The Medical Benefits of Red Wine
Created | Updated Sep 4, 2009
Red wine! Most people have at least tried it once - some can not stand it, others prefer beer to it, and a number of people love it - but what, exactly, is it? It mainly consists of water, namely to 80%; the rest is acerbity, alcohol, sugar, minerals such as magnesium, manganese and iron, as well as micronutrients like potassium, flavours and vitamins. Some of the constituents might be familiar from the periodic table of elements, but wine is much more than that…
Wine and Nutrition
An investigation in the year 1988 revealed that people from southern France suffer much less frequently from stroke, coronary and vascular diseases than people from northern parts of Europe. This is called the “French Paradox”. Nowadays we know that not only people from southern France, but from southern European countries, such as Italy, Greece and Spain, comply with this phenomenon . Although they smoke more, they are healthier. One reason for this might be their nutrition, even though their nutrition is not low-fat at all. Southerners eat a major amount of fish, vegetables, fruits and vast amounts of olive oil, but only little animal fat and meat. What is most important, though, is the glass of red wine that regularly accompanies their dinner. This can be seen as a cultural issue: they only drink one glass and hardly ever more than that; and they do not drink it on its own.
One frightening study suggests that the more north one lives, the higher the risk of dying from a heart attack gets. This might be ascribed to an unbalanced diet, which consists mainly of too much meat, and only a little amount of vegetables and fish and therefore a lack of the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, due to a lack of time and stress, people tend to eat ready-made meals and convenience food which contain too much trans-fat, instead of the much healthier olive oil. These trans-fats raise the cholesterol level and can lead to fat depositions in arteries, and in the worst case to a heart attack. The advantage of red wine drinkers in this respect is that wine helps to reduce the so-called “bad” LDL-cholesterol, but increases the “good” HDL-cholesterol up to 15%. In addition, it stops the trombocytes from adhering which, again, reduces the risk of a coronary heart disease. A completely different reason for Southerners being healthier and suffering less frequently from coronary might have to do with their nonchalance and serenity, but this is not to be covered in this essay.
The healthy amount
As the Swiss scientist Paracelsus already suggested hundreds of years ago is still valid today: “The dose makes the poison.”
Important, when drinking wine for an improvement of health is regularity but also the temperance, as too much alcohol on a continuing basis can cause liver damage and addiction to alcohol. According to an article about wine, the ideal daily amount is on average 0,2 l for women and 0,4 l for men. Nevertheless, this is only an approximate value and can differ from person to person depending on weight and physique. Another article highlights the fact that the consumption of two – at most three – glasses of red wine (and alcohol in general) per week should not be exceeded, and that women should only drink a third of what men should. In contrast, a French study from 1991 observed that participants with a daily consumption of 30-50 g alcohol – that is almost four glasses of wine – are 50% less likely to suffer from heart diseases than teetotallers. However, this is only valid in connection with a healthy lifestyle and diet, as well as regular exercise. In the UK the “unit” system tells that the amount which should not be exceeded per week is 14 units for women and 21 for men. This is about 10 for women and for men about 15 glasses of wine per week, if the average glass contains 125 ml (which equals 1.4 units).
Wine and Health
While the amount of red wine that should be drunk per week is disputable, it is a fact that the beverage has positive impacts on our health. This is mostly due to one component, which is probably the most important ingredient of red wine: the polyphenol resveratrol. For those of you who have not yet heard of this term: it is a part of the wine’s colour and flavour, and emerges as a reaction to ultra violet radiation, for example. Not only does it protect the grape, but also those who drink it. Red wine contains up to ten times as much resveratrol as white wine, simply because it is pressed with its peel and seeds. Additionally, it is often stored in oak wood barrels that contribute to the increase of resveratrol with tannin. Moreover, wine from colder regions like Austria and northern parts of Europe contains much more of it than wine from warmer regions; there are even distinctions between the grape varieties concerning the resveratrol content. This ingredient has a precautionary effect against cancer as it keeps cells from degenerating and blocks the growth of already degenerated cells. It is even said to prolong the life of cells, which means it has a lasting “anti ageing” effect. In addition, another constituent of red wine is the hormone melatonin, which is said to be the anti ageing hormone par excellence. Furthermore, the risk of thrombosis, “a condition in which the blood changes from a liquid to a solid state and produces a blood clot,” is decreased by the blood thinning effect of resveratrol. As mentioned before, it reduces the LDL-cholesterol and therefore the risk of heart attacks. Moreover, red wine reduces high blood pressure, has positive effects on digestion, reduces dental cavities, and supports stress relief.
