Wines and Your Health

All About Wines
In 1992 Harvard researchers included moderate alcohol consumption as one of the "eight proven ways to reduce coronary heart disease risk". However, research has suggested that specifically red wine is the most beneficial to your heart health. The cardio protective effect has been attributed to antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of red grapes.

In 1992 Harvard researchers included moderate alcohol consumption as one of the "eight proven ways to reduce coronary heart disease risk". However, research has suggested that specifically red wine is the most beneficial to your heart health. The cardio protective effect has been attributed to antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of red grapes.

Scientists believe the antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in three ways:

1. By reducing production of low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol (also know as the "bad"
cholesterol)

2. By boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol (the good cholesterol)

3. By reducing blood clotting. Furthermore,
consuming a glass of wine along with a meal may
favorably influence your lipid profiles following
that meal

Wine also contains minerals and natural sugar that are often beneficial to good health. Wine is also rich in Potassium (K) and low in Sodium (Na). Red wine has higher quantity of these minerals due to the fact that grape skin is used for longer time in fermentation process. Grape skin also contains Vitamin B. Due to higher volume of alcohol; wine helps with the production of gastric juices helping in digestion.

Wine contains antioxidant known as resveratrol. It is found in grape skin and thus it is also found in Red wine. Studies suggest that resveratrol lowers 'Bad' cholesterol(LDL) while raising 'Good' Cholesterol(HDL). Another study indicated that resveratrol aided in the formation of nerve cells, which experts believe may be helpful in the treatment of neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Resveratrol has also shown that it could extend lifespan of yeast cell by 50-80% and researchers are hoping that it will have similar effects on other cells, worms and even humans.

While these are good things, you need to be aware that consuming large amounts of wine will increase insulin levels and eventually will have a negative impact on your health. In fact, drinking two or more glasses (of wine or any alcoholic beverage) may offset the benefit and increase your risk of certain cancers. And people with a history of alcohol abuse or liver disease should not drink alcohol at all. Also, people with diabetes and hypertension should limit their intake of alcohol. Recommendations to consume moderate amounts of wine are limited to individuals with a clean bill of health. It is clear that people with medical and social conditions worsened by alcohol should not consume any alcohol at all. Hypertryglyceridemia, pancreatitis, liver disease, uncontrolled hypertension, depression and congestive heart failure are diseases that may be worsened by alcohol. Those individuals at risk for these conditions should consult with their physician before consuming any alcohol at all.

Another question might be about the type of wine that is more beneficial. Researchers at the University of California, at Davis tested a variety of wines to determine which types have the highest concentrations of flavonoids. Their results concluded that the flavonoid favorite is Cabernet Sauvignon, followed closely by Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir. Both Merlots and red zinfandels have fewer flavonoids than their more potent predecessors. White wine had significantly smaller amounts than the red wine varieties. The bottom line is the sweeter the wine, the fewer the flavonoids. Dryer red wines are your best bet for a flavonoid boost.

Some people question sulfites in wine? Even though some people do report headaches from the sulfites, they are usually considered safe. Concern about sulfites and anemia stems from the fact that extremely high sulfite concentrations result in the formation of Heinz bodies. Heinz bodies are small pockets of denatured or nonfunctional hemoglobin on the surface of red cells. Anemia can result from the formation of large number of Heinz bodies. The concentration of sulfites required for Heinz body formation is several thousand times higher than the amount of sulfites available in a diet. Some sulfites occur naturally in beer and wine and some are added as preservatives of color and appearance. For most people, sulfites, even in large quantities, are not harmful. This has led the FDA to list sulfites on their GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) list. Therefore, it is unlikely that the sulfites contained in one glass of wine per day would have any adverse effects on anemia.

One should be aware that sulfites are frequently added to prepare foods such as salad bars and other foods at restaurants. It is likely that a restaurant meal will contain two to several times as much sulfite as a glass of beer or wine. One should also know that some people are hypersensitive to sulfites and should limit all exposures to sulfites.