How Red Wine & Cheese Lower Your Best wine for high Blood Pressure

 What better time on a Saturday than to sip red wine and taste cheeses while enjoying the company of great friends and family members. And the best part is that it also helps in lowering your blood pressure!

Not only this, long ago I used to participate in art exhibitions in Sydney, Australia. No, I am not an artist, but a person who lived in the "trendier" parts of the city. It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon – browsing new paintings by emerging local artists. Most often they offer guests small portions of a variety of cheeses along with a selection of moderately priced wines. I had a great time, but little did I know that what I was doing was also giving me a health-boosting bonus! You see, wine and cheese are Batman and Robin's dynamic duo to lower your blood pressure.

When was the last time you had a wine and cheese party? You don't need to be an artist to enjoy one; It's a great way to entertain guests and a great excuse to get together. It is also a good way to overcome high blood pressure.

Cheese and wine parties are also excellent for large get-togethers. You can make it a lot more fun by bringing each guest a bottle of wine and an exotic cheese. It's a great way to sample new wines and cheeses... and the perfect way to get to know your friends better with free-flowing wines and conversations.

What better way to kick-back and relax…both you and your arteries. Wine is good for lowering your blood pressure...and cheese too. But not just any vintage wine, make it red. Read on to find out why.

~ a glass or two of red~

A flavonol called resveratol is a protective antioxidant. Free radicals are agents that affect chemical reactions in the body; They can cause cell damage that can result in cancer and other problems like high blood pressure. As a protective antioxidant, resveratol protects your arteries from free radical damage and also helps prevent hardening of your arteries.

Flavonol also benefits you in another important way. The clumping of blood platelets together causes blood clotting and thrombosis - not something you want to deal with as both can be deadly serious problems! The flavonol is active in preventing your platelets from clumping together; A glass of red wine helps your body prevent these nasty problems by keeping your blood flowing smoothly through your arteries.

And some more good news… Recent studies have shown that drinking red wine also helps improve the operation of your artery lining. When the lining of your arteries is working properly, they expand freely to lower your blood pressure. The only question is, how good is too much red?

No one is suggesting that you go out and buy a crate of reds to eat right away, but a glass or two a day is ideal for most people...it's enough to keep your heart and arteries young. Have perfect consumption - and your blood pressure at healthy levels. Which red wine is best? Darker varieties are best because they are higher in protective resveratrol flavonoids. As far as white wine is concerned, you really shouldn't bother… it has very little benefit compared to the mighty red.

~a portion of cheese~

When we think of cheese we think of how much fat is in it, and while cheese has more than enough saturated fat, a little is actually good for you. The key, of course, is moderation. Like red wine, it can be healthy if you don't go overboard. An overdose of it and your cholesterol level can increase.

When cheese is being made and the milk is fermenting... the peptides are released from the milk proteins. Peptides, which are related to proteins and amino acids, help control your blood pressure by inhibiting enzymes that convert angiotensin.

Angiotensin is made up of any of three polypeptide hormones, one of which is a potent vasoconstrictor (something that constricts a blood vessel). When the protein angiotensin converts to angiotensin II it constricts your arteries and increases water and sodium retention. This whole process has an adverse effect on your blood pressure - it pumps it right up!

You can prevent the reaction that raises your blood pressure by taking other peptides – peptides found in fermented milk products such as cheese. Eating a small piece of cheese blocks an enzyme that makes angiotensin II, helps your arteries stay relaxed, and thus keeps your blood pressure low.

~Take it easy with a nice glass of Shiraz and a slice of Gruyere~

After being at the grinding wheel all day... when the stress built up during the day has spiked your blood pressure... why not enjoy something good with a glass of dark red wine. Relax your mind, relax your body, relax your arteries... bring your blood pressure back to normal levels. It will be greatly appreciated by your heart!