Several studies have been carried out, which highlight the red wine’s positive effects. In 1997 an investigation on the effects of wine on Alzheimer’s disease confirmed that the daily consumption of two or three glasses of wine reduced the risk of the disease by 50%. Another surprising finding is that it does not only increase sexual desire, as a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2003 shows; it also increases the fertility: women that drink wine get pregnant faster. A Canadian study group discovered that the antioxidants which red wine contains help against periodontosis and other diseases of the mouth tract, as it reduces specific bacteria in the mouth. One more medical benefit of wine was discovered by the Swedish medical doctor Henrik Källberg and his research group from the Karolinska-institute in Stockholm; while participants that drank more than three glasses of wine per week suffered much less frequently from rheumatoid arthritis, participants that drank less than three glasses, or no wine at all, suffered from the disease twice as much. The epidemiologist Robert Ellison from the University of Boston and the Frenchman Dr Serge Renaud even go so far as to say that teetotalism is a risk for people with a heart disease.
Although this essay clearly focuses on the positive effects of red wine, the negative effects of alcohol have to be mentioned too.
Due to the histamine that wine contains, some people have allergic reactions, such as headaches, liver damage, circulation problems and problems with blood pressure. The content of histamine is one hundred times less than in foods such as cheese or in some sausages, and allergic reactions are likely to be the result of a combination of wine and these foods. Another content of wine that can cause similar allergic reactions is sulphurous acid, which is essential for an enhanced shelf life of wine.
Furthermore, a regular consumption of more than the recommended amount can lead to alcohol abuse and addiction. In fact, more than 4% of all adults in the UK are addicted to alcohol. Each year, alcohol –directly or indirectly – causes about 33,000 deaths only in the UK, and 17% of deaths on the road are caused by people drinking over the legal limit.
Short term health risks of alcohol can be, among others, anxiety, loss of consciousness, impaired judgment, and potentially fatal poisoning. (Link to A695405)
Moreover, pregnant women risk their children to suffer from FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) when consuming alcohol. While some studies suggest that this is only likely to happen in the case of alcohol abuse, women should completely give up alcohol during pregnancy to be on the safe side. (Link to A2788563)
While one can count the negative aspects of wine on the fingers of one hand, the World Health Organisation still warns of regular alcohol consumption – even in low doses.
Although only few medicines, which doctors prescribe with levity everyday, do have so many positive effects but few adverse reactions, wine is not yet an accepted and admitted medicine. Those, who enjoy drinking their daily glass of wine, will be pleased about the latest findings. Some others will dismiss it as “another opportunity to drink”. Finally, what should be considered in any case is the confirmed medical relevance and the positive impacts red wine can have on our health if drunk regularly and with temperance.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Antiaging News <http://www.antiagingnews.net/magazin/anti-aging-news-022008/laenger-jung-mit-der-rotwein-medizin.html> (10 April 2009)
Aok online <http://www.aok.de/bund/rd/90096.htm> (8 April 2009)
Defintion <http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&p=wlqAU.&search=Thrombose> (17 April 2009)
Drink Aware <www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/factsheets/alcohol-and-your-health> (30 June 2009)
Faz <http://www.faz.net/s/Rub7F74ED2FDF2B439794CC2D664921E7FF/Doc~EFCCA5C54672A4F59866101065274E6BF~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html> (15 April 2009)
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome <www2.potsdam.eduhansondj/FetalAlcoholSyndrome.html> (30 June 2009)
“Gesundheit in der Karaffe“. Salzburger Nachrichten 7 March 2009: XVll
Health <http://www.themen-tv.de/gesundheit/service-gesundheit/4388.htm> (19 May 2009)
Wine <http://www.usedom-exclusiv.de/fruehjahr2006/weingesundheit.htm> (8 April 2009)
Red Wine <http://www.wellness-hilfe.de/Detailed/Genussmittel/Rotwein-genussvolle-Medizin--99.html> (15 April 2009)
Wine and Nutrition
An investigation in the year 1988 revealed that people from southern France suffer much less frequently from stroke, coronary and vascular diseases than people from northern parts of Europe. This is called the “French Paradox”. Nowadays we know that not only people from southern France, but from southern European countries, such as Italy, Greece and Spain, comply with this phenomenon . Although they smoke more, they are healthier. One reason for this might be their nutrition, even though their nutrition is not low-fat at all. Southerners eat a major amount of fish, vegetables, fruits and vast amounts of olive oil, but only little animal fat and meat. What is most important, though, is the glass of red wine that regularly accompanies their dinner. This can be seen as a cultural issue: they only drink one glass and hardly ever more than that; and they do not drink it on its own.
