“Scientists—like mothers—admonish us to eat fruits and vegetables. And why not? Research shows that fruits, vegetables and other plant foods are packed with naturally occurring substances known as antioxidants and phytochemicals, which help prevent disease and boost the immune system. Some recent findings:

A toast to your tummy
Red wine may protect not only your heart, but your stomach. According to a study at the University of Missouri-Columbia, red wine and grape juice inhibit the growth of food-borne bacteria that cause illness but don’t harm the bacteria needed for a healthy digestive system.

Lead researcher Azlin Mustapha says that because the study was conducted in test tubes, it’s not certain that the effect will be the same in humans, but achieving similar results looks likely.

“Saint Paul knew what he was talking about when he recommended that Timothy drink a little wine for his stomach’s sake,” says gastroenterologist Howard Spiro, M.D., emeritus professor of medicine at Yale University. (Findings presented at the 2007 Institute of Food Technologists conference in Chicago in July.)”

READ the complete article written by Nissa Simon in the AARP Bullitentoday CLICK HERE