Raise Your Glass
To The Benefits Of Wine
“Wine to me is passion. It’s
family and friends. It’s warmth of
heart and generosity of spirit. Wine
is art. It’s culture. It’s the essence
of civilization and the art of
living.” Wine has many meanings
to Robert Mondavi, but I’ll bet
he would have been pleasantly
surprised to learn that drinking
wine can also provide health
benefits.
Wine consumption dates
all the way back to 3000 B.C.,
when researchers believe that
ancient Egyptians used wine
mixed with herbs as medicine to
treat stomach problems. Years
later in 400 B.C., Hippocrates
prescribed wine for digestion and
bladder problems. In the years
that followed, wine was believed
to provide several health benefits,
from preventing heart disease to extending longevity.
The benefits of moderate wine consumption has been a hot
topic for several years. According to the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans, moderate wine consumption is considered
having up to one drink per day for women, two drinks per day
for men. The primary ingredient behind these benefits lies in
resveratrol, an antioxidant found in some plants and in grape
skins. Resveratrol can also be found in blueberries, cranberries
and nuts. Though both red and white wine contain resveratrol,
red wine contains more because it is fermented with the skins
which allows it to extract more resveratrol than white wine,
which is fermented after the grape skins have been removed.
Aside from being a soothing way to finish off the day, studies
have shown that moderate wine consumption can offer several
benefits:
• Heart Health - The antioxidants in wine protect the lining of
coronary arteries and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation
in the body. This can help reduce the risk of heart attack,
coronary artery disease and heart disease.
• Raise the levels of good (HDL) cholesterol – A study
of moderate wine drinkers in Amsterdam showed they had
higher levels of “good” or HDL cholesterol levels because they
removed the “bad” or LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream
before they could clog the arteries.
• Prevent breast cancer – Red wine plays a primary role in
this benefit. Scientists explain that chemicals in red grapes
reduce the levels of estrogen while raising testosterone in
premenopausal women, resulting in a lower risk of developing
breast cancer.
• Prevent lung cancer - The quercetin in red wine works
against cancer cells, helping reduce your risk of lung cancer.
• Prevent dementia – Resveratrol has been shown to reduce
the stickiness of blood platelets, keeping the blood vessels
open and flexible. This helps maintain good blood flow to
the brain, helping to reduce blood clots and blood vessel
inflammation.
• Prevent osteoporosis – The risk of osteoporosis, agerelated thinning of the bones due to calcium loss, can be
reduced by moderate wine consumption.
• Youthful skin – Your evening glass of wine might be as
important as your skin care routine. The anti-inflammatory
properties in the phenols and flavonoids in red and white wine
can boost collagen, helping to delay wrinkles.
• Raise levels of omega-3 fatty acids – Usually found in fish,
omega-3 fatty acids protect against coronary heart disease.
Moderate wine consumption can trigger a boost in omega-3
levels in the body.
• Prevent colon cancer – The antioxidants in wine can aid the
good bacteria in your digestive system and help prevent colon
cancer.
• Reduce colds – Studies show that the antioxidants in wine
can play a part in reducing the risk of catching the common
cold or other germs.
• Extend longevity – Because of the health benefits from
resveratrol such as reducing cardiovascular disease and cancer
risk, studies have shown that this can play a role in extending
longevity.
Though moderate wine consumption provides benefits, these
benefits actually disappear with excessive wine consumption.
Moderation is key, like most things in life. Excessive wine
consumption can lead to high blood pressure, liver cancer and
bone thinning, among other conditions. Whether you enjoy wine
in red or white, raise a glass to some health benefits tonight.
vBy Julie Eickhoff
Sources: www.webmd.com, www.cnn.com, www.cdc.gov, www.health.com
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