Can wine really improve our health and increase our life span? Scientists are beginning to say "Yes!”

Researchers have found that red wines rich in flavonoids (类黄酮) are best for our health. Flavonoids are best known for their antioxidant (抗氧化) qualities and help the body resist viruses. Red wines also contain antioxidants, which help the body resist cancer and cardiovascular (心血管的) disease. Red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir contain the highest concentrations of antioxidants and flavonoids. Other red wines, such as Merlots and Red Zinfandels, contain fewer flavonoids, but more than most white wines. So the best bet for drinking wine for our health is to stick to red wines containing more antioxidants and flavonoids.

Although white contains components that are central to good health, it doesn't mean that we can get drunk every night. Don't overdo it — but adding a glass of wine to your daily diet can definitely make a difference to your health. Paracelsus, the noted 16th-century Swiss physician, wrote, “Wine is a food, a medicine and a poison — it's just a question of how much you drink." Most health officials agree that one or two four-ounce glasses of wine per day can be beneficial to men, while women should limit their consumption to one four-ounce glass per day.

Cardiovascular expert, Professor Roger Corder, has spent years studying the evidence of health benefits from red wine. Specifically, he wondered why the French have a lower rate of heart discase, despite the fact that their diet is extremely rich in fats. He concentrated his research on the southwest portion of France, where life expectancy (平均寿命) seemed to be highest. He discovered that the region produces local wines, which contain the highest levels of antioxidants of any wines in the world. This led him to further research on the amazing medical benefits of red wine.

While wine may not be able to help a man escape from death or growing old, we certainly can consider adding a glass of wine or two to our daily diet.

It would be nice if eating a particular food could magically protect you against all the boring illnesses. It’s not that simple, of course. Hand washing remains your best defense against picking up illnesses, and sleep is a strong defense too. But what you eat does play an important part. Though it isn’t because of just one or two foods, what you eat in your daily diet have an effect on how weak or strong your immunity(免疫力)is.

We’d better eat fruits and vegetables every day. They contain key vitamins needed in the immune system. For example, Vitamin C and Ain foods help immune system work well to keep us healthy. Remember that eating the actual fruit or veggie is better than eating single-vitamin supplements(补品).

Getting too little protein(蛋白质) can weaken your immune system. Protein-rich foods supply the amino acids(氨基酸)you need to build important proteins in the body. Animal foods like beef and pork also contain zinc(锌), which your body uses to make t-cells.

Fermented foods are foods that are naturally protected by bacteria(细菌), and they’re good for the micro biome(微生物).That’s the name for the bacteria that live in your stomach, where a lot of cells in immunity actually live. Fermented foods like yogurt help beneficial bacteria develop fast in the stomach, leaving less room for harmful bacteria.

As more schools open for in-person learning and some organized sports start again, many children are returning to the world after having packed on extra body weight. While data is few on whether there’s been a rise in children’s weight over the pandemic(大流行病), some health professionals have seen worrisome signs. Suzannah Stivison, a nurse in Kensington, Md. , said that some of her patients put on what she calls “the other COVID- 19”— as in, 19 pounds

A loss of daily arrangements, in school and extracurriculars, left kids looking for a sense of control that many have found in eating. One of the ways that people regained a routine and a schedule within their families was most likely around meals. Since last March, adults joined the bread-baking craze and ate junk food as they liked.

Stivison herself admits the bad effect of the pandemic. “I never have Cheetos in my house. But all of a sudden, they appeared, ”she said. “And this has been a phenomenon that I have seen in lots of houses. Eating became something we could control. And it’s also something we use for comfort.”

Children tend to gain weight during periods like summer vacation, when fewer are getting regular exercise through organized sports and physical education. But there are supportive ways parents can help get their kids back to a healthier lifestyle. It’s less about talking and more about setting an example. Talking about risk factors such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease doesn’t really work, especially with younger kids. Kids know they’re heavier than their peers. They know they get out of breath.

However, parents can model good habits like exercising an hour a day or keeping the house stored with healthier foods. “It really comes down to the modeling and the opportunity we can control what food comes into the house, ” Stivison said. “And so guess what? I’ve stopped buying Cheetos. ”