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Red wine can strip off the aging process in old mice, according to a new study. Its benefits may include prevention of cancer, heart diseases and other neurodegenerative diseases.

A substance called resveratrol found in red wine and other fruits may protect the body's neurons from the unwanted effects of aging. It is a polyphenolic compound which is a type of phytochemical that has an antioxidant benefit in the body. With the right amount, it can fight the damaging effect of free radicals that causes aging.

The study on the red wine benefits was conducted by a group of researchers from the Virgina Tech Carilion Research in Roanoke, VA. The results of the study strengthen previous findings that resveratrol and metformin can protect neural connections from the negative effects of aging in the body.

Gregorio Valdez, assistant professor, and his team looked into 2-year-old mice. They are considered old because their average lifespan is only around 24 months. The mice were given doses of resveratrol for a year. Researchers noticed that the compound found in red wine has stripped off the aging process. Moreover, they discovered that the benefits are the same with diet and exercise.

Unlike metformin, which only affects the body's muscle fiber, resveratrol has also benefited on the neuromuscular junctions by protecting it from aging. However, the lead author of the study cautions against drinking too much red wine just to get its neuroprotective benefits.

Resveratrol in red wine is in a very small quantity that one cannot drink enough red wine in his lifetime to get the benefits. However, researchers can look into and learn from the mechanism how the substance protects the body from aging and other diseases like cancer and heart diseases. Aside from red wine, resveratrol is naturally found in some berries, peanuts and in the skin of red grapes.