More About Grapes From Our Newsletter

Did you know that grapes and grape products contain a health-promoting phytonutrient called called resveratrol that acts as a powerful antioxidant and has been found to help protect against heart disease and cancer? Recent studies show that the flavonoids, such as resveratrol, found in grapes, particularly purple and red grapes, have powerful health-promoting properties. Much of this research was motivated by what has come to be known as the French Paradox: the interesting phenomenon of the low incidence of heart disease among the French despite their eating a diet high in fats. Increasing evidence suggests that the flavonoids found in grapes, grape juice and red wine, particularly resveratrol, may be a key to understanding this paradox since these foods are an important part of the French diet. Like calorie restriction, resveratrol activates a number of sirtuins, genes in the SIR (silent information regulator) family, which trigger cell signaling that:

• mobilizes the release of stored fat and its conversion into glucose
• promotes insulin secretion, so glucose is promptly delivered to cells
• boosts the aerobic capacity of the mitochondria (the energy production factories in our cells), so the glucose is efficiently converted into energy
• inactivates p53, a gene that plays a pivotal role in cellular senescence

The net result is a much more youthful metabolism in which fats and carbohydrates are efficiently converted into energy, increasing endurance and resistance to stress, instead of stockpiling and fueling inflammation, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

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