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Antioxidants, which are mainly found in red wine, can help counteract age-related health impairments. These symptoms include reduced strength, mobility, resilience and physical activity, as well as slower walking speed. They are grouped under the term "frailty", which mainly affects people over 50.
A team of researchers, mainly from Harvard Medical School, now found that flavonoids, polyphenol compounds found in plants that have anti-inflammatory properties, could reduce the risk of frailty. To do this, they analysed health data from three generations of participants in the town of Framingham, Massachusetts. According to the report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for every 10 milligrams of flavonol a person consumes daily, the risk of developing frailty symptoms should decrease by 20 per cent. According to the report, 10 milligrams of the falvonol quercetin per day, which is contained in red wine in particular, reduce the risk by as much as 35 percent. The amount of quercetin in red wine varies, but can be as much as 3 milligrams in a 150 ml glass.
Foods high in flavonols also include many vegetables, fruits, grains and beverages such as green tea, black tea, and coffee. Grapes, red wine, kale and red onions are particularly rich in quercetin. According to the study, adults who consumed more of these foods had a significantly lower risk of becoming frail.
The study authors write: "There are no effective treatments for frailty, which underlines the importance of research into prevention. This study highlights the potential of flavonols and quercetin in the diet as a strategy for prevention. Future research should focus on dietary interventions with flavonols or quercetin to treat frailty." At the same time, they suggest that the best way to prevent frailty is to exercise, eat a healthy diet and under no circumstances drink more than one glass of wine a day.
(al / Source: Wine Spectator)