the French paradox. People in France (and southern Europe in general) have the lowest incidence of heart disease in the world. This is despite the fact that they 1) stuff themselves full of butter and cheese and 2) many of them smoke like chimneys!

I’ll give you an example, the average French person consumes well over 100 grams per day of fat from animal sources (the average Aussie consumes about 70 grams). The French eat four-to-five times as much butter and cheese as Americans do and nearly three times as much pork.

However, despite this artery-clogging regime, this population has one of the lowest levels of heart and cardiovascular disease on the planet. What’s their secret?

It’s called wine my friends. And more specifically, the active ingredient in red wine; a compound called resveratrol.

Resveratrol is definitely one of the biggest discoveries is nutritional science. This amazing ingredient is naturally abundant in dark grapes, in particular, the skin of dark grapes. Unfortunately, resveratrol oxidizes quickly, losing its metabolic potency in the process. That’s why fresh grapes are not a great source. However, red wine is a potent source of resveratrol as the fermentation process retains this phytoestrogens’ unique capacities.

As you may know, phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant-derived non-steroidal compounds that are functionally and structurally similar to steroidal estrogens, such as oestradiol produced by women. Aside from emerging as a likely candidate for natural hormone modulation in women, this compound may provide benefits to men. There are animal studies which show that sperm count and plasma testosterone is higher in male animals that consume resveratrol!

Resveratrol has already been shown to have powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, apart from all of these potential benefits, there is one more reason I think resveratrol is extremely interesting.

Resveratrol has also been shown to dramatically increase the rate at which cells metabolize fat. Resveratrol is shown to stimulate the SIRT1 gene to produce a protein called sirtuin-1 which blocks a receptor on fat cells. When this receptor is blocked, lipolysis (the breakdown of fat) is increased and the formation of new fat (adipogenesis) is decreased. Other studies have shown that the stimulation of this protein by resveratrol also activates the genes that promote a longer, healthier lifespan.

I’ll give you an idea of how much I believe in the health benefits of resveratrol. Years ago I never drank red wine and never really cared for its taste at all. However, based on the steadily accumulating health benefits of resveratrol, I acquired a taste and now try to drink one half-glass of red wine with my evening meal, almost every night. This small amount won’t have any detrimental effect on body fat. In fact, the research available suggests this may well promote better fat metabolism.

Also, small amounts are all that is required to provide some rather powerful health benefits.

Best of all, the wine itself doesn’t have to be the expensive variety. If you shop around a bit, or even join one of those wine clubs, you’ll find a bottle for around 10 bucks that is very drinkable. Dare I say it, enjoyable! However, the higher up the price scale you go the better they get!

No matter what you pay, just be sure to seal the bottle tightly as red wine tends to go acidic.

Now, lets be clear on this, I’m not advocating that consuming alcohol such as large amounts of red wine is going to get you a lean, ripped midsection. Not for a second. Alcohol is alcohol; it is a calorie-dense nutrient that acts a lot like fat in promoting calorie storage.

However, some fitness buffs need to get their head around the idea that science is unveiling previously “hidden” compounds in regular foods that have profound benefits on our metabolism and physiology. Sometimes these compounds are found in foods that are not your typical healthfood fare. Incorporate this new research into your diet in moderation and reap the benefits of resveratrol.

Dr Paul Cribb is an award-winning sports scientist, author, personal trainer and the creator of mp-body.com – the first ever science-based, research-proven, nationally accredited body transformation program. Learn more here.

Reference: Potential of resveratrol in anticancer and anti-inflammatory therapy. Udenigwe CC, Ramprasath VR, Aluko RE, Jones PJ. Nutr Rev. Aug;66(8):445-54.