Among its many benefits, researchers believe that red wine could improve brain power in areas such as memory function.
Red wine for brain power
According to researchers at Northumbria University, the substance resveratrol, found in red wine, “may boost mental function by increasing blood flow to the brain”, The Independent reported.
Resveratrol is present in the skin of grapes which are used to make red wine. Based on a study that was conducted on subjects aged 18 to 35, there were some who demonstrated improved mental function after consuming it. Nonetheless, the researchers at Northumbria University called for more studies to further evaluate the hypothesis.
Another pilot study, documented in the Journal of Neuroscience, showed a link between consuming the substance and cognitive memory, Live Science reported. The study was done on overweight adults over a period of six months, finding that those who consistently took resveratrol supplements had better short term memory.
Veronica Witte, a neuroscientist at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany, said “From a clinical point of view, our findings suggest that regular, high-level intake of resveratrol in the elderly may convey protective effects on cognitive functions”. However, while the pilot study yielded positive results, she noted that this hypothesis needs to be further evaluated with “large-scale clinical trials”.
In an article on Mindbodygreen about brain health, Dr. Mike Dow, author of The Brain Fog Fix, also writes about the benefits of red wine for brain power. He states that “A review of more than 100 studies showed that having up to one drink per day in women and two in men reduced risk of both dementia and Alzheimer’s by 23 percent”.
Other benefits of red wine
Research has uncovered other benefits of red wine. Reported in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, drinking a glass daily “may lead to healthier hearts and better cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes”, a study suggests.
Other studies have also associated moderate red wine consumption with improved heart health, as well as a lower risk of colon and breast cancer.
