Wine Within A Healthy Lifestyle

As I follow the ongoing healthcare debate in Washington, it would be out of character if my thoughts didn’t once again turn to wine. Let’s allow our elected officials to work out the relatively minor details of deficits, the uninsured, and defining the government’s role while we turn our attention to the infinitely more important subject of wine in a healthy lifestyle.

The long running television show 60 Minutes first brought the subject of wine and health to the public’s attention with their story about The French Paradox. It was discovered that in spite of eating a relatively fatty diet that included items like cheese and paté, the French had low levels of heart disease. The explanation for this dietary “paradox” was that moderate consumption of red wine could actually lower one’s cholesterol.

Red wine contains a compound called resveratrol that in addition to being impossible to pronounce, actually helps fight heart disease. It is not unusual to have people come in to their friendly neighborhood wine shop asking about red wine because their doctor suggested that they have a glass with their dinner.

To discover that moderate consumption of wine could actually be healthy was nothing short of revolutionary in the country that brought you Prohibition. A Google search of the health benefits of wine drinking comes up with over 6 million hits. Clinical studies from around the world have linked moderate wine consumption to longer life expectancy, reduced risk of cataracts, reduced risks of colon cancer, and reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes in addition to the lower risks of heart disease. The pleasure of a nice glass of wine with a nice meal also certainly makes each day of that longer life just a little bit more enjoyable.

There is no question that the consumption of all types of alcohol, including wine, can be abused. However, it is nice to know that moderate consumption of wine certainly provides some benefits as well.

(Newtown resident and oenophile Steve Small is the general manager at Yankee Wine & Spirits on Queen Street.)