The Health Benefits of Wine



By John ~ December 5th, 2008.

“Consuming wine in moderation daily will help people to die young as late as possible.” –Dr. Phillip Norrie

“Recent scientific evidence suggests that people who drink moderate amounts of wine each day are healthier and live longer than teetotalers.” –Malcolm Kushner

The French Paradox segment on 60 Minutes a number of years ago was something akin to the shot heard around the world in the wine world. In this segment, the reporter described the apparent unlikely relationship between the facts that while the French eat inexcusable amounts of heart-stopping, artery-clogging saturated fats, chain-smoke cigarettes, and exercise very little, they have one of the lowest heart attack rates in the world. Their moderate daily consumption of red wine was given as the most likely reason for this phenomenon. (Photo by byrdiegyrl)

Furthermore, according to an article by Jacob Gaffney in Wine Spectator, the red wine compound, resveratrol, may be good for the gums, too!

“While the taste of red wine may put a smile on your face, its chemical makeup may help keep it there, according to research from Canada.”

In lab tests, a team of scientists from Quebec found that resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine and known to be a potent antioxidant, slowed the reproduction and spread of two types of bacteria that cause gingivitis, and later, periodontal disease.

And in a recently published article also by Jacob Gaffney in Wine Spectator, it was reported that research has found that resveratrol reduces the amount of fat produced in the livers of mice fed dangerous levels of alcohol as well as increases the rate at which existing liver fat is broken down.

Following a 2001 study, Copenhagen’s Institute of Preventative Medicine declared that people who drink wine are healthier, smarter, and psychologically more stable than those who do not. That put a smile on my face.

For us personally, we have found that drinking wine with our meals has had another healthful benefit. It has helped us to slow down our meal, taking more time to digest our food, have good conversation, and as a result our meals have become a less-stressful experience.

In fact, most of our meals at home have become mini-wine tastings where we also blind-taste and compare a couple of new wines. That also enriches the conversation and is a learning experience as well.

In summary, here’s our recommendation for you. Make a daily habit of drinking red wine with dinner for the rest of your long and healthy life.

“A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.” –Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Note: We are not doctors. The above information is based on articles we have read and our personal experience. It does not constitute professional medical advice. Any decisions about your personal healthcare should be made in consultation with your personal healthcare professionals.


Filed under: General Wine Information

Reader's Comments

  1. mr wino | December 8th, 2008 at 7:48 am

    you have got to have wine with a meal its a must1

  2. John | December 8th, 2008 at 9:16 am

    Thanks for your second to our recommentdation.
    John

  3. debbie | April 13th, 2009 at 10:01 pm

    unless you’re drinking 10 bottles of wine a day or taking Resveratrol Supplements, i don’t think drinking the wine has much antioxidant benefits in humans (as oppose to mice, which the original trial were done on)