How red wine can undo the effect of bad diet

It's important to understand the scientific logic behind this reasoning.


Red wine contains a polyphenol compound known as resveratrol which is also found in pistachios, blueberries and raspberries, cocoa and even dark chocolate, and packs a serious antioxidant punch.

It's also been linked to a seemingly endless list of health benefits, including everything from lowered cholesterol and slowed growth of acne-causing bacteria to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and some cancers.

More broadly speaking, consumption of red wine has been shown to promote a healthy microbiome, aid weight loss, and strengthen bones and teeth – and now, it could help to undo damage done by a dodgy diet, according to a new study.

In a bid to understand how resveratrol interacts with the high-fat, high-sugar foods we tend to gravitate towards, researchers from Georgetown University fed one group of monkeys a typically healthy, balanced diet, while another group was fed a less-than-admirable menu. Both were given a resveratrol supplement.

Specifically, they were interested in understanding if the compound has a protective effect on muscles, which tend to suffer when we're not eating well.

After examining three different muscle groups in both sets of monkeys, the research team concluded that while resveratrol may not necessarily protect against damaged caused by by a high-fat, high-sugar diet, it can undo it.

Source: Frontiers in Physiology Journal