/oss/taxonomy/term/1376/all en /oss/article/student-contributors-health-and-nutrition/grape-seed-extracts-and-vascular-health <p>Recently, as I savoured a large bowl of grapes, my mother shared some insightful advice. She recommended chewing and swallowing the grape seeds instead of spitting them out, referencing a supplement website she'd come across that stated that grape seed extract (GSE) is a recognized herbal solution for alleviating symptoms of non-complicated chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition in which leg veins become damaged and struggle to send blood back up to the heart.</p> Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:35:29 +0000 Xiaoran Li 9897 at /oss /oss/article/medical-health-and-nutrition/did-scientists-just-discover-compound-responsible-red-wine-headaches <p>While consuming too much of any alcoholic substance can lead to a headache, red wine headaches tend to be a little bit different. Both because a red-wine-induced headache tends to hit the drinker within 30 minutes to 3 hours of consuming the beverage, rather than several hours later as in the case of a hangover, and because rather than copious amounts of alcohol, red wine headaches can be induced with even just one or two glasses. </p> Fri, 24 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000 Ada McVean M.Sc. 9738 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/sour-grapes <p>Fruits and vegetables are deemed to be “healthy". A vast number of studies have indeed demonstrated lower rates of diabetes, heart disease and cancer in populations consuming more fruits and vegetables. Is this because these plant products contain chemicals that inhibit body processes that cause disease, or is it because people who eat more fruits and vegetables eat less meat which causes disease? Most likely both factors are at play. Meat is high in saturated fats that are implicated in heart disease and when cooked at high temperatures, meat forms a number of carcinogens.</p> Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:46:09 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9596 at /oss /oss/article/artificial-wine-really <p>Cat pee, a mouse nest, wet dog, sauerkraut, burnt match, moldy socks, rotten eggs, vanilla, menthol, and plastic bandage. An unusual list to be sure. But there is a connection. These are all terms used by expert wine tasters to describe “notes” that make up the symphony of aromas and flavours experienced when sipping a sample of the beverage that has delighted people for over 6000 years. Indeed, the conversion of grapes into wine is one of the oldest chemical processes known to humankind! And what a complex and fascinating process it is!</p> Thu, 21 Jan 2021 21:54:06 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8570 at /oss /oss/article/history/happy-new-year-all-pour-champagne <p>Champagne time! Make sure you drink it from the right kind of glass!</p> <p>First a little background. Champagne is produced mainly from black grapes in the Champagne region of France. From the moment the Pinot noir grapes are pressed in the vineyard, where almost fanatical care is taken to ensure that not even a trace of black skin ends up in the white juice, to the moment the cork pops, champagne receives more care and attention than any other wine in the world.</p> Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:47:33 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2055 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/what-does-blanc-de-noirs-mean-when-referring-wine <p>By removing the grape skins after red grapes are pressed. Many people believe that red wine is made from red grapes and white wine from green grapes. They are wrong. When grapes are pressed, the juice is white, no matter what variety of grape is used. But if the juice is left in contact with red grape skins, pigments leach out of the skins and colour the wine. These pigments belong to a family of compounds called anthocyanins which are responsible for the colouration of many fruits and vegetables.</p> Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:30:58 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1585 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/welchs-grape-juice <p>Woodrow Wilson’s secretary of state, William Jennings Bryan, was ridiculed in 1913 for serving Welch’s grape juice instead of wine at a dinner honoring the British ambassador. This proved to be quite helpful for Welch’s. The publicity helped them become a household name. (“100% juice!”)</p> Tue, 21 Feb 2017 04:39:34 +0000 Emily Shore, B.A, Dipl. PR Management 1501 at /oss