It's yet one more reason to drink wine, and a good one for wine lovers: A new study says wine-drinkers may have better protection from the sun and its rays. A study suggests some could help prevent painful summertime sunburns.
Not surprising, the recent wine-plus-sun study doesn't come out of the U.S.
It's Spain who says a compound contained in grapes or grape derivatives -- including wines --could protect skin cells from skin damaged caused by ultraviolet rays. Researchers at the University of Barcelona and Spanish National Research Council are arguing that grapes' flavonoids work to stop the chemical reaction that normally kills skin cells and causes sun damage to skin.
UV rays trigger "reactive oxygen species" (ROS for short) which then oxidize molecules including lipids and DNA during sun exposure. Those sun rays and exposure trigger enzymes that normally kills skin cells -- but the grapes' flavonoids help cut formation of ROS' in skin cells hit hard by UVA and UVB rays.
Researchers are hoping the 'wine' connection may also lead to better or more protective sunscreens or contents contained in cosmetics and beauty products.
Just don't take the wine study too much to heart: As many know, drinking wine can also burn badly: A glass or two, plus a nap in the sun, does not help avoid sunburns.