Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Red Wine and Resveratrol
Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and antioxidants present in the skins of the red grapes used to make the wine may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of "good" cholesterol and protecting against artery damage. Red wine has a number of other benefits, too - a glass or two of red wine may increase a woman's libido and women who are light drinkers gain less than non-drinkers.
What is Resveratrol?
Resveratrol is a phytonutrient called a polyphenol. It is found in wine, the skins of red grapes, grape juice, mulberries and peanuts. It can also be purchased as a supplement. Preliminary data from BioMarker Pharmaceuticals, a pioneer in the field of resveratrol research, suggests that resveratrol's benefits may overlap with those of caloric restriction, which has been shown to increase lifespan. Resveratrol has achieved almost mythical stature over the past decade as a panacea for major age-related diseases like cancer and heart disease. Numerous investigations have demonstrated that the compound enhances the lifespan of common laboratory animals, protects these animals from developing tumors when exposed to cancer causing toxins, and protects them from developing heart problems when given a diet rich in saturated fat and cholesterol. Considering these studies, many individuals have turned to resveratrol supplements as a means of improving health and fitness. However, such supplementation might trigger a few unwanted side effects involving drug metabolism, blood circulation and pregnancy.
Pros: Cardiovascular Health
Resveratrol exhibits a wide host of properties beneficial to cardiovascular health. According to "Life Extension Magazine," the compound has been shown to decrease inflammation--a condition associated with the narrowing of blood vessels to the heart--to thin the blood so that it has less chance of clotting, and to reduce the levels of bad cholesterol. The compound might also increase the proliferation of stem cells within the heart, so that, in the event of heart attack, the heart recovers more quickly
Pros: Cancer Prevention
According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, resveratrol restricts the growth and proliferation of human cancer cell lines, and when orally administered to laboratory animals, inhibits the development of tumors induced by cancer-causing agents. Clinical trials using synthetic versions of resveratrol are currently underway to assess the effects of the drug in people with multiple forms of cancer.
Pros: Anti-Aging Effects
A large collection of studies, summarized in "Life Extension Magazine," has demonstrated that resveratrol dramatically lengthens the lifespan of a variety of species: worms, fruit flies, fish, mice and rats. The mechanism behind this is as of yet unknown, but might be similar to that of calorie restriction--the only method that had been previously shown to enhance longevity in mammals. In keeping with this possibility, resveratrol activates many of the same genes activated by calorie restriction.
Cons: Drug Metabolism
The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University cautions that resveratrol inhibits proteins needed to break down prescription drugs. In particular, resveratrol supplementation has the potential to interfere with the proper metabolism of statins, benzodiazepines, immunosuppressants, antihistamines, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors. As a result, the potential side effects and toxicity associated with these drugs can be exaggerated in people taking resveratrol.
Cons: Unknown Long-Term Consequences
The long-term effects of resveratrol supplements have not been investigated. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, people thinking of taking oral preparations of resveratrol should consult their doctors. Pregnant mothers should avoid resveratrol entirely.
TOXIN-FREE CLEANING
I recently stumbled upon what might be my favorite hidden gem in the Twin Citites: Muberrys Dry Cleaners.
Traditional dry cleaners employ the highly toxic solvent perchloroethylene (commonly known as perc), which is classified as a hazardous air contaminant by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and must be handled as a hazardous waste. This chemical, which has been used by the dry cleaning industry since the mid-1930s, has been identified as a toxic contaminant and potential human carcinogen! To prevent it from getting into drinking water, dry cleaners that use perc must take special precautions against site contamination. Even like many putatively green cleaners, which use a slightly less-toxic chemical, siloxane
Mulberrys is different. Mulberrys processes clothes with pressurized carbon dioxide, a method approved by the EPA and Greenpeace. As a solvent, carbon dioxide rubs out stains and doesn’t shrink fibers. More important, if spilled, it dissipates into the air. It also doesn't leave that stale, "fresh"-from-the-cleaners smell.
Mulberrys is a boutique dry cleaer with impeccable service and a bright atmosphere; it seems more like a Starbucks than a dry cleaner. They have drive-through service and Sunday hours, free coffee, a small selection of organic snacks and juices, and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day and Caldrea products for sale. They also return your clothes on beautiful, reusable cherry wood hangers, which are better for your clothes, the environment...and look much nicer in your closet!
Q+A from the Mulberrys website:
What is dry cleaning?
Dry cleaning is the process of cleaning clothing with a solvent other than water, hence the term “dry”. Traditionally, dry cleaning has been performed using a chemical called perchloroethylene or “perc”. In perc-based dry cleaning, clothes are placed in a large machine resembling a washing machine, soaked in perc and detergent, and then heat dried. While effective at removing oil-based and other stains, perc is a known carcinogen and ground water contaminant.
Do you use Perc in your cleaning?No. At Mulberrys, our award-winning dry cleaning and stain removal experts use pressurized, naturally occurring C02, the same thing soda-makers use to carbonate beverages. The use of odorless C02 enables us to return your clothes cleaner and without the chemical smell. Also, because no heat is used, your clothes are finished without the fading, shrinking, pilling or stain-setting common to all other dry cleaning methods.
We are the only CO2 cleaner in the State of Minnesota and we’re proud of it!
How are you different from other “environmentally-friendly” cleaners?Other so-called “environmentally-friendly” cleaners use a chemical called siloxane to clean your clothes. While not as harmful as Perc, siloxane is a toxin and is known to cause cancer in lab rats and liver failure in humans.
Mulberrys uses 100% natural, recycled CO2 similar to what you would find in carbonated beverages.
But isn't CO2 a greenhouse gas?We use recycled CO2, and recapture unused CO2, so no new CO2 is released as a result of our processes. We also actively work to combat global warming by investing in projects to reduce CO2 emissions in our community.
How does Liquid CO2 cleaning work?Liquid CO2 Cleaning isn’t nearly as complicated as it sounds. First, we place your clothes into the CO2 machine, which resembles a gigantic washing machine. Then, in addition to biodegradable detergent, recycled natural CO2 is released into the drum of the machine. At this point, the drum is pressurized, and when the CO2 comes under pressure it converts from a gas to a liquid. The clothes are then cleaned in the CO2 liquid multiple times, and finally the pressure and gas are released. Because the CO2 naturally evaporates, no heat is needed and your clothes come out of the machine cool and clean.
Is CO2 cleaning as effective as other methods?Yes. In fact, Mulberrys’ proprietary CO2 system is the most effective cleaning method available according to the Delta Whiteness Index.
Be on the lookout for toxin free dry cleaners in your area!
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