| v> | | | | doesn’t want some relief? |
| So, here we are again. The holiday season is upon | | | | Just think of it! You can actually add aerobics, |
| us and we have preparations to make. One would | | | | bicycling, running, and maybe even volleyball or |
| think we’d get better at getting ready for | | | | tennis to your activity list again. This wonderful |
| them each year, but we don’t. | | | | compound lessens joint pain and improves muscle |
| You’ve gone shopping to purchase that | | | | aches, and because it does, it is seriously being |
| special dress or stylish pantsuit for those special | | | | studied for future pharmaceutical uses. |
| occasions, like the arrival of your friends and | | | | Resveratrol is not a miracle cure-all, but |
| relatives or the office party. | | | | wouldn’t you appreciate aching for only |
| You’ve been to the grocery store to | | | | three days instead of the usual week? Personally, |
| meander through the aisles noticing the holiday | | | | I’d rather reach for a casual glass of red |
| recipes displayed throughout, and buying things | | | | wine than a bottle of pills. |
| you only seem to require at this time of year; | | | | Decreasing memory loss is another profit of |
| the candy sprinkles for cookies, sweet potatoes, | | | | resveratrol. Your daily glass of red wine can slow |
| breaded stuffing, cranberries and the like. | | | | the process and diminish the frequency of times |
| Then too, there are the favorite beverages that | | | | you forget where you put your keys, what you |
| are included. Whether you’re the host of | | | | just drove to the store to get, or the reason you |
| the get-together, or one of the guests, | | | | left your nice comfy chair to walk into the other |
| you’ll want to make the correct choice | | | | room. Forgetting is just a natural part of life, but |
| when serving or attending. | | | | doing it less often would sure make life a little |
| Many enjoy the ale-type drinks like the wide | | | | more pleasant, especially when other family |
| array of local and international beer. Others prefer | | | | members DON’T forget that you often |
| selections like cognac, champagne, brandy, or the | | | | do. |
| like. You and I both know that many studies have | | | | Of course I realize that there are a few who |
| been done that warn us all of the negative | | | | would prefer to substitute the red wine for other |
| effects of drinking too much alcohol, both | | | | forms of alcoholic beverages thinking they would |
| short-term and long-term. | | | | gain the same results; which leads me to present |
| So, you ask, “What does all of this have | | | | the study I referred to previously. This particular |
| to do with menopause?” It has much | | | | study was performed by researchers in |
| more to do with menopause than most even | | | | Stockholm, Sweden. |
| realize. | | | | The team of Swedish researchers collected over |
| A woman experiencing menopause often finds | | | | 100 willing menopausal women under the age of |
| the months of November and December a highly | | | | 75. These women were asked to keep a daily |
| stressful time and just too much to cope with. | | | | record of the alcohol they ingested for one entire |
| Sleepless or non-restful nights, bloating from | | | | year. When the year was completed, each |
| eating too much or too often, weight gain, the | | | | woman was then tested to learn what her heart |
| demanding friends or relatives, irritability, crying | | | | rate variability was. |
| babies, disobedient children, … then add the | | | | “What in the world is heart rate |
| hot flashes, sore joints and muscles, headaches, | | | | variability?” you ask. Heart rate variability |
| … well, you know. | | | | is important because it measures how the heart |
| Well it just so happens there is a pleasant relief. | | | | performs when activity is increased. Basically, it |
| Who would have guessed that something good | | | | measures the beats of the heart and the time |
| can come from menopause? There have been | | | | intervals between each one of them. |
| separate studies done that show that women can | | | | For instance, if you are walking your dog and he |
| gain some terrific benefits during menopause. The | | | | inadvertently slips out of his collar, you will need to |
| key is what she drinks. So you wonder, | | | | react quickly in retrieving him to avoid his being hit |
| “Just what were these researchers | | | | by a passing car. Therefore, your heart must be |
| testing?” | | | | able to respond immediately to supply your body |
| If you’ve never heard of | | | | with the necessary required blood flow to act |
| “resveratrol”, you’re not | | | | accordingly. A decrease in heart variability can |
| alone. Most women haven’t. Resveratrol is | | | | indicate possible heart problems and a risk of |
| an ingredient that has many wonderful qualities | | | | heart disease or even premature death. |
| which I’ll speak about momentarily, | | | | When the results of the study were completed, |
| especially for menopausal women. So just where | | | | the researchers were astonished to find that the |
| do you find resveratrol? Amazingly it’s | | | | women who drank no alcohol at all had the very |
| found in red wine, and the grapes the wine comes | | | | lowest heart rate variability. Those who did drink |
| from. | | | | alcohol had a slightly higher variability. The greatest |
| Many doctors suggest that menopausal women | | | | surprise came with those menopausal women |
| would do well to have a glass of red wine | | | | who drank red wine. It was discovered that even |
| periodically. However, even more doctors | | | | when other factors such as age, weight, and diet |
| encourage drinking a glass of red wine DAILY. | | | | were taken into account, the women who drank |
| Now, I’m not suggesting that you should | | | | the red wine had the very highest heart rate |
| become a ‘lush’, or that you use | | | | variability. |
| these studies as an excuse to overindulge | | | | They found not only did drinking red wine make a |
| because you’re experiencing menopause. | | | | substantial difference in the variability rate, but |
| What I am saying is that you can medically enjoy | | | | when compared to the other women who drank |
| a daily glass of red wine without feeling guilty | | | | the other types of alcohol such as beer and |
| because it is actually good for you. (If you took | | | | ‘spirits’, the difference was even |
| note, you’ll notice I said ONE glass, not | | | | more remarkable. Drinking any other alcoholic |
| two or more.) | | | | beverage, including the white wine varieties, had |
| One of the fantastic rewards of this organic | | | | very little impact on the variability rate. |
| compound called resveratrol is that it is an | | | | The researchers and doctors who examined the |
| antioxidant. What that means is it helps to protect | | | | results concluded that red wine had a calming |
| your skin against destructive elements such as | | | | affect on the nervous system. For that reason, |
| wind, snow, heat, sun, cold, smog, and such. Our | | | | the women who drank the red wine slept much |
| skin is constantly exposed to life’s | | | | more relaxed and their heart rhythm gained great |
| elements, and over time, it gradually breaks down | | | | benefits from it as well. |
| and decreases in elasticity and firmness. The | | | | However, these same doctors followed up by |
| process is known as oxidation and it’s | | | | stating that, as with any alcoholic drink, too much |
| similar to leaving metal in the rain. After constant | | | | of a good thing then becomes a bad thing, so |
| exposure, the metal simply rusts away. As life | | | | drinking in moderation is always the general rule, |
| would have it, our skin takes a beating as well, | | | | even when drinking red wine. |
| but resveratrol helps greatly to minimize the | | | | Well, ladies. The bottom line is this. You can don |
| damage. | | | | your new dress, serve your guests with ease, |
| Another exciting find was that resveratrol also | | | | pour yourself a glass of calming red wine, and |
| has anti-inflammatory properties. Why is that | | | | kick your shoes off to join them, with composure |
| important? Have you ever heard of arthritis or | | | | still in tact I might add, in their after dinner drink. |
| recurring bladder infections? Certainly most | | | | You can be the perfectly relaxed hostess with a |
| women during menopause experience the | | | | smile on your face and the “Days of Wine |
| beginnings of these intrusive conditions. When it | | | | and Roses” in your heart; so go ahead |
| comes to joint pain and muscle aches, who | | | | … enjoy. |