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Red Wine Helps You Think

Resveratrol, the chemical in red wine that has been shown to have numerous health benefits, is giving you another reason to kick back and have a glass of red wine. It increases blood flow to the brain and helps you think.

Researchers at Northumbria University in Newcastle, UK, gave 24 people a series of arithmetic tests while blood flow to their brains was monitored. Before testing, they were given 500 mg or 1,000 mg of resveratrol or a placebo. Those who had been given resveratrol showed significant changes in brain flow and improved performance on the tests. Additional tests will seek to discover the optimal dose needed for reveratrol’s brain-boosting effects.

An earlier study at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine found that moderate amounts of wine — 5 to 10 ounces daily — might slow the accumulation of amyloid plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Other tests have shown that resveratrol lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease by increasing the levels of “good” cholesterol, and also fights cancer, obesity, and diabetes.

Resveratrol is found not only in red grape skins but also in cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, and peanuts. “It is interesting to see that a component you come across in many everyday foods can have a positive effect on brain function,” said researcher Emma Wightman.