Close-up Of A Doctor
Wine, like many things in the culinary world, has been the subject of much controversy. Alcohol still remains almost universally condemned as providing no health benefits, but some of the other compounds in wine are thought to have health-promoting properties.
The Context
No matter the study from which the data were collected, the emphasis is on a moderate amount of wine. That is, one to two small glasses a day. Servings this size are enough to get the wine and its compounds into your body, but not large enough to greatly inebriate or truly have ill effects.
Benefits for the Heart
Wine Benefits by yashima
A benefit particularly visible with the consumption of red wine, perhaps due to the presence of tannins, wine drinkers tend to have better cardiovascular health. Even amongst cohorts with similar blood pressure risks, those drinking moderately had a lower chance of heart attack. In general, moderate wine consumption is positively associated with better cardiovascular condition.
Benefits for the Rest of the Body
Wine has the potential to less the incidence of Type-II diabetes as well as stroke. It is too much to say that wine has the capacity to prevent these conditions; the evidence is simply not strong enough to make such an assertion. However, as the consumption of wine increases, the cases of both Type-II diabetes and stroke decrease. At the very least, it is food and drink for thought. Cataracts, those nasty bits of build up in the eyes, are also negatively associated with wine consumption. So unless you’re looking forward to vision correction when you have cataracts removed, maybe consider a glass of wine with dinner.
Benefits for Life
Wine Benefits by coba
Wine has been associated with two more conditions, both of which involve all those previously listed: longer life span and better brain function. Wine drinkers have a lower mortality rate as compared to those drinking other forms of alcohol. Whether this is a separate effect or a combination of other factors is yet to be see.
Wine is also associated with fewer instances of Alzheimer’s disease and deteriorating brain function. Most Americans wish to live longer, but no one wants to end life unable to recognize life partners and children.
So long as wine is taken in moderation, the effects of the alcohol content are minimal. Whatever detrimental effects present even in that small amount are easily off-set by the possible benefits. While possible health benefits are not a reason to begin drinking, they are certainly a reason to consider switching from a can of beer to a glass of red. Just remember the next time you raise a glass to a friend’s health, you’re raising it for your own.
Comments on this entry are closed.