The health benefits of drinking wine are becoming more notable and recognizable across the medical and food industries. Benefits such as longer life, reduction of risk of heart attack and stroke are appealing to many people, but doctors are reluctant to advise nondrinkers to start drinking.
We hear every year about additional benefits of drinking wine, but are they real? Let’s take a look at information found in an article on FoodandWine.com.
Health Benefits of Drinking Wine
The Benefit: Longevity of Life
According to a Finnish study published in the Journals of Gerontology in 2007, 2,498 men were studied over a 29-year period of time. The results showed that wine drinkers have 34 percent lower mortality rate than those men who drink spirits and beer. Can we tell my husband this? HaHaHa! He loves his beer!
The Benefit: Reducing Risk of Heart Attacks
I have family members who suffered a single heart attack and it was fatal within 24 hours. So this 16-year Harvard School of Public Health study of 11,711 men appeals to me. It was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2007. The results showed moderate drinkers suffering from high blood pressure are 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack than nondrinkers.
The Benefit: Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
Did you know the tannins in red wine contain procyanidins, a compound found in red wines. These compounds are good for blood vessels which in turn protect against heart disease. According to an article in MedicalNewsToday.com, wines from Sardinia and southwest France have more procyanidins than other wines. Most notably this is because those wines are still made in the traditional way. Source: a study at Queen Mary University in London, published in Nature, 2006.
The Benefit: Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is running rampant in the United States. People are obese and not in good physical health. Doctors are concerned, however the public is not taking the risk seriously. But there are people preventing the development of type 2 diabetes by being a moderate drinker. According to research done on 369,862 individuals over an average of 12 years each, moderate drinkers have 30 percent less risk than nondrinkers of developing type 2 diabetes. Source: Amsterdam’s VU University Medical Center, published in Diabetes Care, 2005.
The Benefit: Lowers Risk of Stroke
We all know the signs of stroke. It is posted on the wall at the doctor’s office. But one sign you won’t see on the wall at the doctor’s office: 50% Reduction of Stroke Risk: Consume Alcohol Today. While we have the evidence based on a 2006 Columbia University study of 3,176 individuals over an eight-year period. The possibility of suffering a blood clot–related stroke drops by about 50 percent in people who consume moderate amounts of alcohol.
The Benefit: Cuts Risk of Cataracts
It seems the right of passage to getting older is cataract surgery. I am not sure if it is because we are spending more time in front of electronic devices or if it may be early detection. But if drinking moderately reduces my risk by 32 percent versus non drinkers However, the study of 1,379 individuals published in 2003 in Nature showed those who consume wine are 43 percent less likely to develop than those drinking mainly beer. Again, a good one to tell the husband.
The Benefit: Cuts Risk of Colon Cancer
A major killer in the world of cancers is Colon Cancer. While it seems to take the individual quickly and painfully, to know that there may be a prevention method is heartening. Our family suffered this loss in my cousin. He was diagnosed at age 47 and dead at 49. Colonoscopies are for people 50 and older. My cousin stood no chance. It appears colon cancer is occurring in younger adults every year. The causes of colon cancer can be a multitude of factors. However seeing that moderate consumption of wine (especially red) cuts the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent gets a person thinking that receiving the health benefits this wine club I joined is actually a blessing in disguise. This study was done at Stony Brook University study of 2,291 individuals over a four-year period, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005.
The Benefit: Slows Brain Decline
Could this be a cure for diseases like dementia and Alzheimers? Such sad situations are seeming to be heard of in those of my parents’ generation. It affects an entire family when there is even one person suffering. It is so hard to watch. I don’t want you to think I am looking at this as taking this lightly. But you have to give some credence to this information. The Evidence: Brain function declines at a markedly faster rate in nondrinkers than in moderate drinkers. Source: a Columbia University study of 1,416 people, published in Neuroepidemiology, 2006.
Final Thoughts on Health Benefits of Drinking Wine
Finally I want to make sure everyone understands that everything is always in moderation. More is definitely not better. Enjoy the wines you drink. Have fun with pairing it with food. If you come across a “Red” wine you don’t like, remember, there are so many different reds. You can get Red Blends, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and many more. The fun is in the tasting. And to know you might have some health benefits to drinking wine in the long run.
Are you looking for suggestions on red wines to develop your palette? I would love to help you! May I suggest our Wine Club where you can now get 2, 4 or even 6 bottles a month! Now think of your friends’ health too. Better invite them over for some great wine, great food and the best company — YOU! Check out my site on Our Wine of the Month Club now.
