Alcohol and health

Posted by admin | Posted in Food | Posted on 24-06-2010-05-2008

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Red wine is a beverage enjoyed by millions throughout the world; the perfect accompaniment to many various foods as well as being an enjoyable beverage to sup by itself.

To the enjoyment of numerous a red wine-drinker, the beverage has many health advantages too. Health benefits were first suspected due to what is known as the ‘French paradox’; that is, the reality that in France people dine a very elevated fat nourishment such as foods like foie gras and cheeses being eaten up in large quantities, yet occurrences of coronary heart ailment are comparatively low.

Research into this paradox led to the estimation that it was French people’s consumption of red wine that was guarding their hearts from the saturated fat they eat. When this information was aired on television in 1991 in the United States, selling of red wine raised by 44 per cent. EnsuingĀ  studies have suggested that the quantity of heart malady in France could have been underestimated, but there is still no disclaimer the red stuff does truly have some excellent health advantages.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is the star of the display when it comes to vintage wine. This strong antioxidant is found in the skins and seeds of red grapes and has an anti-clotting consequence on the blood which can lower the hazard of stroke and heart attack.

Resveratrol is also a phytoestrogen, meaning it imitates estrogens in the body and accordingly may assist conditions caused by decrement in natural estrogens in the body, like the menopause, osteoporosis, breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

This antioxidant has also been found in studies to increase the quantity of proper cholesterol, HDL, in the blood, and lessen the quantity of unhealthy cholesterol, LDL.
There are other antioxidants contained within the wine that are thought to have similar protective advantages, including saponins which may provide preventive heart benefits, catechin, which is thought to diminish the hazard of heart ailment, and guercetin which is being studied as a preventative against lung cancer. Farther scientific research is needed anyway on these antioxidants before any conclusive claims can be made.

One specific study, extensively reported in the media, suggested that Cabernet Sauvignon may in fact offer the greatest health benefits of the red wines.

Medium consumption

Of course, the advice for consumption of red wine, as with any alcohol, is to drink it in modesty; one or two little glasses a day, lest the alcohol content will overrun any health-giving benefits the wine presents to the body.

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