Wine lovers rejoice! Turns out the benefits of sipping wine go far beyond what it has been lauded about for years now. A recent study found that wine can be good for your oral health as well, due to certain compounds in the drink that can fend off harmful bacteria in your teeth and gums.
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The research indicates that polyphenols might also better your health by actively interacting with bacteria in the gut. This makes sense since plants and fruits produce polyphenols to ward off infection by harmful bacteria and other pathogens.
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The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, checked out the effect of two red wine polyphenols, as well as commercially available grape seed and red wine extracts, on bacteria that stick to teeth and gums and cause dental plaque, cavities and periodontal disease.
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Working with cells that model gum tissue, they found that the two wine polyphenols in isolation,?caffeic?and p-coumaric acids, were generally better than the total wine extracts at cutting back on the bacteria's ability to stick to the cells.
Previous studies have suggested that drinking a couple of pegs may tamp down inflammation and help the brain clear away toxins. Limited consumption of wine may also prevent the overall risk of developing cancer.