Why drinking Red wine may be beneficial to health
There is a lot of debate concerning the consumption of red wine and the health benefits associated with it. We know for a fact that excessive drinking is associated with chronic diseases and cancer, but we will explore in this section if light to moderate consumption may offer any benefits.
Composition:
Red wine is prized for its content of polyphenolic compounds such as epicatechin, anthocyanins, procyanidins, catechin, tannins, and resveratrol. These agents may play a role in the health benefits.
The French Paradox:
Light to moderate drinking of alcohol in the French population has been observed. Though the traditional diet may have a higher content of saturated fat, the levels of heart disease are lower in France when compared to other western populations. This is not a conclusion but rather an observation.
Other observations:
Several studies have noted that with light-to-moderate alcohol consumption there is a higher level of cardioprotective HDL and less oxidative stress.
It is noteworthy to know that high intake of wine was associated with unfavorable levels of triglycerides, which is a lipid or fat in our body.
Red wine consumption was associated with an increase in Adiponectin, a hormone secreted by the adipose tissue that favorably affects health, by many factors, including decreasing inflammation.
Red wine consumption in moderate amounts was also associated with decreased insulin resistance, as seen in the metabolic syndrome.
Red wine consumption may also have a favorable effect on glucose metabolism. These benefits may be secondary to the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in the components that make up red wine.
The polyphenolic composition of the wine and hence its so-called beneficial effects depend heavily on the genetic makeup of the grapes, and their ripeness, the winemaking process, the soil, and the environmental conditions in which they are grown, so choosing the right variety is key.
Reviewing these observations, we see that red wine does offer some health benefits. I must caution that alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a cancer-causing agent. Alcohol can be a contributing causative agent for cancers of the mouth, throat, pancreas, stomach, esophagus (food pipe), liver, colon, rectum, and breast. This list includes some of the most prevalent cancers out there. Having said that, I would like to emphasize that knowledge is powerful, and I would encourage everyone to focus on what they eat and drink, and as always, live long and strong!
