Is Wine Good for Health?
A CBSC report on the “French Paradox” brought to the attention of the general public the existence of a link between moderate intake of wine and a decrease in the occurrence of coronary heart disease. It was observed that the French, though fond of cigarettes and fatty foods, rarely suffered from heart disease. Their habit of drinking wine between meals was believed to be linked to this.
Studies have shown that a moderate consumption of wine reduces the risk of heart attacks. It also prevents another heart attack in case you have already suffered one. There are two types of cholesterol in the body—the good type and the bad type. It is the bad type that causes heart disease, and the good type removes the bad type. Wine is believed to comprise certain antioxidants, such as flavonoids and resveratrol, which bring about a balance between the two.
Moreover, red wine is said to improve digestion by producing gastric juices. Sometimes, digestion is hindered when the body refuses to secrete sufficient hydrochloric acid. In such cases, doctors advise people to take a glass of wine to aid digestion. Wine is rich in sugar, vitamins, and minerals and has a lot of nutrients. It is also believed to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
According to BBC news report, a study conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Buffalo reveals that drinking certain varieties of white wine might keep the lungs healthy. Certain nutrients, present in the wine, are believed to produce this effect. In addition to this, a group of researchers at the University of Montpellier in France have been victorious in creating a special white wine, called Paradoxe Blanc, which can prevent heart diseases, just like red wine. Needless to say, the wine has been named after the famous “French Paradox”.
However, the story appears to be two-sided. No proof exists that wine is more beneficial than moderate amounts of other types of alcohol. Moreover, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have made a better study of the “French Paradox”. It has been found that the French take smaller portions of food in comparison to their American counterparts. This could also be a possible reason for the lower percentage of heart diseases among the French.
Filed under: France
