Health Articles : Heart Disease
Heart Disease : Red Wine And Heart Disease
Well apart from the knowledge that wine appeals to the heart, medical evidence and research suggests that consumption of red wine in moderate levels can reduce chances of heart ailments.
Well, definitely, but lets look at a bit of history, the theory that red wine fights heart disease probably originated, from Burgundy area in France. People of these areas, were know to consume healthy amounts of red wine. They food habits in these areas were also rich... cheese, cream and fatty high cholesterol foods were very common with the populace. The remarkable part, was, that these people had distinctively lower percentages of heart diseases compared to people from the rest of the western world. French Paradox was the term used to define this unique phenomenon of a low heart disease turnout inspite of a high saturated fat diet. This French Paradox led to the hypothesis that drinking red wine reduces risks of heart diseases. How far this is true or proven, remains a subjective issue.There are other factors also which need to be borne in mind, these people of Burgundy, also had a diet very rich in fruits…!
Studies across the medical fraternity, over decades have tried to establish a connection between alcohol consumption and low mortality due to heart diseases. Red wine has starkly stood out because it is known to contain flavonoids and some oxidants that reduce the risk of heart disease.Grapes, red grapes are also a source of these elements. So the question, does red wine protect against heart disease, remains. The answer is maybe...Moderate levels of consumption can be defined as one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. A bottle of red wine contains about 8 standard drinks. The safe upper limit for men is about 1/3rd bottle a day and for women, just about 1/5th is enough. Red wine might also reduce the chances of another attack if a person has suffered one already.
In general, a moderate alcohol intake increases the HDL (good cholesterol) levels, while simultaneously reducing LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. In addition, red wine has antioxidants which along with about 200 other phenolic compounds, combine to provide the protective shield. The oxidants slow down the cell oxidation process, which by itself is a threat to the heart and its parts.Red wine also helps prevent blood clots thereby minimizing chances of blood vessel damage. Though conclusive data on trials on humans may not be available, medical scientists have conducted trials on rabbits and mice to lend credence to the theory. Other compounds found in grapes and thus in red wine is resveratol and flavonoids which do the similar functions.
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Let us not forget that red wine also contains alcohol. Alcohol consumption in excess, can increase triglycerides and result in weight gain due to its empty calories. Other studies also suggested that alcohol consumption is associated with cancer risk.Non-alchoholic people should have no incentive to start drinking red wine, may we suggest red grapes instead.
While, more research is needed for definitive conclusions, the scientific consensus is that “Red Wine, in moderate consumption, is good for the heart and health”.
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