HOW MUCH WINE IS HEALTHY?

It is difficult to give a definite to this questions since the effect of alcohol on the human organism is influenced by a number of factors.

Given that there are no indications against a moderate yet regular consumption of wine, it can be assumed that adult women can enjoy an average daily quantity of 0.25 l (Approx. 20 g of alcohol) and adult men 0.4 l (Approx. 30 g of alcohol) of a wine containing 10 vol. % alcohol.

It should, however, not be forgotten that the beneficial effects of wine are achieved by enjoying moderate amounts of wine regularly rather than larger quantities within a short space of time.

THE HEALTHY ENJOYMENT OF WINE

It has long been a known fact that people who live in wine producing regions are less likely to die from circulatory diseases than elsewhere. This, the so-called "French Paradox" was last confirmed in a survey carried out by Prof. Renaud in the 1980's and has, in the meantime, received international recognition.

A study carried out over a period of 12 years by the Institute for Preventative Medicine at the University of Copenhagen in 1995 on 6,051 men and 7,234 women between the ages of 30 and 70 came to the dramatic conclusion that the rate of mortality was reduced commensurate with an increase in the moderate consumption of wine. In other words

On average, wine drinkers live longer

since they are less likely to suffer from cardiac problems than other comparable groups. The Danish researchers were not able to find a similar effect with consumers of beer or spirits nor with people who were completely abstinent.

It is however not just the alcohol content of a wine which has a beneficial effect on health, it is moreover a combination together with other natural substances contained in wine. A study carried out in 1998 by Prof. Serge Renaud in Nancy examined 34,000 French males between the age of 40 and 60. The regular wine drinkers ( 2-3 glasses per day ) in this group displayed not only a lower mortality rate than the heavy drinkers but also lower than those who were completely abstinent. They also showed a lower risk of cancer although alcohol abuse can encourage the outbreak of certain forms of cancer.

WINE AND DIETING

The American scientist. Lolli, discovered in 1962 that patients trying to lose weight lost noticeably more if they drank wine with their meals. These observations have been supported by studies out by Prof. Keul and Prof. Jung who observed that wine drinkers lost weight when consuming white wine regularly. A moderate drinkers of wine ( 1-2 glasses of wine during dinner ) should therefore be able to lose weight more successfully than when dieting without wine.

WHITE OR RED WINE?

Many people are of the opinion that only red wines have a beneficial health effect, however, current studies indicate that the moderate consumption of white wine can be just as beneficial.

An initial pilot project carried out by Prof. Belz in 1996 showed that the cardio-vascular system is also protected by the moderate consumption of white wine.

The Freiburger Weinstudie, conducted in 1996 by the renowned sports physician, Prof. Josef Keul confirmed the positive cardio-vascular effects of white wine. The study showed that when the male participants consumed 0.5 l per day of a white wine with an alcohol content of 10%, there was a positive effect on both the fibrinogen content and fat levels of the blood and on the blood pressure. In addition, no changes were detected in the composition of the blood which would indicate a negative effect on the liver of regular, moderate wine drinkers.

The Mainzer Weinstudie carried out by Prof. Klaus Jung in 1997 also emphasized the beneficial effects of a moderate consumption of white wine. Prof. Jung compared three groups; one drinking water; one drinking white wine and one drinking red wine. After a daily, individual consumption of 0.4 l over a period of 8 weeks, the results indicated that, whilst red wine had a direct effect on the risk factors in the blood stream itself, white wine provided an exceptionally good protection for the heart.

For this reason wine drinkers can rely on their natural preferences when selecting a wine. Above all, it should not be forgotten that wine is a complex natural product with more than 1,000 individual components, many of them working together to achieve the desired beneficial effects.

Enjoy the wine you prefer to drink!

[ How does the Human Body React to Regular Moderate wine consumption? ]