Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips: Red Wine Warning

Just when we thought it was safe to go into the wine cellar, a study by British researchers has found that many red and white wines produced in Europe have dangerous levels of toxic metals in them.

Professor Declan Naughton and Dr Andrea Petroczi of Kingston University, London, tested wines from 15 different countries in Europe, South America and the Middle East and found heavy metals in many of them. Here's what the researchers had to say: "The results from this study also question a popular belief about the health-giving properties of red wine: that drinking red wine daily protects you from heart attacks is often related to levels of anti-oxidants. However the finding of hazardous levels of metal ions which can be pro-oxidants leads to a major question mark over the protective benefits of red wine."

Here are some ways to get heart-healthy antioxidants:

1) Dark Chocolate - According to recent research, eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day can thin the blood and cut the risk of clots in much the same way that taking aspirin does! Hurray! Researchers have known for almost 20 years that dark chocolate can lower blood pressure and has other beneficial effects on blood flow. But new research suggests two tablespoons of dark chocolate a day is enough to have a beneficial effect and cut the risk of clots, according to research professor Diane Becker of Johns Hopkins University.

2) Go organic - Buying organic fruit and veggies may cost a little more than buying conventionally grown produce, but according to scientists, organic produce provides 40 percent more antioxidant value than conventionally grown.

3) Take a coffee break - According to a 2005 study, coffee doesn't just perk you up and sharpen your senses, it also contains "more antioxidants than any food or drink in the American diet." The authors of the study warn that coffee is not a substitute for fruit and vegetables and it can make some people jittery, but for those who enjoy their morning cuppa Joe, you can keep doing it, in moderation. Read the full story HERE.

4) Get beans - When most people think of antioxidant-rich foods these days, blueberries and pomegranate usually come to mind, but researchers have found that small red beans contain more antioxidants than blueberries! Find out more HERE.

5) Go green - Green tea, that is. Did you know not all antioxidants are the same? Both green and black tea have different antioxidants than those found in fruit and vegetables, so you can be well-rounded by including them all in your diet.

Now that you know that including these antioxidant-rich foods and drinks in your diet could help prevent and repair cell damage, what are you waiting for? Let's meet for lunch!