I have often wondered about the health benefits of Wine. In most countries around the globe, a glass of wine is acceptable for dinner. Have you ever heard of the French Paradox? The French Paradox is the observation that the French suffer a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease, despite having a diet relatively rich in saturated fats. The French dine on some of the richest foods in the world, yet the population as a whole is slim. Grapes and wine contain a natural antidote to MI and cancer, scientists report. This discovery could help explain the so-called “French paradox’ – the lower rates of heart disease and cancer in nations such as France, Italy, Spain.
In an article from MSN: Is wine good For you? – Thanks to its alcohol content and non-alcoholic phytochemicals (natural occurring plant compounds), wine has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and slow the progression of neurological degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. However, the amount of wine you drink matters tremendously. Drink more than what’s recommended, your health benefits are lost and your health risks go up.
It’s been well documented that moderate amounts of alcohol can raise your good cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and thin your blood. This is thought to be one of the primary cardiovascular benefits from wine (red and white), as well as hard liquor and beer.
Non-alcoholic phytochemicals in wine, such as flavanoids and resveratrol, act as antioxidants and prevent molecules known as “free radicals” from causing cellular damage in the body. Although some studies which have focused on the health benefits of resveratrol use much greater dosages than you’ll find in an average glass of wine, resveratrol has been shown to prevent blood clotting and plaque formation in arteries by altering lipid profiles and plasma viscosity. Findings from a recent study suggest that resveratrol can produce potent anti-thrombotic agents that can potentially improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk for coronary heart disease. In animal studies, resveratrol reduced tumor incidence by affecting one or more stages of cancer development.
All this information is good but there have been studies that show that binge drinking, causes coronary heart disease and other major health problems, so although one drink a day is good for you, when you over do it, it does the opposite and ends up causing damage.
Keep it healthy and don’t overdo it!