Can Grenache Help You Live Longer?

Last week, I talked about Grenache Day, one of many wine days meant to give us an excuse to enjoy wine. Hopefully my article inspired you to drink some Grenache. This week, my article is likely to inspire even more Grenache consumption. The topic is whether Grenache might help you live longer. Let’s dive in!

The name for Grenache on the Italian island of Sardinia is Cannonau. Why do we care about Sardinia and Cannonau?

Sardinia is one of the famed “Blue Zones.”

Blue Zones were identified in 2004 as places  where people consistently have longer lifespans. Over a decade or so of research, the researchers who identified these Blue Zones zeroed in on a few factors that helped prolong life common to people in these “Blue Zone” areas. Almost universally, among these factors was drinking some form of alcohol.

Cannonau (Grenache) is high in resveratrol

Reseveratrol is the well loved compound found in red wine that is believed to stimulate a “longevity gene” SIRT-1 by keeping DNA strands healthy, hence helping people live longer.

Cannonau (Grenache) is a daily part of most Sardinians’ diet

Drunk in small quantities throughout the day, one or two glasses of Cannonau seem to be a contributing factor to the Sardinia population’s longevity, which consistently reaches 100 and beyond.

You’ve heard the old conundrum: How do French women stay so thin while eating all that rich French food? Well, the answer to that may also lie with the same science that underscores the alcohol-longevity relationship. The French also drink red wine containing resveratrol, which has been demonstrated to have health benefits, even when many calories are consumed.

So, besides getting lots of regular, physical activity, eating natural vegetables, grains, seeds and goat cheese and milk, enjoy a glass or two of Cannonau wine while partaking of social time and laughter.