The twelve grapes, a healthy tradition for the heart
Take the twelve grapes of luck during Christmas, in the year-end chimes, means to start the next one improving the cardiac function and reducing the artery tension and it is a healthy tradition for the heart. At least this is what the experts of the Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC) and the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC) say.
Cardiologists say that consuming grapes of luck will be "the first heart-healthy gesture of the new year." This is because the grape "is rich in resveratrol", a type of polyphenol that "increases the levels of nitric oxide, improves blood flow, decreases platelet formation and provides greater protection against bad cholesterol", indicates the member of the Section of Arterial Hypertension and Vascular Risk of the SEC, Dr. Regina Dalmau.
The beneficial effects of champagne at Christmas parties
From both scientific societies remember the cardioprotective effects of this food, as well as the moderate consumption of champagne during the Christmas holidays. The latter, due to its content in polyphenols, "helps block the formation of free radicals, which are very harmful chemicals that cause alterations in the DNA of cells and accelerate aging."
In this sense, a study of the Faculty of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food of the University of Reading (United Kingdom), and that has been published in the magazine 'British Journal of Nutrition', shows that drinking two glasses of champagne a day " it provides a protective effect on the walls of blood vessels, reducing the risk of suffering a cardiac event or stroke. "
Take care of your heart through food at Christmas
On the other hand, the FEC states that eating a balanced diet low in fat and enhancing the consumption of typical elements of the Mediterranean diet "is the best way to guarantee heart health for the new year". However, experts calculate that "each Spanish will increase 50 percent the recommended calorie intake" for these dates, "which will translate into two to three kilos more weight gain."
Faced with this, Dalmau suggests that excess saturated fat should be reduced and the presence of products such as "fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, blue fish and skimmed milk products should be increased". However, he emphasizes that "we should not give up the Christmas dishes".
Finally, the experts of the Spanish Heart Foundation bet on the practice of healthy lifestyle habits, such as "exercise regularly, follow a good diet and, above all, quit smoking".
Marisol Nuevo Espín
