A wine and cheese party can be a fun way to relax and make new friends. It's also a great way to lower your blood pressure.

Cheese and wine parties are great for large get-togethers. Make it lots of fun by having every guest bring a bottle of wine and an exotic cheese. It's a fantastic way to try new wines and cheeses ... and a perfect conversation starter.

A cheese and wine party is also the perfect way to relax ... both yourself and your arteries. Wine is good for lowering blood pressure ... and so is cheese.

A Glass of Red Wine

Red wine contains a protective antioxidant -- the flavonol called resveratrol. This powerful antioxidant protects your arteries against the damage done by free radicals ... and helps prevent hardening of your arteries.

The flavonoid in red wine also keeps your blood platelets from clumping together ... stopping this first step in the formation of deadly blood clots. A glass of red wine keeps your blood flowing smoothly through your arteries.

Even more important for your blood pressure ... recent studies have shown that drinking red wine improves the function of your artery linings. When the linings of your arteries are working well ... they freely dilate and bring down your blood pressure.

A glass or two of red wine a day ... this is the perfect amount to keep your heart and arteries young -- and keep your blood pressure normal. The darker the red wine ... the better. Dark red wines are higher in the protective resveratrol flavonoid. Forget about white wines ... they pale by comparison.

A Wedge of Cheese

Although cheese has lots of saturated fat and can raise cholesterol levels ... a little cheese is good for you. Like red wine, cheese is good for you if eaten in moderation.

During the cheese making process, while the milk is fermenting ... peptides are released from the milk proteins. These peptides help control your blood pressure ... by inhibiting the enzymes that convert angiotensin.

When the protein angiotensin is converted into angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a peptide that constricts your arteries and increases the retention of water and sodium. This whole process really pumps up your blood pressure.

The other peptides -- found in fermented milk products like cheese -- put a stop to this reaction that ups the blood pressure. Eating a small wedge of cheese blocks the enzyme that creates angiotensin II, keeps your arteries relaxed, and keeps your blood pressure down.

Relax With a Glass of Shiraz and a Slice of Gruyere

After a hard day at the office ... when tension has got your blood pressure creeping up ... enjoy some nice cheeses with a glass of red wine. Relax ... relax your arteries ... bring your blood pressure back down to normal. Your heart will love you for it.