Science of Wine: The Health Benefits of Wine

It's no secret that Europeans who enjoy wine with meals often sport trimmer figures and more healthy hearts than their American counterparts. This is despite the fact that French cuisine is full of high-fat sauces and other indulgences, from cheese to red meat to butter-laden desserts.

 

Is there a subtle alchemy that happens when wine combines with rich foods? If so, how can it be incorporated into any diet?

Studies show a link between moderate wine consumption and a lower incident of coronary heart disease. Exactly how this happens is a subject of ongoing study.

 

Some scientists have found that consumption of alcohol with high-fat meals leads to a reduction in the creation of smooth muscle cells in the arteries. These smooth muscle cells can eventually lead to atherosclerosis, which substantially increases the risk for heart attack or stroke. Thus, the reduction of smooth muscle cells over time helps prevent heart disease.

 

Other researchers believe that wine or other alcoholic beverages actually act to slow down the digestive process and prevent some of the fatty content from ever entering the bloodstream.

 

In either event, studies have definitively shown that moderate wine consumption with meals decreases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the so-called "bad" variety, in the bloodstream. This leads to a whole host of beneficial effects, including a reduction in coronary heart disease and heart attacks.

Studies have also shown that some of the beneficial effects of wine cross the gender line. An increase in liquid intake has been shown by Harvard researchers to reduce the incidence of kidney stones. Out of the 17 beverages tested by researchers, wine came out on top as the leading risk-reducer, cutting a woman's risk of developing kidney stones by 59 percent.

 

Moderate wine-drinking women who are post-menopausal can also benefit from a lower risk of diabetes. Studies have shown that wine drinkers have lower insulin levels and respond more to insulin in the bloodstream, lowering the prime risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes.

Studies have shown that wine is distinct from beer or other liquors in reducing certain health risks, including stroke.

 

The unique methods involved in creating wine, which preserve the tannins and antioxidants found in grapes, may provide special benefits when consumed at mealtime. Many factors may combine to create the health benefits noted, including the overall lifestyle of moderate wine drinkers.

International studies have also been done to see if there is a correlation between drinking wine and living longer. Studies have been investigating the subtle effects of chemical compounds found in wine as well as antioxidants that abound in wine. Given the complex characteristics of wine, researchers have been trying to find the specific links between wine's smallest components and their individual benefits for wine drinkers.

 

What is known, however, is that the intricate interplay between moderate wine intake and the human body does result in positive health effects that lead to longer life. This has been shown in cultures around the world.

The newest research on the benefits of wine has begun to show a link between moderate wine intake and the reduction of certain cancers, including a reduction in upper digestive tract cancers as well as lung cancers.

 

The reduction in lung cancer, however, was not found in those who drank beer or spirits over wine. Research is continuing to see which properties distinct to wine could be having these particular positive effects.

 

Research also shows, however, that drinking in excess can actually increase the risk of developing cancer.

All studies discussed above factor in only moderate wine intake, as excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to health problems and negate any benefits that may be gained from drinking wine.

 

As with any of life's luxuries, alcohol should be enjoyed in moderation: Aim to drink no more than one to two glasses per day.