Can drinking red wine burn fat?

Can drinking red wine burn fat?

Could drinking a glass of red wine with dinner actually be beneficial for you? Some studies have shown that drinking red wine can help improve cardiovascular health and memory loss, but one study found that drinking red wine or red grape juice in moderation could also help burn fat.

In the study, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, researchers examined the human liver and fat cells that were grown in the lab and compared the fat cells to four natural chemicals found in Muscadine grapes.

The result: one chemical in particular, ellagic acid, proved to dramatically slow the growth of existing fat cells and helped to boost metabolism of fatty acids in the liver.

Neil Shay, a biochemist and molecular biologist was part of the research team.

“These plant chemicals are not a weight loss miracle,” cautions Shay. “But by boosting the burning of fat, especially in the liver, they may improve liver function in overweight people.”

In order to better understand their findings, researchers tested overweight mice in a 10-week trial by supplementing their diet. The lab mice were categorized in three groups which fed them either a normal diet of “mouse chow,” extracts from Pinot Noir grapes or an unhealthy diet that contained high amounts of fat.

The mice that were fed the high-fat diet quickly developed a fatty liver and diabetic symptoms. But the mice that were fed the extracts of Pinot Noir had surprisingly accumulated less fat in their liver and had lower blood sugar. The ellagic acid in the grapes was linked to lowering the mices’ blood sugar.

But medical experts do warn that you shouldn’t make a mad dash to your local liquor store and start consuming lots of red wine in order to shed a few extra pounds.

Dr. Jennifer DeBruler, an Advocate Medical Group physician practicing at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Ill. urges caution.

“Drinking alcohol is okay only in moderation,” says Dr. DeBruler. “Fatty liver is seen in patients who suffer from metabolic disorders where fat accumulates in the liver and leads to cirrhosis.”

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Comments

2 Comments

  1. See just another reason why you should drink wine.

  2. Another reason why Wine is good

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health enews Staff
health enews Staff

health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.