One frightening study suggests that the more north one lives, the higher the risk of dying from a heart attack gets. This might be ascribed to an unbalanced diet, which consists mainly of too much meat, and only a little amount of vegetables and fish and therefore a lack of the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, due to a lack of time and stress, people tend to eat ready-made meals and convenience food which contain too much trans-fat, instead of the much healthier olive oil. These trans-fats raise the cholesterol level and can lead to fat depositions in arteries, and in the worst case to a heart attack. The advantage of red wine drinkers in this respect is that wine helps to reduce the so-called “bad” LDL-cholesterol, but increases the “good” HDL-cholesterol up to 15%. In addition, it stops the trombocytes from adhering which, again, reduces the risk of a coronary heart disease. A completely different reason for Southerners being healthier and suffering less frequently from coronary might have to do with their nonchalance and serenity, but this is not to be covered in this essay.
The healthy amount
As the Swiss scientist Paracelsus already suggested hundreds of years ago is still valid today: “The dose makes the poison.”
Important, when drinking wine for an improvement of health is regularity but also the temperance, as too much alcohol on a continuing basis can cause liver damage and addiction to alcohol. According to an article about wine, the ideal daily amount is on average 0,2 l for women and 0,4 l for men. Nevertheless, this is only an approximate value and can differ from person to person depending on weight and physique. Another article highlights the fact that the consumption of two – at most three – glasses of red wine (and alcohol in general) per week should not be exceeded, and that women should only drink a third of what men should. In contrast, a French study from 1991 observed that participants with a daily consumption of 30-50 g alcohol – that is almost four glasses of wine – are 50% less likely to suffer from heart diseases than teetotallers. However, this is only valid in connection with a healthy lifestyle and diet, as well as regular exercise. In the UK the “unit” system tells that the amount which should not be exceeded per week is 14 units for women and 21 for men. This is about 10 for women and for men about 15 glasses of wine per week, if the average glass contains 125 ml (which equals 1.4 units).
Wine and Health
While the amount of red wine that should be drunk per week is disputable, it is a fact that the beverage has positive impacts on our health. This is mostly due to one component, which is probably the most important ingredient of red wine: the polyphenol resveratrol. For those of you who have not yet heard of this term: it is a part of the wine’s colour and flavour, and emerges as a reaction to ultra violet radiation, for example. Not only does it protect the grape, but also those who drink it. Red wine contains up to ten times as much resveratrol as white wine, simply because it is pressed with its peel and seeds. Additionally, it is often stored in oak wood barrels that contribute to the increase of resveratrol with tannin. Moreover, wine from colder regions like Austria and northern parts of Europe contains much more of it than wine from warmer regions; there are even distinctions between the grape varieties concerning the resveratrol content. This ingredient has a precautionary effect against cancer as it keeps cells from degenerating and blocks the growth of already degenerated cells. It is even said to prolong the life of cells, which means it has a lasting “anti ageing” effect. In addition, another constituent of red wine is the hormone melatonin, which is said to be the anti ageing hormone par excellence. Furthermore, the risk of thrombosis, “a condition in which the blood changes from a liquid to a solid state and produces a blood clot,” is decreased by the blood thinning effect of resveratrol. As mentioned before, it reduces the LDL-cholesterol and therefore the risk of heart attacks. Moreover, red wine reduces high blood pressure, has positive effects on digestion, reduces dental cavities, and supports stress relief.
