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Scientists: Red wine can be considered the equivalent of exercise
Last reviewed: 30.06.2025
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Scientists have proven that wine effectively helps with insufficient physical activity. A new study was published by a group of researchers from several cities in France (Strasbourg, Paris, Lyon, Lille, etc.) in the Faseb Journal. According to the authors, resveratrol (an ingredient in red wine) can prevent the negative impact of space flights and a sedentary lifestyle on human health. This means that red wine can be considered a “liquid” equivalent of physical exercise, which is so necessary for the human body to maintain all functions.
As reported by The Independent, scientists tested resveratrol on rats, which were divided into two groups. To create conditions of weightlessness, they suspended the rodents by the tail and hind limbs for 15 days. As a result, the rats that did not receive a daily dose of resveratrol experienced a decrease in the mass of the soleus muscles (a wide, flat, thick muscle of the lower leg that runs under the gastrocnemius muscle), developed insulin resistance, and a decrease in bone mineral density was observed. Such changes were not recorded in the group of rats that were given resveratrol.
"The data obtained indicate that the human body needs regular physical activity, but for some of us, following these recommendations is quite problematic. The hardest part is for astronauts, whose motor capabilities are very limited by zero gravity conditions. People who are immobilized to varying degrees by illness, injury or sedentary work are in a similar situation. Resveratrol can compensate for the lack of physical activity and prevent the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle," states Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of Faseb Journal.
It is worth recalling other beneficial properties of resveratrol. For example, it is believed to be responsible for the so-called "French paradox": residents of France, passionate fans of red wine, rarely have coronary heart disease, even those whose diet is rich in saturated fats. It has also been proven that resveratrol slows down the aging process, promotes recovery from viral infections, prevents the formation of blood plaques and fights cancer.
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