Resveratrol Supplements: Red Wine Option for Pregnant Women
The topic of mixing red wine and pregnancy is a controversial one. A new 2008 report issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) reinforces earlier warnings regarding the dangers of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and stresses to women if they drink alcohol during pregnancy—so does their baby. Alcohol use during pregnancy cause of FAS and FAE Combining red wine and pregnancy does not bode well for your baby. Heavy alcohol consumption throughout pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays, language problems, hyperactivity, and symptoms known collectively as fetal alcohol effects (FAE). Excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy causes very serious defects in the central nervous system, impaired language and memory skills, and abnormal facial features. Collectively these defects are referred to as fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS. The CDC estimates over 6,000 U.S. babies are born annually with FAS. The U.S. Department of Health is trying to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related birth defects by asking women to abstain from consuming alcohol during pregnancy. While doctors acknowledge that moderate red wine consumption may be beneficial to health, women are asked to avoid mixing red wine and pregnancy. It is impossible to determine how much alcohol is “too much” during pregnancy, and pregnancy is no time to experiment with the health of an unborn child. Women who enjoyed moderate red wine consumption prior to pregnancy may consider taking resveratrol supplements to receive some of the same heart-health benefits of red wine while avoiding alcohol consumption. This ensures that you and your baby enjoy all the health benefits of resveratrol, but none of the risks associated with mixing red wine and pregnancy. Red wine credited with heart-health benefits The Copenhagen City Heart Study, which monitored 13,000 men and women aged 30 to 70 between 1976 and 1988, found that those who drank red wine had about half the risk of dying at any given age from heart disease than those who never drink wine. Antioxidants like resveratrol, as well as the alcohol in red wine, contributed to the positive outcomes. Another study by French researcher Serge Renaud and colleagues published in 1999 in the Archives of Internal Medicine brought attention to wine drinkers who had the lowest risk for cardiovascular disease and overall mortality. This study was limited to middle-aged men, but “for all-cause mortality, daily wine intake was associated with a lower risk.” Resveratrol protects body from free-radical damage Resveratrol, a principle antioxidant in red wine, protects the body from free radicals—harmful elements that attack and damage healthy cells. Preventing free radical damage is important to preventing cell damage and cancer development, and it is essential to maintaining overall health. Reports from Mayo Clinic reveal resveratrol may also be the key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce bad cholesterol, and prevent blood clots. The alcohol found in red wine also appears to be heart healthy. Easily absorbed in the body, resveratrol helps prevent heart disease and reduces lung tissue inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Because red wines are so rich in resveratrol, they help protect against certain cancers, as well as heart disease. Resveratrol supplements option to red wine during pregnancy Resveratrol supplements provide heart-healthy benefits of resveratrol without the risk of alcohol consumption. Since there is no way to determine at what point “too much” alcohol consumption occurs during pregnancy, and the potential risks outweigh any benefit, pregnant women are advised to avoid mixing red wine and pregnancy. Anyone avoiding alcohol consumption, especially women during pregnancy, may be able to receive some of the same heart-health benefits attributed to resveratrol by taking a resveratrol supplement. This will allow you and your baby to enjoy the antioxidant benefits, without the risks associated with mixing red wine and pregnancy. Learn more about why resveratrol can help you – and your baby – live healthier and longer by visiting www.LiveLongerWithBrian.com .
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