According to Bottom Line Health’s May 2007 edition, “Polyphenols – chemicals found abundantly in dark and/or colorful foods, such as red and purple grapes, cocoa and pomegranates – can stop atherosclerosis. That is because they cause the blood vessels to widen (vasodilate), increasing blood flow. The most potent polyphenols in red wines are procyanidins, healthful plant substances that over time become condensed tannins. The more procyanidins consumed, the greater degree of vasodilation that occurs. ”
It was also suggested that, “Wines described as having “firm” tannins are more likely to have high levels of procyanidins than wines with “soft” or “ripe” tannins.”
If you are going to drink red wine, the recommendation was that, “The most healthful way to drink red wine is in the classic French style – one or two small glassses at lunch and/or with dinner, as food slows alcohol absorption. Women should not exceed 5 ounces of alcohol per day and men should limit their daily consumption to 10 ounces.”
What are some alternatives to drinking red wine for procyanidins?
According to Bottom Line Health, “One ounce of chocolate (look for bittersweet or extra-dark with 70% to 85% cacao) delivers the amount of procyanidins in four ounces of red wine. ” Or course, with chocolate you then have to be concerned about the calories.
But Bottom Line Health offers some other alternatives:
“Red Delicious and Granny Smith apples have high levels of procyanidins. One medium-sized apple is equivalent to four ounces of red wine.”
“An eight-ounce serving of juice containing 25% cranberry is roughly equivalent to a four-ounce glass of red wine.” They recommend choosing low-sugar versions of the cranberry juice.
“Raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, Concord grape juice, pomegranates, walnuts, pinto beans and cinnamon are other sources of heart-healthy procyanidins.”