Drink more wine- Why?
For centuries, wine has not only been the center of the dinner table, but offers great, effective health benefits as well. The licopene in red wine has been shown to be very good for the heart. Wine is also good for promoting relaxation and it is believed to have certain properties that make it a good antiseptic as well as allow it to tackle germs and bacteria. Hippocrates is said to have recommended certain wines for various ailments such as fevers and water retention. He also used it to disinfect and dress wounds. The acids and alcohols in wine have the ability to kill or inhibit the majority of the pathogens that plague humans. It was due to this that until the 18th century, wine was consider a safer drink than most of the available water.
When wine is incorporated into daily life, it can present a variety of health benefits. It is a mild tranquilizer which means it can work quite well in reducing tension, stress and anxiety. It can also infuse the boy with energy and offers enzymes that aid in digestion. Additionally, wine can stimulate the appetite. It can be particularly beneficial to the aged and the convalescent because it can help to restore a nutritional balance, relieve stress, sedate and work as a mild mood lifting agent.
Red wine is one of the most popular wines that offer great health benefits. Regular, moderate consumption of red wine is believed to be a preventative against some types of cancer as well as heart disease. Flavanoids, or catechins, are the chemical components that are believed to be responsible for this feat. These catechins act as anti oxidants and they prevent damage at the cellular level by inhibiting molecules that are called free radicals.
Two other compounds in wine, particularly red wine, are called resveratrol and quercetin. These compounds are also present in grapes, grape juice, tea and dark beers. They are not found in light beer and white wine. There is clinical as well as statistical evidence that indicates these compounds enhance the immune system, inhibit cancer formation, protect against heart disease and may even prolong life.
Studies are showing that these claims are indeed true. One such study was published in the 2004 American Journal of Physiology. It showed that resveratrol blocks a specific protein that is responsible for a condition called cardio fibrosis. Cardio fibrosis decreases the efficiency of the heart's pumping in times of stress or when it is needed the most. It is believes that this compound causes the small blood vessels to dilate, thus aiding in the prevention of clotting and angina. The alcohol in wine is also effective in helping to balance the body's cholesterol levels while helping to boost the "good cholesterol."
Other studies have shown that regular, moderate consumption of wine lessens the risk of peptic ulcers. They show that wine may even be a key player in ridding the body of the bacteria that is believed to cause these ailments. However, over consumption of wine seems to have an opposite effect in that the risks for ulcer are increases even if the over consumption is minor. Other benefits that various medical studies have recognized and attributed to wine consumption include a decreased risk of stroke, decreased risk of various cancers such as colorectal tumors and skin cancer, decreased risk of senile dementia and it may even ward off the common cold.
There have been literally hundreds of studies, more than 400, that lend plausibility to the positive health benefits that wine offers. These studies have been done worldwide and many have been long term involving large populations. All of these studies have concluded one thing for certain. That is that most healthy people who consume wine on a regular basis at a moderate level live longer. The only group that has been pinpointed that they should not drink any alcohol at all are premenopausal women who have a family history of breast cancer. The key words to keep in mind when you wish to reap the health benefits of wine are moderation and regularly. Over consumption can be far more harmful than complete abstinence, and in some cases it can actually have opposite effects and cause the conditions that it generally prevents.