Healthy wines
It’s true that wine offers health benefits, but some types of wine are clearly better than others, says London researcher Roger Corder in the May issue of Bottom Line Health.
Although many articles point to the component resveratrol as the key to wine’s heart-protecting benefits, you would need to drink 1,000 quarts of wine daily to make a difference. More important for your health are procyanidins, which are polyphenols found in red wines. Certain grape varieties, including cabernet sauvignon and malbec, have higher concentrations of this substance than other wines.
Lab analysis of more than 400 red wines found the following types among those with the highest levels of healthful procyanidins:
* From California, many Napa Valley cabernets.
* From Chile, cabernets from Veramonte.
* From France, Bordeaux wines.
* From Italy, wines made from the sangiovese grape from Tuscany.
You don’t have to drink alcohol to get the benefits of procyanidins, however. Just eat an ounce of dark chocolate or one medium-sized red delicious or Granny Smith apple, which have the same amount as 4 ounces of wine. Also beneficial are raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, Concord grape juice, pomegranates, walnuts, pinto beans and cinnamon.
Elder specialists
Is it time for Grandpa to choose a geriatrician as his primary-care doctor? Possibly, if he is in his late 70s or older and must deal with multiple medical conditions.
Geriatricians are trained to deal with multiple health problems and help people to keep track of multiple medications, according to geriatrician Michele Bellantoni, medical director of Johns Hopkins Bayview Care Center. In addition, geriatricians are trained to recognize potentially adverse drug reactions and interactions in the elderly, she says in the May issue of the Johns Hopkins Medical Letter.
The following resources offer more information on geriatricians:
* American Geriatrics Society, 800-563-4916, www.ameri cangeriatrics.org
* American Board of Family Medicine, 877-223-7437, theabfm .org
* American Board of Medical Specialties, 847-491-9091, abms.org
Avoid barbecue traps
Back-yard barbecues are fast approaching, offering the lure of good food, drink and, often, fattening enticements.
Go ahead, party and have fun, but consider these tips from the May issue of Redbook to outsmart social eating:
* Distract yourself from the buffet table by vowing to meet three new people before the party ends.
* Skip treats a few days before the party so you’ll have discretionary calories saved up with which to indulge in that yummy-looking dessert.
* Set food goals with a friend so you can be there for each other with gentle reminders if one of you is tempted to overdo it.
* Fill a small plate with party food, then move far away from the table.
* Plan group activities such as hiking that keep you away from food and drink.
Fish-mercury test
When selecting seafood, be mindful of the types that contain high amounts of mercury. One easy way to find out how much mercury you’re being exposed to through fish is by using a simple tool at the Web site got mercury.org.
The site is part of the Turtle Island Restoration Network’s effort to protect the environment and the public from mercury.
The online tool, based on data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Food and Drug Administration, shows which species of seafood have higher levels of mercury, so consumers can make informed choices.
To gauge your mercury exposure, type in your body weight and the amount and type of fish you’ve eaten.
Then push “calculate.” The results will show if you’re in the safe range.
