A glass of red wine a day keeps heart disease at bay, says nutritionist

Excessive intake of wine remains an unhealthy habit.
A nutritionist at Asokoro General Hospital, Ngozi Eze, has advised
that moderate and regular intake of red wine, at least a glass every
day, can prevent heart disease.
Mr. Eze who said on Sunday in Abuja that such practice had a lower
risk for heart attack, however cautioned that people should not form
the habit of drinking excessive wine, as it might cause severe health
problems, such as high blood pressure, obesity and liver damage.
The nutritionist said moderate consumers of wine had lower levels of
protein fibrinogen, adding that the protein fibrinogen promoted blood
clot formation, while red wine produced anti-clotting or
anti-thrombotic action.
She said a certain substance in red wine called antioxidants may help
to prevent heart disease by increasing levels of "good" cholesterol
and protection against artery damage, adding that the antioxidants in
red wine called polyphenol could help to protect the lining of blood
vessels in the heart.
"A polyphenol called resveratrol is found in red wine," she said.
"Excessive consumption of wine might cause severe health problems,
such as high blood pressure, obesity and liver damage. Resveratrol
might be a key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to
blood vessels, reduces "bad" cholesterol and prevents blood clots."
A recent study from the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, suggested that
"resveratrol" also had the potential to protect against hearing loss
and cognitive decline.
She said an active ingredient, 'resveratrol' found in red grapes and
red wine not only protects the heart, but it also has the potential to
protect against hearing loss and cognitive decline.
The report states that "our latest study focuses on resveratrol and
its effect on the body's response to injury. Something that is
believed to be the cause of many health problems, including
Alzheimer's disease, cancer, ageing and hearing loss."
It explained that resveratrol was a chemical used to protect the body
against inflammatory process related to ageing, hearing loss and
cognition.