Resveratrol: "The French Paradox"

 Resveratrol, classified as a polyphenol because of its chemical structure, is naturally created by certain vines, pine trees, peanuts, grapes, and other plants. One of these plants (Polygonnum cuspidatum) is an ingredient in traditional Asian medicines that are prescribed for liver and heart conditions.  Polyphenols are further broken down into other classifications such as flavonoids and proanthocyanidins.

Many patients ask me why the French can eat so much fat and not get heart disease.  Part of the answer to the "French Paradox" is resveratol found in red wine.


Resveratrol Protects Blood Vessels and Hardening of the Arteries


By now, many people have heard that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a problem in heart disease.  Resveratrol emerged as the best defense against certain types of radicals.  One of the serious complications of free radical damage is hardening and thickening of arteries. A “vicious cycle” of radicals, artery damage, and narrowing due to scar tissue  promotes more free radical activity and more damage.  Resveratrol’s antioxidant action helps stop free radical damage and opens the arteries by enhancing nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide allows blood vessels to “relax,” which enhances blood flow.   In this respect, resveratrol is similar to Viagra, which also affects nitric oxide. Viagra only affects small vessels, resveratrol affects the main arteries.

Resveratrol also stops the proliferation of cells in blood vessels that narrow the arteries and  also keeps blood cells from sticking together. Both are very important for preventing heart attacks. The ability of resveratrol to keep blood cells from sticking together was investigated by Canadian researchers who wanted to know what role, if any, other components of wine might play in the process. They found that ethanol itself inhibited one type of stickiness-promoter (thrombin), and quercetin (another polyphenol) inhibited a different one (12-HETE), but nothing else they tested was active against this aspect of heart disease except resveratrol, which inhibited not only thrombin, but a host of other stickiness-promoting factors. (Published in Life Extension)

If Resveratrol has health benefits.....what about our Oregon Berries?

Tune in to learn about ... Berry-Derived Anthocyanidins....one of the most underrated and under utilized source of anti-oxidants!

To Your Health!

Susan 

Umpqua Valley: Top 10 North American Wine Destinations

The Umpqua Valley is formed by the conjunction of three mountain ranges and the Umpqua River, all of which come together to form many distinct little valleys and micro-climates. Grapes have been grown in Umpqua Valley since the 1880s, when German immigrants who had worked for Beringe, came north from California. The Umpqua Valley is home to 21 wineries.
In a recent article in Rueter's Life,  Editors at TripAdvisor  have compiled a list of North America's top 10 wine destinations after noticing a 10 percent rise in searches for "vineyards" over the past six weeks compared to a year ago.  Roseburg was number 5 after Napa, Sonoma, Willamette, and Yakima Valley. 

Congratulations to Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards on winning the Small Winery of the Year award at the prestigious 2010 Riverside International Wine Competition May, 2010 in Temecula, California. The Small Winery of the Year Trophy is awarded to the winery whose multiple entries achieve broad  commendation in many categories from a limited production.

Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards took home multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for their diverse collection of Umpqua Valley wines – Pinot Noir, Gruner Veltliner, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.

My husband and I enjoy the "Wine Cave" at Reustle Vineyards which is adorned in an old world Italian stones with beautiful chandeliers and bible versus set in the tiles of the floor.  

Which wines should you consume to reap the most benefits?

Researchers at the University of California, at Davis tested a variety of wines to determine which types have the highest concentrations of flavonoids. Their results concluded that the flavonoid favorite is Cabernet Sauvignon, followed closely by Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir. Both Merlots and red zinfandels have fewer flavonoids than their more potent predecessors. White wine had significantly smaller amounts than the red wine varieties. The bottom line is the sweeter the wine, the fewer the flavonoids. Dryer red wines are your best bet for a flavonoid boost.

Scientists believe the antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in three ways:  

by reducing production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also know as the "bad" cholesterol),  b

y boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the good cholesterol), 

by reducing blood clotting. Furthermore, consuming a glass of wine along with a meal may favorably influence your lipid profiles following that meal.

Cheers! Come enjoy our valley's wines at the 41st Greatest of the Grapes, March 5, 2011, 7 to 11 pm., Seven Feathers Resort and Spa!

Next topic.....should you supplement with Resveratrol?

Happy New Year to All!

Susan  

About Douglas County

Crater Lake

Mt. Thielsen

Winchester Bay

North Umpqua River via Scenic Highway 138

Douglas County is lush, and green with plentiful rivers, mountains, and ocean beaches.  The County extends from sea level at the Pacific Ocean to 9,182 foot Mt. Thielsen in the Cascade Mountains. It has the entire Umpqua River watershed within its boundaries, and it contains nearly 2.8 million acres of commercial forest lands.

The North Umpqua River passes through Glide, Oregon, 16 miles east of Roseburg along Highway 138.  Along the North Umpqua you will enter into 31 miles of fly fishing territory.  Many consider this one of the most beautiful and most difficult places in the world to catch these incredible fish. The Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway parallels the river and offers breathtaking scenery to Toketee, where the river diverts into the Cascades and the road continues to Diamond Lake and Crater Lake National Park. Trails, waterfalls, picnic sites and campgrounds dot the highway along the way in natural forested settings.

One of our favorite camping places is Susan Creek where some of the campsites sit on the bank of the North Umpqua; we enjoy the tranquility of the turquoise waters in the summer.  My husband has become an avid fly fisherman .....how could he not when we live in this incredibly beautiful place!

To follow......the Umpqua Valley Wine Tour!   Red wine does has some healthy attributes!      

Susan