Wine Not? The Health Benefits And Dangers Of Your Wine Drinking Habit

Good news for wine lovers: your favourite alcoholic beverage could be doing you more well than harm. The health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, and wine drinking specifically have been known for some time. But before you get too excited about that next drink, remember that alcohol is a double-edged sword and unless moderation is applied, the dangers outweigh the benefits.

For example, a glass of wine every 2 weeks is not going to give you enough benefit and neither is drinking more than the recommended 2 glasses for men and 1 glass for woman at each drinking session. Alcohol is still a toxin, and has many other risks associated with it. Alcohol is both a tonic and a poison- with antioxidant and heart protective benefits on the one side and raised triglycerides, increased cancer risk and liver problems on the other. And if you don’t already drink, it’s definitely not time to start! There are many other ways to raise your antioxidant levels, for example by eating more plant foods and drinking tea. But for people who do enjoy wine, this is the guide to making sure you reap the benefits and avoid the repercussions.

What is moderate drinking?

Moderate drinking means no more than:

• 2 drinks/day for men
• 1 drink/day for women

One drink is equivalent to:

· 340ml beer
· 120ml wine
· 60ml sherry
· 25ml spirits (whisky, brandy, vodka, gin etc.)
· 25ml liqueur

Nutritional value of alcohol

Each gram of alcohol contains 7 calories (or 29.4 kilojoules). To put that in perspective a gram of fat contains 9 calories (37.8 kilojoules) and a gram of either carbohydrate or protein contains only 4 calories (16.8 kilojoules). So gram for gram, alcohol is more calories dense than carbohydrates or proteins are. If you're watching your waistline, cutting down on alcohol will help to reduce calorie intake.

The energy provided by an alcoholic drink depends on the percentage of alcohol it contains, but also on the type of drink it is. As a rough guide:

• A 340ml can of beer is about 148 calories (622 kilojoules)
• A regular tot of spirit contains around 55 calories (231 kilojoules)
• A standard glass of dry white wine or red wine is about 115 calories (483 kilojoules), and sweet wine is about 165 calories (693 kilojoules)
• A creamy liqueur contains around 163 calories (685 kilojoules) per 50ml serving, while the same amount of sherry or port contains around 60 calories (252 kilojoules) a glass

See Also: French Paradox - Does Wine Really Help To Live Longer And Healthier?

The Health Benefits of Wine Drinking

Wine And Heart Disease Prevention

Alcohol consumed in moderation may help reduce the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular events. This link was first explained using what is known as the “French Paradox”. The French diet is considered to be very high in fat, and particularly in saturated fat. Despite this, the death rate from coronary heart disease (CHD) remains relatively low. Researchers thought that it might have something to do with the high intakes of fruit and vegetables as well as alcohol (particularly wine) in the French diet. Red wine in particular contains a flavonoid antioxidant called resveretrol, which is thought to be responsible for much of red wines benefits. A review study published in Endocrine, Metabolic and Immune Disorders June 2008 showed that moderate red wine consumption helps prevent metabolic syndrome and its related compilations, which include hypertension and elevated cholesterol. The review explains examples the role of resveretrol in mimicking calorie restriction and preventing the deleterious effects of excess food intake on insulin resistance.

Moderate Wine Consumption Prevents Blood Clotting And Raise The Good Cholesterol

Studies have shown that alcoholic drinks in general, when consumed in moderation, help to thin the blood and prevent clotting and also raise the HDL (or “good”) fraction of cholesterol, which helps protect the heart and blood vessels against damage. (Metabolism, September 2008; Annals of Epidemiology 2007). Exercise is another good method for raining HDL cholesterol levels.

A 2014 report released by the Mayo Clinic looked at evidence over the past 15 years and concluded that habitual light to moderate alcohol intake is associated with decreased risks for total mortality, coronary artery disease, diabetes, heart failure, and stroke. 

Reduced Risk of Diabetes

Despite wine being made from grapes, a sugary fruit, alcohol actually lowers blood sugar rather than raising it. In addition wine, and red wine in particular. Has a relatively low glycemic index compared to other alcoholic beverages, which means it raises blood sugar more slowly. A large 2011 Harvard study of about 38,000 middle-aged men found that when those who drank moderately (around 2 drinks per day), dropped their diabetes risk by 25%.

Improved Cognition

In moderation wine might actually sharpen the mind and even prevent dementia. Results from the Nurses Health Study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005, which looked at the health of 11,000 older women showed that moderate drinkers (those who consumed about one drink a day) lowered their risk of mental decline by as much as 20 percent, compared to non-drinkers. In addition, older women who drank moderately were found to benefit the most from moderate drinking.

The Health Dangers of Wine Drinking

Despite the protective effects of alcohol on the cardiovascular system, excessive drinking has a negative impact on other CHD risk factors. Alcohol raises blood levels of a fat called triglycerides, which is often raised in people with heart disease or diabetes. High triglycerides levels are also associated with fatty liver disease, which is also made worse by alcohol consumption in general. High triglycerides have also been identified as a risk factor for heart disease. In addition, excessive drinking raises blood pressure, an independent risk factor for heart disease and strokes. People with raised triglycerides or hypertension should exercise extreme caution when choosing to drink because sometimes even moderate drinking can affect these risk factors. The 2014 Mayo Clinic study also found that any protective effects on heart disease where reversed when alcohol consumption became excessive.

See Also: Surprising Benefits of Red Wine

People who drink to excess need to be concerned about more than just their brains and their hearts. A report published by the World Cancer Research Fund on November 2007 found that alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, colon (especially in men) and breast. Alcohol is metabolized primarily in the liver. In small amounts the liver does a good job of detoxifying alcohol and removing it from the blood, thus preventing the alcohol from accumulating in body tissues. In large amounts, however, alcohol can damage body tissues, particularly the brain, which has been linked to dementia and cognitive impairment. With high doses of alcohol, the liver suffers, which is why alcohol is a leading cause of an irreversible liver scarring called cirrhosis. Drinking in excess also increases such dangers as alcoholism, suicide and accidents.