The media-promoted claim, “Drinking a glass of red wine is the equivalent of an hour at the gym,” has thrilled many readers. However, there are some details that many media outlets fail to mention while "informing" readers about this phenomenon. One article described a study in which rat hearts (specifically the left ventricle) were monitored and data on MDA levels were recorded. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The chemical the study (and media claims) focused on is called resveratrol, which is found in red wine. They found that the group receiving resveratrol had a reduction in MDA (which is linked to oxidative stress) therefore indicating protection against heart-related diseases. While this article discusses many of the benefits of resveratrol in red wine, it mentions that the amount of this chemical varies greatly from each type of wine, depending on its source. (Ray, Maulik, Cordis, Bertelli, & Bertelli, 1999) Another article describes yet another study conducted once again on rats. This study was much larger than the previous one and aimed to observe any positive (or negative) effects that resveratrol might have, not just related to cardio. Their main conclusion was that it acted as an anti-inflammatory and has very limited possible toxic side effects since it is a naturally produced chemical already ingested by so many people. (Birrell, McCluskie, & Wong, 2005) An article published by the same company as the previous one conducted a similar experiment with mice. They found that resveratrol has the effect of suppressing the growth of endothelial cells and therefore tumor growth. However, this also means that it slows wound healing, which may be bad for some. This is also the only article to highlight the danger of consuming red wine in large quantities due to the alcohol content, regardless of the health benefits. (BRÅKENHIELM, CAO, & CAO, 2001) The last article I found was published with the work of the man cited in many media claims. In their study, resveratrol was studied to observe the benefits to the cardiovascular system and its effects on calorie restriction. Their findings on all things cardiovascular activity coincide with other studies and are not unexpected. However, they find that resveratrol has qualities that mimic calorie restriction without the subject being disciplined to actually change their calorie intake. This is probably where the media claims got most of their content from. The article states that it is unsure whether it would translate the same to human subjects, as this was only conducted on animals. (Dyck, Jason R.B.; Dolinksy, Vernon W.;, 2011) The media statement boldly states that one glass of red wine is equivalent to an hour at the gym. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay However, none of the media articles provide any scientific research that would let readers know that it is not as simple and evolutionary as one would hope. Most don't even discuss the fact that the results were gleaned from studies on mice or rats, not humans. And none of the articles mention any consequences, such as suppression of wound healing, that the chemical may cause. While the consequence may not affect readers that much, other details would certainly change the optimism about these media articles. These details include how much the quantity of.