Saponins Double Whammy
Against Heart Disease

Saponins have just recently be found in red wine. They are a waxy like substance found in the skin of grapes. Wine, from a nutrition standpoint, is famous for the French Paradox. The French Paradox says that the French people eat a lot of fat and rich foods but still have less heart disease than non wine drinking societies. The latest scientific thinking was that the antioxidant resveratrol was responsible for this phenomenon.

Like most things scientific we are learning every day and we still do not know everything. The saponins dissolve into the wine during fermentation and the quantities are quite large. For whatever reason no one thought to look for saponin in wine, but there it is. Saponin is not an antioxidant like resveratrol and works differently.
Resveratrol blocks the cholesterol from oxidation like a good antioxidant should. As you may know antioxidants are free radical killers and resveratrol is one of the best free radical killers. Now Saponin acts differently, it binds to the cholesterol and prevents it from being absorbed so the body gets rid of the unwanted cholesterol very quickly. This is the synergistic action of two chemicals working differently but together to protect the body against disease. Therefore, this gives grapes and wine a double whammy against heart disease.

This synergistic effect is just what the scientific community misses by trying to isolate chemical nutrients to make drugs and single nutrient pills. This goes to show you that nature knows what it is doing and we should learn to listen closer. Health is better served when the whole plant or the whole plants essence is consumed. An interesting feature research found was the more alcohol content the more saponins.

Saponins are a phyto-chemical and are found in most vegetables, flowers, beans and herbs. Because of this it is a good idea to eat lots of vegetables and good whole food herbal and vegetable extracts where you can get more nutrients quicker and easier.
Here is a short list of saponin rich foods and herbs

• Grapes
• Soybeans
• Oats
• Spinach
• All peas and beans
• Soapwort
• Foxglove
• Licorice
• Ginseng
• Beetroot
• Asparagus
• Mullein flowers
• Cowslip

Saponins research shows these health benefits

• Maintain blood cholesterol levels
• Circulatory and heart health
• Aids in the absorption of minerals
• Has anti inflammatory effects
• Some are noticeably diuretic
• Help varicose veins
• Helps phlebitis
• Arteriosclerosis
• Bone health
• Cancer
• Strengthens immune system

Almost all of the plant kingdom contain saponin nutrients and could very well be one of the main reason why eating healthy foods keeps the body in an optimal healthy state. It is probably a good reason why native remedies work so well. The Chinese herbalist has been using saponin rich herbs for thousands of years. We will be hearing a great deal more about this chemical nutrient in the future. In the meantime eat healthy and have a glass of wine. Oh yes do not forget those whole food supplements which are saponin rich.

In accordance with the FDA these products are not intended to treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any diseases. Information on this site is given for educational purposes only and is not to replace the advice of your health care professional.

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