Throughout history, regular drinking has often been portrayed as a negative thing for the mind and body. With studies linking excess alcohol consumption to health issues such as infertility, depression, anxiety and even life threatening conditions such as cancer, it seemed as though drinkers were destined to drink privately and guiltily. However, more recently emphasis has been placed on the health benefits of wines, particularly dry, full bodied red wines which are full of nutrients and antioxidants that may have been previously overlooked. Wine drinking plays a big part in Mediterranean lifestyle with most families enjoying at least one glass of wine daily with a meal. This, combined with other nutritional aspects of the diet, has seen numerous studies report that residents of the Mediterranean live longer (up to fifteen years longer according to one newspaper) and have far lower levels of depression and mental health disorders. Here are some of the ways in which drinking a small amount of wine daily can benefit the mind, body and soul.
Memory and brain health
Several studies have proven the health benefits that regular wine consumption can have on the brain. One of the most groundbreaking ones was the Tromso study which began in Norway in 1974. This seven year study followed the progress of regular wine drinkers and non wine drinkers with a variety of memory recall and cognitive tests. It was found that the wine drinkers continually displayed better results. This is partly down to the antioxidants within wine that promote good artery health leaving the path clear for neurons and signals to reach the brain quickly. These helpful little antioxidants can also reduce blood vessel inflammation and help prevent blood clots. Wine is also though to contain an enzyme (born in the grape) that can help ward off degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
The immune system
Moderate red wine consumption has been proven to work alongside the body’s natural defences as it contains components that kill off the bacteria that can cause food poisoning. According to Health Magazine, regular wine drinkers are 11% less likely to be affected by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria – responsible for causing serious gastric problems such as stomach ulcers and cancer. This only works when the wine consumption is moderate though – too much alcohol can leave the immune system weakened and therefore more susceptible to picking up infections.
The heart
Red wine is considered to be one of the most ‘heart healthy’ drinks that there are. This is largely due to a substance called Resveratol which is found in the grape skins. You can also find Resveratol in white wine or indeed in grapes on their own, but because red wine is fermented with the grapes for a longer period of time, it gives it a higher volume of the substance. Resveratol helps to reduce the ‘bad’ cholesterol in the heart and increase the ‘good cholesterol’. This helps to avoid blood clotting or clogged arteries and is therefore good at preventing heart disease. It is also thought to reduce the risk of heart attacks and protect you against another one if you have already suffered from one. Again, this is only when red wine is consumed in moderation – too much can raise blood pressure and have the opposite effect.
The bones
Studies indicate that between 1-2 glasses of wine a day in women who have gone through the menopause can help improve bone strength and density. This is because the alcohol appears to solve the imbalance between dissolving, old bone and the production of new bone that can lead to osteoporosis. In fact, some studies go as far as to say that non-drinkers are MORE likely to suffer from this condition. Wine seems to have a similar effect on brittle and thinning bones to the drug bisphosphonate which is taken by women worldwide to help promote bone strength.
Weight loss
Although alcohol and weight loss aren’t often thought to go hand in hand, it appears that those who enjoy a daily glass of wine can actually benefit from a lower body mass index and abdominal fat than those who binge drink occasionally or prefer to drink liquor. Alcohol may also help your body to burn extra calories after you finish it as your body hurries to metabolize it – so a post wine workout could be the ideal way to stay in shape.
Written by: Eve Pearce
William James Cellars 