A Portuguese study has confirmed the importance of ‘good intestinal flora’ in staying healthy and happy – stressing that substances present in red fruits and red wine improve intestinal flora, reduce inflammation and contribute to the prevention of depression and neurodegenerative diseases.
The study compiled by investigators of Cintesis (the centre of investigation in technologies and health services) based in Porto advises “regular consumption” of both red fruits and red wine.
As for the substances present, these are given as anthocyanins.
Described as antioxidants present in “purple foods” by the BBC last year, anthocyanins can also be found in blackcurrants, blackberries and blueberries, red cabbage, cranberries, pomegranates, beetroot, cherries and even sweet potatoes. But Cintesis stresses only the importance of consuming red fruits and red wine – possibly because both are produced in large quantities in Portugal.
Article by kind permission of