Drink Red Wine, Live Longer

It’s rare that we researchers find out something we like that’s also good for you. All too often, the most delectable items are artery-clogging killers. But, there’s good news for red wine drinkers. In Red Wine May Hold Key to Longer Life, MSNBC.com reports that research indicates that resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, reduced death and disease in mice. Researcher David Sinclair reports,

These are the sort of changes you see when you put an animal on a reduced-calorie diet or increased exercise. We saw higher levels of mitochondria, the little powerhouses in each of our cells. As we get older, we start to lose them. That may be the reason we feel lethargic. You also lose them if you have diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease. By boosting levels of mitochondria, you can prevent and possibly treat many diseases of aging. We also saw changes that are associated with long life—lower blood sugar, lower insulin, lower body temperature. These mice were the rodent equivalent of Lance Armstrong, except that they were still fat.”

I guess that’s the downside – red wine may make you healthy, but it won’t shrink your gut. Well, you can’t have everything.

Earlier this year, we learned that coffee, particularly in moderately large amounts, is also good for you. 2006 has been a good year for medical discoveries that are unusually easy to accommodate.