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Wine and Your Health

2009-03-09 13:10:35

By Stuart Glasure

During the 1990s, a physician voiced on a national TV show that drinking red

wine reduces heart disease. It made all the headlines. He cited the relatively

lower levels of the disease in France despite their ever so famously high fat

diets. Since that program, it seems that red wine health effects have been on

the forefront of the wine consumer s mind.

Good for the Heart

Coronary artery disease is caused by a build up of cholesterol in the arteries

that supply the blood to the heart. If the arteries get partially blocked the

heart cannot get enough oxygen and the result is pain. Does red wine protect

against heart disease?

Many studies suggested that moderate amount of red wine (one to two glasses a

day) lowers the risk of heart attack for middle aged people by 30 to 50

percent. It was also concluded that red wine may prevent additional heart

attacks if you have already suffered from one.

The cholesterol that blocks these arteries is called low density lipo-protein

or referred to as the bad cholesterol. This is cleared from the blood by high

density lipo-proteins or the good cholesterol. Moderate wine consumption

produces a better balance of these two. Additionally, wine has an

anti-coagulation effect which makes the blood less likely to clot.

Red Wines

Chemical and food experts have known for years that wine contains rich deposits

of vitamins

, minerals, and natural sugars that are often beneficial to good health.

Wine is also rich in potassium and low in sodium. Red wines have more of these

elements due to the juices longer contact with the grape skins. Red wines are

also rich in Vitamin B which comes from the grape skins as well.

Wine and Digestion

Wine aids in the production and flow of gastric juices. This facilitates

digestion by breaking down the food in the stomach quickly and effectively. For

many, after the age of 50 our bodies do not produce enough hydrochloric acid

that are needed for digestion. So many doctors, including my own, have

suggested a glass or two of wine with a meal. Who am I to complain?

Wine also has a tranquil effect on the body and helps people who have trouble

sleeping. And it does not stop there as it may help lower the risk of

developing dementia and Alzheimer s disease.

Wine and Calories

As of now, there is no such thing as a diet wine. Unfortunately, there is no

getting away from the fact that wine contains calories, and calories make you

fat if you do not burn them up. A glass of white or red wine contains around

100 calories. Sweeter wines that contain residual sugar as well as alcohol have

more calories.

Final Thoughts

When you put everything together you may decide that a little bit of wine does

you some good. Wine certainly has its place in a healthy lifestyle. That is my

conclusion, and I am sticking with it!

The Author

Stuart Glasure [Designer, Fashion Artist and creator of the Zany Wearables

Collection: http://www.zanygiftware.com/. A wine enthusiast and publishing

member of the wine source: http://www.winedefinitions.com/.]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/ .

Article Posted: April 11, 2006