“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” was the saying my grandmother loved to tell us kids when we were growing up. She should have said, “a glass of red wine will keep you healthy, my boy.”

Most people have heard by now of resveratrol, the chemical in red grapes, and thus red wine, responsible for the lower incidence of coronary artery disease in Italians. Further review of the Italian statistics may show similar risk reductions between Italians and their European neighbors.

These findings made quite a splash back in 2006, when they were published in a story co-authored by Dr. David Sinclair and Dr. Konrad Howtz that ran in the well-respected scientific journal Nature. The article resulted in a 44 percent increase in red wine consumption.  Where are we today?  Have we any new information on health and the drinking of red wine?

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytoalexin — a compound found in plants. It was originally isolated from the roots of white hellebore in 1940 and later from Japanese knotweed in 1963. It is much more common, however, in red grape skins and nuts. Its fame began in 2003 when Sinclair et al studied the effects of resveratrol on the longevity of yeast, and later nematodes (worms) and fruit flies. Indeed, longevity and improved health during aging are seen in animal studies. Also, anti-cancer effects are observed, again in animal and in-vitro (in the lab) studies, when ultra high concentrations, which would be unattainable in humans due to toxicity, were applied.

The 2006 study featured in Nature specifically claimed that resveratrol was believed to possibly activate certain genes involved in the prevention of aging, even in the presence of high-calorie diets. Basically, if you intake resveratrol, you can eat whatever you want and be protected from maladies of aging. So this doctor says, “Go ahead and have that glass of vino.” In fact, you may want to take a road trip to Napa, Sonoma, or the Russian River—Dr. Sewell recommends it. You may even want to venture out to the Livermore valley wine region to take in the spring daffodils and work on improving your health with a wine-tasting picnic.

The large amount of public interest in resveratrol got the attention of the National Institute of Health (NIH), prompting further investigation into the chemical. In 2008, the NIH study was published in Cell Metabolism. The study showed interesting results (you can find the NIH summary article online at: nih.gov/news/health/jul2008/nia-03.htm). Again, not a human study, and although the mice in the study did not live longer, there was objective evidence that the mice lived and aged better. The maladies associated with aging were curtailed. There were cardiovascular benefits, such as lower cholesterol and less inflammation of blood vessels. Surprisingly, the mice had stronger bones, improved muscle tone and agility, and fewer cataracts. Mice that were given resveratrol had the physiologic benefits noted from a caloric-restricted diet. That is, mice on regular and even higher calorie diets that took resveratrol were protected from negative effects most commonly seen in obese mice and high calorie diets.

Now this might sound a bit like a book by John Steinbeck, but the evidence is clear in numerous studies: there are benefits to drinking red wine. We take vitamin and mineral supplements, we take fish oil tablets. Some of us even drink that god-awful wheatgrass juice, which tastes like a cow’s diet.

Now, why not curl up with a good book, enjoy some rest, relaxation, and a glass of your favorite cabernet, zinfandel, or syrah. You will likely benefit from it in the long run, and it sure is better than a lot of “good for you” juices.

Now, you may be wondering, couldn’t I just take resveratol supplements? I caution you against such supplement tablets as they vary in concentration and purity. (Besides, why would you ever pass up the opportunity to do something healthy and so enjoyable?!) In addition to wine, you can find resveratrol in red grapes, dark berry skins, and nuts.

The Greeks called wine nectar of the Gods. I think they were onto something. Cheers!