Red Wine Health

Article

Red Wine's Health Claims Are Nothing to Whine About
By T. J. Paul

Red wine has long been touted as a health elixir by the cultures and societies who have made and consumed it for ages. Modern research, and other observations, has pointed to this as having some merit. It contains resveratrol, gallic acid, and flavonoids in the form of catechins. Red wine also contains potassium, which is healthy for muscles and the heart, and some fluoride for your teeth.

The healthy limit for wine is thought to be one or two 5 ounce servings per day. Wine is good for improving cardiovascular health because the aforementioned reveratrol and flavonoids are healthy for blood vessels as well as reducing the sticking together and clumping of blood platelets, thus decreasing the risk of heart attack and stroke causing clots. HDL (good) cholesterol levels are also increased by red wine consumption. The antioxidants in red wine are beneficial in possible cancer prevention. With what is known about antioxidants' prevention of cell and DNA damage, an anticancer characteristic is more than mere speculation. Resveratrol has also been shown to slow the growth of cancer cells in a lab setting. Studies have also shown that drinking things like red wine, as well as other alcoholic beverages, in moderation, can result in a longer life span.

Another aspect of red wine, as well as some other spirits, is oak aging. Many wines are aged in oak barrels. Some other spirits are also aged in oak. So is Tabasco pepper sauce, by the way. Oak contains a potent antioxidant known as ellagic acid. Ellagic acid is a polyphenol antioxidant which is high in raspberries, cranberries, grapes, strawberries, pecans, walnuts, pomegranates, and other plant foods. It is also high in oak wood. Oak is the wood used for aging wine and spirits, and over a long aging it leeches into the aged wine or spirit. This is another reason why aged wine and spirits like cognac, other brandies, and whiskies can be a healthy addition to one's diet. Wine and brandy/cognac have a particularly high amount since they are made from grapes which already are high in ellagic acid. Ellagic acid has been shown to relax the blood vessel walls, thus producing a blood pressure lowering effect. Moderation is key because too much of this sort of thing has a multiplied unhealthy effect, such as increased blood pressure and heart or liver damage, so those who are prone to overindulging regularly would do well to just steer clear of alcoholic beverages entirely.

Wine can be a part of a healthy lifestyle if the rules of moderation are followed. Many aged people who come from wine consuming cultural backgrounds can testify to its fortifying and life enhancing properties. Cheers.

T.J. has been writing articles on many different subjects because his Bachelor of Arts degree imbued him with a love of knowledge in many different areas. His latest site is about electric coffee makers and Kitchenaid coffee makers which liven up any morning.

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