Red Wine

Healing Foods

Red Wine

Uncork the heart-friendly properties of a glass of wine

Health benefits may not be top of mind when you’re sipping red wine, but studies show that a daily glass reduces risk of heart disease, stroke, ulcers, and some cancers.

Wine contains protective polyphenols that reduce endothelin-1, a substance that clogs and stiffens arteries. Healthy arteries reduce the risk of stroke; studies have found that even very moderate drinking — as little as a glass of wine a week — lowered the risk of most common strokes by around 20 percent. Additionally, resveratrol, an antioxidant present in the skins of red grapes, helps prevent cancer cells from getting a key protein required for their growth. Drinking wine in moderation also helps ward off Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.

Choose It & Use It
While all wines have polyphenols, the resveratrol in red wine makes it most worthy of a pour. Let your personal preferences guide you when choosing among Merlot, Chianti, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and more. A standard serving size is 4 ounces. When selecting wine for cooking, don’t spend more than $8 for a bottle — save pricier vintages for the table.

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Braised Seitan Cutlets in Mushroom and Red Wine Sauce

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Packaged seitan, a vegetarian protein made from wheat gluten, is already seasoned, so there’s no need to marinate it before making this warming dish, which pairs well with brown rice. If you can’t find large seitan slabs for cutlets, simply use smaller pieces: dust them in flour, saute, then add