Astronauts should be drinking red wine?

You know that evergreen from UB40 "Red Red Wine stay close to me"? Well, according to the latest research that was published in the FASEB Journal this song could soon become big hit among astronauts. Why? Because according to the scientists, one of the main ingredients in red wine, resveratrol, has the potential to prevent the negative effects that spaceflight has on astronauts.

The scientists have conducted several experiments with rats in which they have simulated the weightlessness of spaceflight. During these experiments scientists fed one group of rats with resveratrol and they discovered that the group that was fed with resveratrol did not develop insulin resistance or a loss of bone mineral density, as did those rats who were not fed with resveratrol.

These negative health conditions primarily occur as the result of inadequate physical activity which in case of astronauts is often the case because low gravity environment makes physical activity almost impossible.

Resveratrol found in red wine, though not a substitute for physical activity, is still an excellent ally in slowing the deterioration of astronaut's body.

If rats are anything to go by then astronauts could soon be making very frequent toasts along the Milky Way. Possibly by having the UB40 CD in the background:)