We have all heard that red wine is good for our hearts, white wine is good for our lungs, and – of course – all wine is good for our taste buds. But, recent findings have revealed Champagne may also be good for our minds. Move over Merlots and Rieslings, scientists now have Champagne on their brains.
An April 2007 article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reported findings that identify Champagne as a source of brain protection. This sparkling wine, according to the study, may help protect the brain from the injuries common with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and stroke.
The reason for Champagne’s ability, according to the researchers at Italy’s Universita degli studi di Cagliari and England’s University of Reading, lies in the high presence of polyphenols packed within every bottle.
Polyphenols, chemical substances derived from plants, are antioxidants, which help cells avoid death, destruction, and things like cancer. Red wine, once again grabbing the spotlight, is generally thought of as containing the highest concentration of polyphenols – making it one of the healthiest types of wine to drink - but previous research indicates that Champagne contains a high amount of another type of polyphenol, one that has the brain in mind.
To prove their hypothesis, researchers introduced Champagne to the neuron cells of rodents. In other words, they took the mice out drinking. After separating mice cells into two groups – a control group that received no treatment and one that would be penetrated with Champagne extracts – the scientists triggered a stroke.
Their discovery was that the group of neuron cells penetrated with Champagne extracts demonstrated a significant amount of protection against damage, while the group of neuron cells left alone was not able to fight off destruction.
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Article comments
1 - miles sakaguchi
what about the alcohol? that destroys neurons.so I find the articles conclusion that champaign is good for you highly dubious.
miles sakaguchi
2 - Ray Ellis
A lot of things destroy brain cells, Mark--even life. Champagne is one of the more benign ways to exterminate a few cells. You should try it some time-- you might even learn to spell "champagne."
3 - High Heels
I'm going to embrace this health drink fully! Wonder if we can get it on the NHS in the UK....
4 - miles sakaguchi
yes i do know how to spell Champagne. its my computer hat is spelling challnged and the keyboard which i have replaced.:)FYI I had a stroke 7 years ago and i still have hemiparesis. and the occasional seizure.but he doctor gave me permmission to have a drink for now. yeah!!!
miles sakaguchi
5 - Mary Stalder
I love bubbly and I googled champagne and the effects on brain because I think I drink too much of it. What I found was wonderful news, but I'm afraid it will encourage me as opposed discourge me from drinking. It is pretty much all I drink. Love it.
6 - sputnick
i adore the the stuff too each day is an occassion
7 - Minimal100
I would like to see more about this, and weigh the benefits against the drawbacks.
8 - ruralFEMME
I used buy red wine, then white wine for myself, but I replaced it with dry sparkling wine 6 years ago. I had not liked the feeling of red wine on the 3rd glass. So I decided to go lighter. Been enjoying the coolness, light body and effervescence of sparking wine. I been liking & enjoying it 3-4 days a week. On another note: My brother's alcohol abuse came to a head when he returned from service in Iraq with PTSD. I still visit, call, and write to him but I have not had a drink with him in 12 years. Since his return, all of his arrests have been alcohol related. Sometimes he does not seem to care what kind of alcohol it is, just as long as it gets him that 'high' and something 'clicks' inside. He wants that 'click' so that those bad memories can be forgotten or seem like only a distant dream. And when he is drunk, we are afraid.