Wine
In Moderation
Wine is good for your health! Researchers have found a relationship between drinking wine, in moderation, and good health. Moderate consumption means one to two glasses of 10 grams per day. Visit Alcohol in Moderation for more information.
The French Paradox
The term, “French Paradox," became famous in 1991 on a CBS 60 Minutes report which said that, despite a diet of rich foods like butter, cheese and cream, a higher percentage of caloric intake from saturated fats and a less active lifestyle, the rate of heart disease among French people is among the lowest in the world.
Why? The French drink red wine regularly with their meals. This is apparently a factor in preventing and protecting against heart disease. How? The polyphenols in red wine alter the blood lipid levels, lowers the total cholesterol count and raises the high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. This keeps the blood vessels clean.
Dr. Curtis Ellison (Chief of Preventative Medicine and Epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine, and Director of the Institute on Lifestyle and Health at Boston University School of Medicine) was one of the researchers who participated in the 60 Minutes program. He and fellow scientist Dr. Serge Renaud of Lyon, France, provided original research data to show the benefits of moderate wine drinking and health. There have subsequently been hundreds of follow-up studies that demonstrate this relationship.
The French Paradox Revisited
News anchor Morley Safer updated his original segment and reported on an extensive new Danish study that found a strong association between moderate wine consumption and decreased mortality. The new report also re-confirmed the association between wine and health, with noted scientists explaining that the amount of supporting data has dramatically increased in the past few years. Read more at Danes Solve the French Paradox.
Wine & Heart Health Redux
Dr. Michel de Lorgeril of the Université Joseph Fourier in Grenoble, France, and his colleagues conducted a study which concluded that men who survive a heart attack and who drink 2-4 glasses of wine per day are less likely to experience a second heart attack than men who abstain from drinking. The study, reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association 2002; 106, can be found at Wine Prevents Repeat Heart Attack
Wine & Cancer
According to a Reuters Health report released on July 9, 2002, recent research from Spain has shown that five polyphenols (antioxidants found in red wine, tea and some vegetables and fruits) inhibit prostate cancer cell growth. The study may help explain why the incidence of this disease is lower in Mediterranean countries where consumption of red wines and other foods containing polyphenols is higher.
Wine & Other Diseases
Other beneficial effects of moderate wine drinking versus abstention have been reported in scientific journals around the world. Some of these positive effects include:
- An increase in bone mineral density and reduced risk of osteoporosis, and related fractures
- Lower incidence of gall bladder disease and kidney stones
- Lowers rates of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Reduced risk of infection from many types of bacteria and viruses
- Longer life expectancy
For an article on this topic, visit
Wine Improves Overall Health