October 30, 2003 - With wine tasting and festivals at over 80 Virginia wineries in full swing, larger numbers of Virginians are enjoying wine for more than just its delicious taste. Numerous studies suggest that the benefits to drinking red wine may be related to the polyphenols-or naturally occurring components in plants-it contains. According to a recent study by the American Society for Nutritional Sciences* benefits of consuming polyphenols may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the bodies production of low density lipoproteins often called "bad cholesterol."
A Sentara Cardiologist is available to discuss the cardiovascular benefits this study suggests.
*The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 133:700-706, March 2003 available at http://www.nutrition.org/