A compound in red wine or grapes can have a similar impact on brain health, and in some cases, may help minimize the damage to the brain when a stroke occurs. When a stroke happens due to a blockage of blood flow to the brain, no oxygen or nutrients can enter the affected region of the brain. Soon after, neurons in the affected area of the brain begin to release excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters that encourage calcium to move into the neurons. This calcium influx generates ?reactive oxygen species,? or ?free radicals,? that can be very damaging. Researchers found that resveratrol, a compound found in grapes, can absorb the free radicals and stop them from doing any further damage to the brain or individual cells. While some damage to neurons is still sustained, the researchers found a remarkable difference between brain cells that had been treated with resveratrol and those that had not.
Resveratrol has been previously shown to fight cancer, and preserve fruits and vegetable shelf life by 300 percent, and very recently and perhaps most importantly, activate a longevity gene and extend our lifespans. Resveratrol is a type of polyphenol and there is nothing that I believe is more exciting than polyphenols as antioxidants. They are just beginning to be widely recognized for their incredible benefits. There are a number of different polyphenols present in many other fruits and vegetables other than grapeskins.
Science Daily November 27, 2003