Several studies have been carried out, which highlight the red wine’s positive effects. In 1997 an investigation on the effects of wine on Alzheimer’s disease confirmed that the daily consumption of two or three glasses of wine reduced the risk of the disease by 50%. Another surprising finding is that it does not only increase sexual desire, as a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2003 shows; it also increases the fertility: women that drink wine get pregnant faster. A Canadian study group discovered that the antioxidants which red wine contains help against periodontosis and other diseases of the mouth tract, as it reduces specific bacteria in the mouth. One more medical benefit of wine was discovered by the Swedish medical doctor Henrik Källberg and his research group from the Karolinska-institute in Stockholm; while participants that drank more than three glasses of wine per week suffered much less frequently from rheumatoid arthritis, participants that drank less than three glasses, or no wine at all, suffered from the disease twice as much. The epidemiologist Robert Ellison from the University of Boston and the Frenchman Dr Serge Renaud even go so far as to say that teetotalism is a risk for people with a heart disease.
Although this essay clearly focuses on the positive effects of red wine, the negative effects of alcohol have to be mentioned too.
Due to the histamine that wine contains, some people have allergic reactions, such as headaches, liver damage, circulation problems and problems with blood pressure. The content of histamine is one hundred times less than in foods such as cheese or in some sausages, and allergic reactions are likely to be the result of a combination of wine and these foods. Another content of wine that can cause similar allergic reactions is sulphurous acid, which is essential for an enhanced shelf life of wine.
Furthermore, a regular consumption of more than the recommended amount can lead to alcohol abuse and addiction. In fact, more than 4% of all adults in the UK are addicted to alcohol. Each year, alcohol –directly or indirectly – causes about 33,000 deaths only in the UK, and 17% of deaths on the road are caused by people drinking over the legal limit.
Short term health risks of alcohol can be, among others, anxiety, loss of consciousness, impaired judgment, and potentially fatal poisoning. (Link to A695405)
Moreover, pregnant women risk their children to suffer from FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) when consuming alcohol. While some studies suggest that this is only likely to happen in the case of alcohol abuse, women should completely give up alcohol during pregnancy to be on the safe side. (Link to A2788563)
While one can count the negative aspects of wine on the fingers of one hand, the World Health Organisation still warns of regular alcohol consumption – even in low doses.
Although only few medicines, which doctors prescribe with levity everyday, do have so many positive effects but few adverse reactions, wine is not yet an accepted and admitted medicine. Those, who enjoy drinking their daily glass of wine, will be pleased about the latest findings. Some others will dismiss it as “another opportunity to drink”. Finally, what should be considered in any case is the confirmed medical relevance and the positive impacts red wine can have on our health if drunk regularly and with temperance.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Antiaging News <http://www.antiagingnews.net/magazin/anti-aging-news-022008/laenger-jung-mit-der-rotwein-medizin.html> (10 April 2009)
Aok online <http://www.aok.de/bund/rd/90096.htm> (8 April 2009)
Defintion <http://dict.leo.org/ende?lp=ende&p=wlqAU.&search=Thrombose> (17 April 2009)
Drink Aware <www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/factsheets/alcohol-and-your-health> (30 June 2009)
Faz <http://www.faz.net/s/Rub7F74ED2FDF2B439794CC2D664921E7FF/Doc~EFCCA5C54672A4F59866101065274E6BF~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html> (15 April 2009)
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome <www2.potsdam.eduhansondj/FetalAlcoholSyndrome.html> (30 June 2009)
“Gesundheit in der Karaffe“. Salzburger Nachrichten 7 March 2009: XVll
Health <http://www.themen-tv.de/gesundheit/service-gesundheit/4388.htm> (19 May 2009)
Wine <http://www.usedom-exclusiv.de/fruehjahr2006/weingesundheit.htm> (8 April 2009)
Red Wine <http://www.wellness-hilfe.de/Detailed/Genussmittel/Rotwein-genussvolle-Medizin--99.html> (15 April 2009)
