Do you enjoy a glass of wine?

I am going to talk wine! I’m sure you’re aware that red wine, and to a lesser degree, rose and white wine, contains “polyphenols”, which are thought to possess some excellent cardio-protective properties.

But how much is “healthy” and how much is simply “too much”?

Well, red wine consumption is never going to replace the well-proven and very effective advice of a healthy diet and regular exercise to reduce risk of disease, but it does appear that 2 small glasses (150ml each) a day, preferably at meal times, offers some additional health benefits. The list of health benefits is pretty impressive too, documented in a large body of research over 2 decades. I read a recent scientific paper titled “Moderate red wine consumption and cardiovascular disease risk: beyond the “French paradox“, which listed just how red wine (and all its antioxidant constituents) produces notable health benefits, which mainly target heart function and artery plaque formation. I’ve put the reference at the bottom, for those who might be interested in the “deep science”!

I’ve been learning a lot about wine recently, and have been introduced to the work of Professor Roger Corder. Roger Corder works at the cutting edge of medical research that focuses on the health benefits of polyphenols. He is a world “wine and health” expert, and his knowledge of wine, and viticulture is truly impressive. One thing I’ve learned from Roger is that red wine contains some of the highest levels of “active” polyphenol chemicals than any other food/drink. This is due to the fermentation/ageing processes of making wine, which actually increase the active substances known to benefit our health (particularly heart health) in several ways. I would really encourage you to read about Professor Corder and his work, especially his development of “The Intrinsic Quotient“, or IQ of a wine. The IQ is an index of red wine quality and a system for rating red wines based on the relative richness in grape polyphenols. Fascinating stuff, and very helpful for red wine lovers! By the way, Roger is the author of “The Wine Diet“, which focuses on gaining maximum benefit from the Mediterranean-style diet. I haven’t read this yet, but it is next on my reading list! Here’s the link – http://www.vinopic.com/index.php/roger-corder/

Do you suffer an allergic reaction to wine?
Well, I am one of the unlucky few who do! Which is why this piece of news caught my eye the other day… Low-allergenic wines could be a viable choice in the future, very welcome for those who enjoy a glass of wine (in moderation!) but knows it gives them the sniffles, sneezes or other wine-related allergy symptoms. For those of you who want to read more about that – just follow this link – http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101117121807.htm - By the way allergic reactions to wine are not all about the sulphite content of wine!

I really enjoy a glass of wine with a meal (actually how wine should be enjoyed), or on a weekend, but rarely drink more than 1-2 glasses, partly because of some of the reactions I can get to some wines. So the above is good news to me! Of course, having learned a lot more about the health benefits of wine (in the right amounts), as well learning more about wines and wine making around the world, I wouldn’t choose to “quaff” away for the sake of it, because I hate hangovers, and I care about my health, and want to live a long, healthy life! But… I do love a glass of wine… and LOVE a glass of champagne!

So, my little reminder to you here is this… If you enjoy a glass of wine, go ahead and REALLY enjoy it, knowing that it may actually be benefiting your health in more ways than you realise! However, along with this “reminder”, is another one… a reminder to drink in moderation - true moderation! 1-2 small glasses a day is a healthy amount to consume and preferably with food. This will help to negate the “blood-sugar disrupting” effects that wine can have (with the knock-on effects of craving the wrong foods, fat gain, and energy highs and lows - not what the doctor ordered!), and also helps to absorb the alcohol more slowly. This “reminder” is of course only if you want a glass of wine! There is no advise “out there” that says non-drinkers should start to regularly drink red wine. As long as you’re eating healthy, natural, nourishing foods (mainly in the form of fresh vegetables and fruits), keeping stress to a minimum, and/or taking part in regular stress-relieving activities, drinking plenty of clean water, and exercising regularly - you are most certainly caring for your physical and mental self in a very beneficial, and balanced way!

Reference:
Lippi G, Franchini M, Favaloro EJ, Targher G. (2010). Moderate red wine consumption and cardiovascular disease risk: beyond the “French paradox”.
Semin Thromb Hemost. 2010 36(1), 59-70. Epub 2010 Apr 13.

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