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Wine Workout

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June 10, 2016
Reservatrol may just be our newest favorite nutrient.

Could a nightly glass of your favorite Pinot actually help maintain your waistline? Science says it’s possible.

Resveratrol, a compound found in most grapes and berries made famous for its much-touted anti-aging properties, can also convert extra chub into calorie-burning “beige fat,” according to new research.

Beige fat refers to unhealthy white fat cells that can be recruited into healthier brown fat cells. The study says that this fat adaption helps keep the body in balance and prevents both obesity and metabolic dysfunction.

But before you open a bottle of vino in lieu of your daily workout, know that you can get similar benefits from eating about three servings of berries or red grapes each day. And don’t start drinking wine if you’re not already a drinker! The skins of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, grapes and apples are particularly rich sources of resveratrol. A glass of wine is just a bit more concentrated and efficient, as the average glass contains the juice of about 120 grapes.

Still, you can sneak more of these fruits into your life by making your own berry ice cubes, enjoying a berry-packed smoothie as an afternoon snack, or try this fruity flapjack recipe.

Wine drinkers can seek out organic and/or biodynamic varieties, to ensure that you get grapes with the least amount of chemicals.

Leroy Creasy, a Cornell University fruit and vegetable science professor, found that New York State red wines contain some of the highest concentrations of resveratrol compared to other states and countries. He recommends wines made from Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes regardless of their origin, as they tend to have some of the highest levels of this healthy compound.

Perhaps a berry sangria (like this one) paired with a long walk on the beach is the perfect way to stay fit this summer.

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