Wine against hypertension

Scientists discover molecules in red wine without alcohol may help reduce blood pressure.

Although many people may not be as tasty as alcoholic wine, alcohol-free red wine drinking may help reduce high blood pressure in people with cardiovascular disease risk.

In a study conducted by researchers españoles.durante a period of four weeks, with people 55 years or older, with type 2 diabetes who had three or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight or obese, or a family history of premature coronary heart disease, who drank moderate amounts of red wine without alcohol every day, it was found that these individuals experienced a reduction in systolic and diastolic pressure.

Systolic pressure (HIGH) is the pressure of blood in the left ventricle of the heart to eject blood into the arteries that lead to the different organs of the body and the pressure reached in the arteries is the diastolic pressure (LOW).

Study author, Gemma Chiva-Blanch, of Department of Internal Medicine of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona said: "In the context of a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle, daily consumption of red wine without alcohol can help prevent hypertension".

The study also showed that people who drink alcohol-free red wine, showed higher levels of nitric oxide, a molecule in the blood that previous studies have related to improving the health of blood vessels and reducing blood pressure. Although some studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, others suggest that red wine is particularly beneficial, possibly because it is rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidants associated with decreased blood pressure.