Red wine

There’s good news and there’s bad news.

Good news first.

Red wine appears to have a special place in the world of alcoholic beverages. In considering differing mortality rates between the French and Americans, the so-called “French paradox”, research concluded that wine had a beneficial effect.

Despite fat consumption being more or less the same, the French habit toward daily, moderate wine consumption protected them against cardiovascular disease. It’s a complex beverage, the result of lengthy fermentation which produces changes in the chemical composition of the components.

The result is, among other things, polyphenols, of which resveratrol is the most interesting. This molecule, while comprising a very small part of wine, seems to be responsible for the health benefits.

And while many studies conclude that alcohol increases the overall risk of cancer, when wine is considered separately, the results differ dramatically. It was found that while an equal consumption of beer will increase your odds of developing mouth or esophageal cancer, wine has the opposite effect. In a Danish study it halved the risk of developing these cancers.

Now for the bad news.

While moderate consumption of wine (2-4 drinks per day for men, 1-2 for women) can benefit your health, more than that has a significantly negative effect on mortality and the development of cardiovascular disease. High doses of alcohol can also harm cells and increase the risk of developing cancer.

It is also true that a significant number of people who show up in emergency rooms are suffering from alcohol related injuries. This is especially important to consider if you are already suffering from any physical impairment.

Health benefits of red wine should not be considered a reason to celebrate excess. Regardless of the type of alcohol, over consumption is harmful to health. With potential side effects running from cardiovascular disease and cancer to social issues of drunk driving and domestic abuse, moderation is key.

If you don’t already drink alcohol, you don’t have to start. Many of the same benefits can be gained from eating red grapes as the compounds are found in the skin of the grapes. Unfortunately absorption by the body is not as good so the benefits may not be as great.

Grape juice is a reasonable substitute. Although concentrations of resveratrol are not as high as in wine, it contains other ingredients which have antioxidant properties. Thus it is quite a healthy drink in its own right.

What if you don’t like red wine?

Some people just don’t like red wine; many days I find it too heavy. I try to get a Burgundy when possible, Pinot Noir is nice. It’s lighter and can be enjoyed with many different types of food. Pinot Noir is a good choice anyway since the concentrations of resveratrol are higher than in other grapes.

Here’s a recipe you can try to lighten up a heavier wine and reduce alcohol content. Take 2 oz. of red wine, add 2 oz of 100 % pure cranberry juice and 2 oz of water. Yes, just plain water; sparkling is okay but try to stay away from soda. It’s really tasty and great for a sip in the afternoon.

Other juices work well too, such as a berry mixture, but I really prefer the cranberry as the color and taste play well into the notion that you’re having a glass of wine. It’s like “wine-lite” without any additives or processing.

I can hear the purists shuddering, but I’m not listening. It tastes good, it’s good for you and ultimately your health is all that matters. I will admit that it might be a crime to try this on a very special wine. So, don’t break the bank selecting a bottle to try this with.

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