Sainsbury's heart-healthy red?
Sainsbury’s has launched a new wine called Red Heart that claims to have 32 per cent more antioxidants than the average red wine. Selling for £4.99, it’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot from Australia and has been introduced on the back of continuing claims that red wine is good for the heart. According to Sainsbury’s, ‘The antioxidant content of red wine is believed to play a role in the health benefits derived from drinking in moderation.’ However, wine writer Jamie Goode was unimpressed to say the least, judging by comments on his website, wineanorak.com. ‘If red wine has health benefits, it is almost certainly not because of its antioxidant properties. The latest evidence suggests that dietary antioxidants don’t really work.’ Cardiovascular expert Professor Roger Corder agrees. In his book, The Wine Diet, he says, ‘In recent years, clinical trials of antioxidants in coronary heart disease have shown little benefit in terms of reducing the incidence of heart attack. Scientists have gone from thinking antioxidant properties were critical to wondering whether they have any relevance.’