When it comes to diet, France is famous for its rich foods. Over the past few decades, doctors and scientists wondered how the French could eat a diet with such a high content of saturated fat yet still have lower cardiovascular related deaths than other developed countries such as the United States. In 1991, 60 Minutes conducted a special report on what is now known as the French Paradox.
Researchers went to work to find out how this could be possible. To their surprise, the source was the French's consumption of wine with meals. The American Journal of Medicine, the American Journal of Physiology, and the Journal of Neuroscience were just among the few that conducted studies to uncover the health benefits of wine. During this time, doctors and scientists came to some delightful conclusions.
Studies Show Wine Reduces the Risks of:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Heart attack
- Colon cancer
- Type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Cataracts
- Improper lung function
Drinking moderate amounts of wine reduces the risks of these health concerns by at least 30%.
How to Reap the Benefits of Wine
Wine has specific rules for men and women in order to get the full health benefits. Just like with all nutritional consumption, men and women have different requirements that cannot be ignored.
Do:
- 1 for women and 2 for men 5 oz glasses of wine per day.
- Sip it slowly over dinner.
Do Not:
- Drink more than 1-2 5 oz glasses of wine per day.
- Save a glass a day and drink them all on the weekends.
Powerful Antioxidants Found in Wine
The nutritional value comes from the potent antioxidants found in wine. These antioxidants are called flavonoids. More specifically, the flavonoid quercitin is responsible for the positive effects. Quercitin modifies the body’s reaction to allergies, carcinogens, viruses and other illnesses by reducing the body’s response to inflammation.
Flavonoid antioxidants diminish DNA mutations that cause cell damage. This protects the body from devastating diseases such as cancer. These defenders create good cholesterol that makes blood flow easily through the arteries reducing the risk for blood clots.
Red wine has the highest concentration of flavonoids. If a selection must be made for health, choosing a red wine is probably the best choice. Although, the study completed by Dr. Holger Schunemannon on the positive influence of wine on lung function is related to the consumption of white wine.
In any case, a healthy yet moderate consumption of both red and white wine is beneficial to a person’s health and well-being. Scientific research and evidence clearly shows that wine drinkers have a higher level of protective antioxidants in the blood than non-drinkers.
Because there are over a hundred prescription medications that become inactive or have adverse effects if mixed with alcohol, some people should not drink. Other sources of flavonoids are found in dark chocolate, green tea, and dark fruits and vegetables. The most powerful fruits and vegetables containing the antioxidants found in wine are those that are dark red in color. These serve as adequate alternatives.
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