Health@Heart
Red Wine and Health
IS wine really good for our health? Yes, most particularly red wine, as long as they are not abused. But this will, of course, depend on other considerations and factors. We do not recommend any alcoholic beverages to pregnant women, persons who are alcoholics or have history of addiction, those with liver, gastrointestinal or other diseases where alcohol is contraindicated, those who are allergic to it, poorly controlled diabetics, etc. Persons with a health problem should first consult with their physicians before ingesting alcoholic beverages.
Why is red wine better?
Red wine has been singled out as cardio-protective (good for the heart) because its skin contains phytochemicals, such as resveratrol, that help protect the plant’s self-defense system and proanthocyanidins (OPC) and cathechins, which are also powerful antioxidants. And these same substances have been found good for humans. Studies at the University of California, Davis, and Cornell University have confirmed the beneficial effect of these potent antioxidants that aid in preventing cancer and heart coronary heart disease. Also, the alcohol in it has some sedative and euphoric effects when wine is taken in moderation, and these are healthy for the psyche, especially in these stressful times.
Are all red wine the same?
No, not all red wines are alike or equal as far as the amount of resveratrol they contain. Research on seventy red wines from New York rated the Pinot Noirs (Pino Nwahs) to contain the highest amount of this phytochemical, with an average content of 13.6 micromoles per liter, about twice found in Cabernet Sauvignon (Cabernay Sow vin yong), Merlot (Merlo), and Cabernet Franc. The specific wines and vintages with very high level were the ’97 Pinot Noir from Benton-Lane Winery in Oregon and the ’98 Noble Muscadine from Dennis Vineyards in North Carolina. Large commercial wineries manipulate their wines more and reduce the resveratrol and other antioxidants as a result; small wineries utilizing the old European technique produce wines with higher resveratrol.
Why the difference in resveratrol contents?
After analyzing several hundreds of wines in his laboratory at Cornell, Professor Emeritus Le Creasy found that “wine produced in dry climates, like California central valley had lower resveratrol level than from the same variety of grapes grown in humid climates like New York.”
How about white wine?
Resveratrol is found in grape skins and OPC & C in the grape seeds. In red wine, the skins and seeds are included in the fermentation for at least 2 to 3 weeks, while white wine is made from juice that is pressed from the grapes, where the skins and seeds are not included in the fermentation, This explains why only red wine has a significant level of resveratrol, OPC & C.
Are the more expensive red wines better?
No, not necessarily. A Pinot Noir imported from France, which is much more expensive, is not a better “health drink” than a Pinot Noir from New York. An older vintage variety, which, again, is more pricey, might taste better in most cases, especially for connoisseurs, but not necessarily superior in its antioxidant value. Most wine-drinking families drink regular red table wine, but the choice is so personal and according to one’s taste. Mine is Pinot Noir when available, Cabernet Sauvignon, second, and Merlot, third.
Is red wine also good against degenerative diseases?
Yes, according to Professor Susan Ebeler of the UC-Davis, “there’s increasing evidence that red wine contains components which may impart important health-protective effects against a number of degenerative diseases.”
Does drinking improve sexual performance?
Ethanol may make one feel carefree, excited, and merrier, but it does not directly improve sexual prowess. In Macbeth, Act 2, scene 3, Shakespeare wrote alcohol “provokes the desire but takes away the performance.” After a glass or two of red wine, and a romantic situation and an appropriate ambiance Shakespeare might be wrong, but after 3 or more, he will most likely be right. Again, it depends on the personal tolerance of the persons involved.
Any rule of thumb for healthy drinking?
Without being facetious, the best drink consists of a glass of milk 3 times day, if you like and can tolerate milk, 3 glasses of your favorite fruit juices, and at least 2 glasses of filtered water a day, a total of at least 8 glasses of fluids. But where alcohol is concerned, red wine (Pinot Noir, when possible) is my recommendation, a glass or two with dinner (certainly not more than 3), without chasing it with beer or hard liquor! Just like anything in life and in health, moderation is the key, especially to what I will call “therapeutic drinking.”
In the meantime, here’s—-a votre sante!
