Steelers neurosurgeon raises toast to red wine
Enjoyment of the fermented grape has long been celebrated in song. There's Dean Martin's "Little Ole Wine Drinker, Me," Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine" and "Wine, Women and Song" by Loretta Lynn.
But wine -- red wine, specifically -- is no longer merely the stuff of Dionysian revelries, according to Dr. Joseph Maroon, the author "The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life" (Atria, $27). Resveratrol, a property found in red wine, is one of the keys to a longer and healthier life via the new science of epigenetics.
"Many people think your genes are your destiny," says Maroon, vice chairman of the department of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. "But in actuality ... epigenetics refers to those environmental factors that impact genes, and through various transduction factors, more or less tell genes what to do."
Resveratrol works by activating animal-cell genetic pathways, producing benefits such as enhanced muscle strength, boosted energy, reduced fat cells and improved energy and endurance. Memory can be improved. And resveratrol might be a key element in fighting Alzheimer's disease.
But it is wrong to think of resveratrol as a miracle drug. Maroon considers it an untapped resource that has been available, but unused, for thousands of years.
"These are natural polyphenol compounds that have co-evolved for millennia that help activate our genes for us to live longer, just like the same compounds do in plants that are stressed but live longer," Maroon says.
It was at a neurosurgical conference in Boston in 2005 that Maroon became aware of new efforts in longevity research that highlighted ways to isolate resveratrol. A triathlete who says he admires the work ethic of Steelers, Maroon decided to immerse himself in the study of beneficial natural compounds that exist in foods such as red wine, green tea and blueberries.
With Jeffrey Bost, a physician assistant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Dr. James Smoliga, an assistant professor of exercise physiology at Marywood University in Scranton, Maroon conducted a study using 90 sedentary people between the ages of 25 and 60. After using a red wine extract over three months (some of the study subjects were given a placebo), they took an impact test given to NFL players, including the Steelers.
Those who took the red wine extract increased their reaction time and endurance despite their sedentary nature.
"This was one of the first studies done with humans using resveratrol," Maroon says.
Maroon is quick to note that resveratrol alone will not provide a healthier life. It is also important to avoid foods that have hydrogenated oils -- including hot dogs and doughnuts -- that contain cancer-causing agents, and to maintain a low-calorie diet.
Diet, however is only one of the three factors in determining better health.
"Everything in life requires balance and homeostasis," Maroon says. "It's the ABC's. It's not a secret. You need healthy food, you need exercise, and you need a balanced mental state, whether that comes from saying the rosary, Zen Buddhism, or meditation.
"You need something in the spiritual side of your existence to help you maintain a mental balance, as well as a physical balance."
Red wine is one of the best sources of resveratrol, according to Dr. Joseph Maroon, author of "The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life." Abundant in red wine, resveratrol, a polyphenol, might increase longevity, endurance and energy, and could be a factor in fighting Alzheimer's disease.
Other foods containing resveratrol include:
• White wine
• Port and sherry
• Grapes
• Red grape juice
• White grape juice
• Raw cranberry juice
• Blueberries
• Lingonberries
• Peanuts (roasted, boiled)
• Peanut butter and 100 percent natural peanut butter
• Pistachios
• Hops
• Giant knotweed
• Dry rhubarb root
• Pomegranate juice
• Dark chocolate
As beneficial as resveratrol can be, it's equally important to avoid foods that contain hydrogenated oils (trans fats), which promote heart disease and cause cancer. The Top 5 cancer-causing foods, according to Maroon, are:
• Hot dogs
• Processed meats and bacon
• Doughnuts
• French fries
• Chips, crackers and cookies
