Wine and Health Connection
by Ed Young
Frugal MacDoogal's Monthly Guest Wine Letter October, 2004
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What if I told you there is a "drug" (No, I do not mean a real drug according to the FDA, of course), readily available without a prescription, that allows you to eat all the bread, cream sauce, cheese, and red meat you want without risking coronary disease, and that, at the same time, lowers blood pressure, increases good cholesterol, and even extends lifespan? Is there is such a thing?
For many years the official Dietary Guidelines for Americans warned that alcohol consumption had no net benefit and was not recommended. The consumption of any form of alcohol was treated by the U.S. government as risk-taking behavior tantamount to illegal drug use. That language, and underlying attitude, has now changed dramatically because of the growing body of evidence showing beneficial effects from moderate consumption of alcohol. The new Guidelines acknowledge that moderate drink is associated with a lower risk for coronary heart disease. Science has turned the issue around, and this month’s newsletter takes a look at the health benefits of alcohol-especially wine drinking.
For years, no one could understand why the French, whose diet is rich in fatty foods, have a 30% lower rate of heart disease than North Americans, nor why their obesity level among adults is only 7%, while ours is 22%. This phenomenon, known as the French Paradox, was first brought to public attention in a 1991 feature on “60 Minutes”, and the publicity generated a number of studies to identify the basis of the Paradox.
In the very next year (1992) a study reported that resveratrol, found in red wine, protects against heart disease and other aging-related illnesses. Resveratrol acts by stimulating enzymes in the body that inhibit some genes, stimulate others, and repair DNA damage, keeping cells alive and prolonging the lifespan of an organism.
Here are additional findings that have been established through scientific research:
• Moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with lower risk of diseases such as arthritis and diminished bone density
• Light to moderate drinking reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease
• Red wine consumption decreases insulin levels, lowers blood pressure, increases good cholesterol, and can even slow down the process of aging
• Wine helps to prevent ulcers
• Red wine, in particular, helps to prevent and fight cancer
• Wine is a calming influence that helps the body to relax and combat illness
• Wine breaks down blood clots and helps to prevent strokes. Those who drink 1-3 glasses of wine a day are healthier than those who drink none and those who drink more
• Light wine consumption helps to prevent age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in older adults
• A long-term study found that daily wine drinkers had as high as a 49% reduction in mortality compared with those who drank only beer or liquor, or no alcohol
• A study done by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle this year concluded that men who drink a glass or two of red wine per day reduced their risk of prostate cancer by around 50%.
The reason it has taken so long for physicians to come around to acknowledging the beneficial effects of moderate drinking is that immoderate drinking is such a significant contributor to higher mortality. Health and alcohol consumption are correlated in a horseshoe shaped curve. Moderate drinkers have the lowest mortality rates. At the ends of the curve, teetotalers and excessive drinkers both have increased levels of mortality.
Any alcoholic beverage, including wine, can harm the body if used excessively. So, what is moderate drinking? The official U.S. Government Guidelines’ definition of moderation is one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. A drink is defined as 5 ounces of wine, a 12-ounce bottle of beer, or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof spirits. In Great Britain, the safe drinking levels are considerably higher- three drinks for women and up to four for men.
Some other aspects of this issue should be noted. Is it the alcohol itself that is important? There doesn’t seem to be a correlation between the % of alcohol content and health benefits, but research has pretty well established that light to moderate alcohol consumption is better for your health than no alcohol at all. In some studies, beer and spirits show a beneficial effect, and in others they do not-the outcomes are mixed. Red wine is definitely the most beneficial alcoholic beverage-probably because the grape skins that contain resveratrol remain in contact with the juice longer. White wine is somewhat beneficial, but less so than red.
I predict you may soon be seeing labels on bottles that advise you to consult your physician regarding the health effects of wine consumption. In the meanwhile, enjoy your favorite refreshment in moderation and live a longer and happier life!
We hope you will find this information helpful and interesting, and that you will come by the store very soon to let Jeff, Jerry, Jack, Bob, or Neil fill your wine prescription.
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