In recent years, scientists have concluded unequivocally that many human diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and the ill-effects of...
In recent years, scientists have concluded unequivocally that many human diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and the ill-effects of ageing, can be caused or exacerbated by a ravenous group of chemicals known as free radicals.
They cause oxidative inflammatory damage in tissues such as blood vessels (clogged arteries) and joints called Rheumatics or Arthritis, as well as in localised cells called benign growths or systemic fully-blown cancers. In this scenario, however, there is a knight-in-shining-armor who comes to the rescue and purges these ever hungry little killers.
Antioxidant
Antioxidants is the name of our crusader. Without getting too technical, the oxidation process in our bodies is critical for health; without it, we would be unable to extract energy from our food, for example. However, if our bodies contain an excessive amount of free radicals, this can be extremely harmful.
Our bodies have their own defences against free radicals in the form of enzymes that can convert the hungry little tissue-devouring sharks into harmless water, but our bodies' natural defence mechanisms can't always keep up.
External events, such as x-rays, cigarette smoke, and exposure to other toxic substances, can also cause significant increases in free radicals within our bodies. As a result, a flood of free radicals can overwhelm our defences, leading to illness.
what is the connection between oxidation and free radicals and heart disease?
Low density lipoprotein, also known as “bad” LDL, can penetrate and accumulate against the inner walls of our arteries, forming fatty streaks and plaque under certain conditions.
When LDL particles are not attacked by free radicals, they transform into dangerous and somewhat aggressive cells capable of actually penetrating and harming the smooth inner walls of our arteries through localised inflammation. As a result, oxidised LDL is known to be the culprit in stimulating atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke.
Antioxidants, as the name implies, help to stop the oxidation process, which is the result of free radicals doing their thing. The majority of antioxidant research has focused on vitamins (A, E, beta carotene), but there has also been considerable work done on the health benefits of red wine.
While most research on red wine has focused on coronary heart disease, it appears that the benefits of wine do not end there.
Red wine
Red wine contains a diverse range of flavanoids, which are the chemicals that give the wine its distinct taste, colour, and character, distinguishing it from others. Many of these flavonoids have antioxidant properties.
it has been proposed that drinking in moderation with meals is beneficial, whereas being drinking at bars in the evening is harmful.
While it is obvious that a physician recommending that his patients start drinking alcohol is potentially dangerous, it is also strange that they pretended to ignore the evidence for so long.
However, the AHA states that "there is no scientific evidence that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage can replace conventional measures."
There have been no direct comparison trials to determine the specific effect of wine or other alcohol on the risk of developing heart disease or stroke.
No comments