Anti-aging diets, cosmetics, medical procedures—longevity of life is a priority when it comes to health and wellness research. Now, a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease finds evidence that adults who drink moderately and regularly have a higher chance of not only living longer, but doing so without developing dementia or other cognitive impairment.
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We’ve all been there: You have a few glasses of wine and suddenly you want to tell a funny story, engage in a lively conversation or even hop on stage for a round of karaoke. We know that alcohol has the ability to lower inhibitions, but some scientists believe that these pursuits can actually be linked to another side effect of drinking: a spike in creativity.
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According to a paper recently published in Science by Washington University School of Medicine researchers, consuming foods rich in flavonoids (plant metabolites that have antioxidant properties and are derived from herbs, berries, grape skins, wine and tea) may both stave off the onset of the flu and limit its symptoms. Although these results have only been observed in mice so far, they are promising enough that further studies in human subjects will be pursued.
The study found that it’s not simply the presence of the flavonoid compounds, but also the microbes in an individual’s gastrointestinal system reacting with these flavonoids that is important.
Based on past research, researchers believe that the microbiota in our digestive systems can regulate the body’s ability to maintain a healthy equilibrium and react to injury or bacterial infection, by telling the body when to release type 1 interferon, a protein that can influence cells’ immune response, effectively turning it on or off.