What are the Health Benefits of Wine and Chocolate?

By now you know the amazing health benefits you get when you drink a glass of red wine or a cup of cocoa…

That’s from resveratrol — the powerful antioxidant in both wine and hot chocolate. It can:

• Prevent heart disease¹
• Lower blood pressure²
• Increase HDL cholesterol³
• Improve brain function⁴
• Reduce your risk of diabetes⁵
• Boost production of stem cells⁶
• And activate telomerase for telomere protection⁷

I think of resveratrol as one of nature’s most potent anti-aging therapies.

But did you know it’s also a miracle for your skin?

Researchers recently learned that this red wine ingredient can also make your skin appear years younger.

In fact, researchers discovered that resveratrol can protect the skin from environmental damage and ultraviolet-induced oxidative stress. It also neutralizes free-radical scavengers that attack healthy skin at a cellular level.⁸

Further studies found that resveratrol improves skin tone, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and more.⁹

But here’s the catch… You won’t get any of resveratrol’s skin-saving benefits by drinking red wine or taking a supplement.

To get the full anti-aging affect, the resveratrol needs to be applied topically.

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as rubbing some red wine on your face. You see, resveratrol has limited stability and water usability. And converting it into a usable and effective topical treatment isn’t easy…

But my team of researchers at the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine found a way around that.

We discovered a novel process that not only makes topical resveratrol usable, but it makes its benefits more pronounced. In fact, this process even creates attributes that exceed the compound’s original benefits.

Let me explain…

To be effective, resveratrol has to penetrate your skin deeply enough to reach beyond the epidermis — or outermost layer of skin — and into the dermis. Because that’s where the real anti-aging magic happens.

Here’s what happens once the resveratrol reaches this layer. According to a clinical trial,¹⁰ researchers found that after applying topical resveratrol:

• The appearance of fine lines around the eyes was reduced by 51%.
• Lip wrinkles diminished 55%.
• Overall skin appearance improved 61%.

I’ll tell you even more about this in the next few days… In the meantime, resveratrol is not the only topical antioxidant with proven skin benefits.

Two More Natural Antioxidants to Reverse Skin Aging

Here are two more antioxidants I recommend to my patients:

1. Use rosehip, the oil of royals. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, swears that rosehip oil is the secret to her peaches and cream complexion. Along with age-reversing antioxidants, this South American oil contains three different fatty acids. The first is an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid that maintains the health of cell membranes by sealing in moisture. Second is linoleic acid. This omega-6 fatty acid enhances firmness by supporting the sebum, your body’s natural fatty fluid that keeps your skin soft and supple. The third is an omega-9 fatty acid called oleic. This helps repair tissue damage and improve dry skin.I suggest using rosehip oil to wash your face. Unlike soap, which strips away oil leaving your skin tight and dry, cleansing with oil dissolves dirt without drying your skin. Massage a small amount into your skin for a minute or two. Use a warm washcloth to gently remove the oil.
2. Use the skin-saving secret of the ancient Aztecs. To protect themselves from the harsh climates of Central America, the Aztecs used to rub a fresh avocado over their skin. And today, it’s still one of the best things you can do for your face.You know avocados are one of the fats that I recommend you eat often. Its healthy fats are close in nature to the natural oils in your skin. But the avocado is also rich in lycopene. This powerful antioxidant protects and repairs skin from premature aging caused by air pollution. It also prevents sunspots, dryness and wrinkles from ultraviolet radiation.Pure, organic avocado oil makes a great moisturizer for your face and hands. But it’s also an effective way to remove eye makeup. Place one or two drops on a cotton pad and gently swipe over eyes. It’s much gentler than traditional makeup removers.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD, CNS

---

1. Mohamed Saleem TS and Darbar Basha S. “Red wine: A drink to your heart.” J Cardiovasc Dis Res. 2010;1(4):171–176.
2. Chiva-Blanch G, et al.”Dealcoholized red wine decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure and increases plasma nitric oxide: Short communication.” Circ Res. 2012;111(8):1065-1068.
3. Movahed A, et al. “Antihyperglycemic effects of short term resveratrol supplementation in type 2 diabetic patients.” Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:851267.
4. Kennedy DO, et al. “Effects of resveratrol on cerebral blood flow variables and cognitive performance in human: A double-blind placebo-controlled, cross investigation.” Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(6):1590-1597.
5. Zhu X, et al. “Effects of resveratrol on glucose control and insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes: Systematic review and meta-analysis.” Nutr Metab (Lond). 2017;14-60.
6. Gurusamy N, et al. “Red wine antioxidant resveratrol-modified cardiac stem cells regenerate infarcted myocardium.” J Cell Mol Med. 2010; 14(9):2235–2239.
7. Wang XB, et al. “Resveratrol-induced augmentation of telomerase activity delays senescence of endothelial progenitor cells.” Chin Med J (Engl). 2011;124(24):4310-4315.
8. Chen ML, et al. “Protective effect of resveratrol against oxidative damage of UVA irradiated HaCaT cells.” Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2006;31(5):635-639.
9. Unpublished study from Arch Personal Care Products. October 2008.
10. Kim JH, et al. “Antioxidants and inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression from leaves of Zostera marina L.” Arch Pharm Res. 2004;27(2):177-183.

---