By Betty Murray

Cardiovascular disease isn’t just taking the lives of men, but of women too. According to the American Heart Association, each year, more than 500,000 women die from heart disease. Diseases that long had the stigma of being a disease for “older men” are claiming the lives of women, young and old.

There are many components of heart disease prevention, the most important of which include knowing your personal risk factors, eating well, living an active lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight and having regular doctor visits.

In addition, there are some things that may already be a part of your every day lifestyle that may be helping keep your heart healthy. Drinking red wine is one of these things. The benefits of red wine for your health aren’t all myth — drinking red wine can actually improve your heart health.

Red wine contains antioxidents and resveratrol, which can be heart-healthy. There is some evidence that one type of resveratrol in red wine, polyphenols, may protect the lining of blood vessels in the heart. These resveratrols may help prevent blood clots, reduce bad cholesterol and prevent damage to blood vessels.

Resveratrol is shown to reduce the risks of obesity and diabetes in research done on mice. Both obesity and diabetes are leading causes of heart disease. However, for humans to receive the same dose of resveratrol, they would have to drink more than 60 liters of red wine every day. While the resveratrol may be beneficial to the heart, alcohol consumption in such large quantities would be more detrimental than beneficial to your health.

Resveratrol comes from the skin of grapes used to make wine. Some studies suggest that simply eating grapes or drinking grape juice is one way to get the same benefits of resveratrol , without the negative effects of drinking alcohol. This particular antioxident is also found in peanuts, blueberries and cranberries.

While the potential benefits of red wine is most commonly known, there are benefits of drinking moderate amounts of any alcohol. Alcohol raises good cholesterol, reduces formation of blood clots and helps prevent damage to arteries caused by bad cholesterols.

The American Heart Association does not recommend anyone start drinking just to increase heart health. Excessive drinking can increase dangers such as alcoholism, accidents and high blood pressure.

If you already drink alcohol, remember to always drink in moderation.  (12 oz. beer, 4 oz. wine, 1.5 oz. 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. 100-proof spirits.) The best way to a healthy heart is regular exercise and a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats.

The American Heart Association launched the Go Red For Women campaign to raise awareness about the number one killer of women — heart disease. This week kicks off the Dallas Go Red Campaign. At 10:00am Tuesday, Feb. 7, Betty Murray will be the keynote speaker for the kickoff at the United Methodist Church on Lovers Lane. Betty will share 5 foundational changes you can make right now to improve your overall health.

Lovers Lane United Methodist Church — Asbury Hall
9200 Inwood Road
Dallad, TX 75220

Betty Murray, CN, HHC, RYT is a Certified Nutritionist & Holistic Health Counselor, founder of the Dallas-based integrative medical center, Wellness and founder of the Metabolic Blueprint wellness program. Betty’s nutrition counseling practice specializes in metabolic and digestive disorders and weight loss resistance. A master of the biochemistry of the body, Betty teaches her clients how to utilize nutritional interventions to improve their health. Betty is a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine and the National Association of Nutrition Professionals.