Health scientists have long been puzzled by the so-called French Paradox — the perplexing fact that the French consume at least as much fat and cholesterol as Americans do, smoke more cigarettes, and yet have far lower rates of coronary heart disease. After a thorough consideration of the two peoples' lifestyles, researchers have isolated yet another distinction between the French and the Americans. The French drink much more wine than do Americans, typically consuming it at meals.
These facts, combined with numerous studies conducted over the past twenty years, point to the fact that light to moderate consumption of alcohol, especially red wine, reduces the rate of heart disease dramatically. Research shows that men and women who drink a glass of wine a day exhibit a 20 to 50 percent lower risk of heart disease, and recent studies suggest that tempered consumption of alcohol reduces the risk of stroke.
Alcohol increases concentrations of HDL, the 'good' cholesterol that lowers the likelihood of heart disease and decreases platelet aggregability: it makes the blood less sticky and less likely to clot, thus decreasing the risk of a heart attack. With its many antioxidant components, including tannins, phenols, resveratrol, and quercitin, in addition to alcohol, red wine appears to be especially protective.
According to this passage, the key to solving the French Paradox lies in understanding which of the following:
(A) The relationship between alcohol and HDL
(B)The relationship between cheese and 'bad cholesterol'
(C)The relationship between heart disease and stroke
(D) The relationship between alcohol and nicotine
(E)The relationship between environmental and genetic factors
Suggestion:
The answer is A.
If you read the passage, it tells you how alcohol relates to HDL, the good cholesterols.
Hope this helps! =]
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