The Red Wine Myth: Debunked

Well, Happy Saturday to you! How are ya? I’m still a bit under-the-weather but I’m trying not to let it get me down. Must prevail!

Before I dive into today’s post, I want to thank you so much for your comments on yesterday’s Project Vegan post. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you can feel and share my passion for the vegan lifestyle. You make my heart flutter!

Angela’s Send-Off

Last night, Matty and I met up with a bunch of our friends at a local bar for a goodbye celebration for Angela, one of my best and oldest friends. Angela and I have known each other since we were 13 years old. We actually met at a singing competition! Now, she’s all grown up and got a killer job opportunity with Cache corporate in the heart of New York City. I’m so proud of her!

We ate some appetizers, talked and laughed the night away. It was so much fun. Matty played photographer (lucky man).

…please excuse the naked woman behind us.

Workout

After less than six hours of sleep, I was surprised to wake up craving a workout, nevertheless one that left me feeling so strong! I completed three circuits of this baby:

• 10 minutes of pedaling on the stationary bike at a steady pace
• The Tone It Up Lean Arms Pyramid: Revamped
• Since I worked my back muscles extra hard this week, I subbed the 40 second plank for 40 dumbbell punches and the 50 tummy tucks for 50 chest presses.
• Note: For the bicep curls and chest presses, I used 8 lb. dumbbells and for the dumbbell punches, I used 5 lb. dumbbells.

 

Holy burning arms! I was done with this workout in about 45 minutes and the time absolutely flew by. I’ve really grown to love circuit-style workouts and can’t imagine not doing them on a daily basis!

FYI: I worked out to the “Inna” station on Pandora and it is officially my new favorite.

Breakfast

The endorphins must have been flowing full-throttle this morning because I came up with a pretty genuis idea for breakfast: Vega Chocolate-Covered Protein Strawberries!

In light of this lovey-dovey season, many of us will pine for something sweet and, for many of us, that something sweet is the coveted chocolate-covered strawberry. Well, do I have something fantastic for you. This chocolaty dip took all of 5 minutes to prepare and contains 30 grams of protein to boot!

I don’t mean to toot my own horn but…TOOT! I literally thought I was eating dessert for breakfast. It was pretty incredible. You could substitute another chocolate protein powder but I’m partial to Vega’s. The rich, chocolaty flavor just can’t be beat!

Lunch

I studied right through lunch. By the time 1:00 p.m. rolled around, my stomach was ready for fuel! I decided to saute some tempeh and serve it over a colorful Asian slaw my mom made from a recipe she spotted in Vegetarian Times. For extra flavor, I garnished the tempeh with some fresh dill.

I loved the contrast of temperatures! The warm tempeh really complemented the cold and crispy slaw, and the dill added a nice punch of flavor to the dish. The ginger-lime dressing from the slaw definitely stole the show, though.

The Red Wine Myth: Debunked

We hear such mixed media messages in regards to red wine consumption. One day, we’re told it can fight heart disease and the next day, we’re told it will put us on our death bed. Are you ready for the real deal? I thought so. Well, I’m happy to oblige!

The Facts

Red wine contains resveratrol, a plant-derived compound found in grape skins. This compound has been shown to have cardiovascular and other health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, controlling inflammation and having anti-cancer properties. Grapes also contain powerful antioxidants, which help protect against disease and cancer.

(Source)

The Real Story

Red wine does contain resveratrol but its bio availability is very low, at 1.5 to 3 mg per liter. There is no RDA (recommended daily allowance) for resveratrol but it is estimated at 20 – 50 mg. So, in theory, one would have to consume multiple liters of red wine in one sitting in order to reap the benefits of resveratrol. Obviously, the negatives far outweigh the positives in this situation, as the RDA for alcohol is 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. In short? Red wine does not provide enough resveratrol for us to reap the benefits.

Food Sources of Resveratrol

Resveratrol is mainly found in seed-producing plants. This includes grapes, blueberries, cranberries, peanuts, organic (non-GMO) soy and even dark chocolate! Grapes, blueberries and peanuts take the cake and are the number one sources of resveratrol. If you opt for chocolate, make sure to choose a dark variety made from organic cocoa powder that has not been heavily processed, otherwise you won’t reap the benefits.

That’s it! I’m off to study the rest of the day away.

Stay lovely,
Heather

Question of the Day:  Are you a fan of red wine?

I love me some merlot or pinot noir. Red wine is my first drink of choice when I’m out for the night. I love the rich, earthy flavors!