Is Red Wine Actually Good for You?

The French Paradox: Is Red Wine Actually Good for You?

The French consume diets much higher in fat (especially saturated fats) than we Americans, yet they are thinner than we are and have less heart disease. This has been nicknamed “the French Paradox.” In 1991 the television program 60 Minutes speculated that French people’s consumption of red wine may be responsible for their low incidence of cardiac disease. Americans jumped on the bandwagon; red wine consumption in the United States rapidly increased 44%.

Is the Proof in the Wineglass?
So, are the French slender and do they have better heart health because they drink red wine? Is the instance of heart disease less than that of the U.S. or France’s European neighbors? Science demands proof, so there have been a number of studies on the French Paradox. The facts uncovered are what scientists call “equivocal,” that is, they both support and dispute the French paradox.
· The World Health Organization collected statistics from 1990–2000 which suggest that the incidence of heart disease in France may have been underestimated, and may in fact be similar to that of neighboring countries. In other words, maybe there is no actual paradox! · Resveratrol, a component in red wine, has been touted for its amazing health benefits, but a 2003 study showed that red wine drinkers absorb such a small amount of resveratrol that it is unlikely to have much effect.
· Red wine also contains polyphenols, also known as oligomeric procyanidins. Polyphenols are believed to offer a great degree of protection to human blood-vessel cells. Grapes with the highest concentrations of procyanidins are found in southwest France. However, procyanidins are also found in other sources, such as a red delicious apple (which has enough procyanidins to equal two small glasses of red wine).

The Line

Some studies show that moderate consumption of alcohol in any form (beer, liquor, wine) may improve cardiac health. However, excessive drinking of any alcohol beverage has harmful effects both in the short term and the long run. Experts disagree on where to draw the line between healthful, moderate consumption and excess.

Culture

There may be another explanation to the French Paradox outside of red wine. For example, the French do not eat junk food and overeating is not part of their famous culinary culture. Furthermore, the average French person walks far more than the average American just in the course of everyday life (going to work, shopping, going to school).

Meals

Having wine with a meal implies that the food is being savored in a relaxed way instead of being received through a car window and consumed while negotiating traffic. The Frenchseem to be eating less and enjoying it more. This may explain the French Paradox!

Coffee

An unexplored source of the French Paradox may be in the espresso cup. Many French people consume five or six daily servings of unfiltered espresso. Could that be part of the answer?

How the French Do It

What’s the Verdict?
The French Paradox may not be all that paradoxical. The French have a very different lifestyle than the Americans, and part of the French way of life includes some very real health benefits.
Here is how the French do it.
· Avoid junk food
· Don’t snack
· Walk a lot
· Eat great food but eat it slowly and savor it
· Never eat in a rush
· Never get your food through a little window
· Have a cup of espresso

American Diet

Americans who try to get the benefits of a French-style life cannot accomplish this by adding red wine to their diet. If you eat a lot of junk food, overeat, and live a sedentary life, there are not enough polyphenols in the world to fix that. Just adding some red wine to your diet is not going to help you.

Potential Dangers

While there may be benefits in an occasional glass of red wine to help you relax, slow down, and savor your meal instead of wolfing it down, there are also some potential health dangers in red wine:
· If you a migraine sufferer, know that red wine is one of the most common triggers for headache
· Any form of alcohol has a dehydrating effect and hydration is a key to well-being and health
· Drinking alcohol can decrease your inhibitions, meaning it is much easier to go off your healthful diet after a glass or two of wine
· Certain medications should not be taken with alcohol, so make sure you are not taking something that could result in a potentially serious drug-alcohol interaction
· Some people have trouble limiting their alcohol consumption, and if this is you, you are better off avoiding it altogether

Jo Ann LeQuang is a professional writer specializing in medical topics and a Christ-follower who blogs at AWretchLike.Me.