Wine related articles
Twelve Little-Known Medical
Facts About Wine
adapted
from a presentation by David Bruce, M.D. [Yes, the David Bruce!]
1.
Non-drinkers have approximately the same level of cardiovascular death
as heavy alcoholics. Moderate drinkers have about half this level.
Recently, strong evidence has been discovered to extend this 50%
protective effect to strokes (cerebro-vascular accidents). The existence
of this "U-curve" has been verified from the study of many different
populations from all over the world using many different study
technologies.
At least three factors appear to be at work here. The first is the
prevention or reduction in oxidation of that bad cholesterol, LDL (low
density lipoprotein), which reduces or prevents scarring of the artery.
The second is preventing the platelets from becoming sticky and thus
forming clots. The third is the production of nitric oxide, which causes
restricted blood vessels to open, allowing more oxygen-rich blood to
reach heart muscle or brain tissue.
2. Wine is a significant aid in the treatment of both anorexia and
obesity! The wine has to be dry (no sugar). Isn't this amazing? How can
this be? In obesity, 4 to 5 ounces is given at the major meal or at
bedtime. The average weight loss was twice as great as the controls in
the study. The explanation of this paradox appears to rest in relaxation
of anxiety and emotional tension. (Anorexia is a condition characterized
by excessive weight loss.)
3. Some afflictions of old age can be relieved by a glass of wine. The
majority of hospitals in California have wine on their menu. It really
can reduce the dependence on “heavies” like Thorazine. It's amazing what
a glass of wine can do for patients. Their faces light up. They feel
like socializing. Their appetite improves. Their self-esteem rises. They
have a flood of happy memories. In short, life is worth living.
4. Moderate drinkers are, on the average, of higher intelligence than
either non-drinkers or heavy drinkers. Moderate drinkers routinely have
higher education status than non-drinkers.
5. On the subject of that “Contains Sulfites” label: Did you know that
your body produces sulfites each and every day. In fact, every 24 hours
your body produces sufficient sulfite to require 100 bottles of wine to
be so labeled!!! Sulfite production is a normal by-product of most forms
of life. It is not surprising to discover that even yeasts produce
sulfites!
So... Even though wine makers who make wines that are completely
organic (i.e. uses no sulfite at all) still may need to label their wine
“Contains Sulfites.” Just keep in mind that most wines contain very
little sulfite. It is a non-problem for 99.9% of people.
6. True allergies to wine are extremely rare. This is my area of
expertise. I was a physician in active practice for 25 years, and I
actively looked for wine allergies. I never saw a single confirmed case!
Three examples of allergy to wine (or specifically to egg-white, a
fining agent used in wine) have been uncovered in a computer-aided
search of medical literature. It is that rare!
7. The Fetal Alcohol Syndrome occurs only in the chronic alcoholic. Hard
drug use, heavy smoking and undernutrition produce similar fetal
defects. So which factor does what is often difficult to determine. The
question remains, “Does moderate wine intake have any affect at all?”
There probably is more support for fewer medical problems! For example,
there appear to be fewer fetal lung problems with moderate drinking
mothers. More study is needed. For more information, click
here.
8. Auto accidents are not increased in areas of high wine sampling.
California wine country Highways 29, 12 and parts of 101 have wine bars
every 200 yards. Yet when statistics are compared to highways of equal
density, the level of accidents is not increased.
9. Liver disease is decreasing during a period of increasing wine
consumption and decreasing spirits consumption. Everyone knows that
cirrhosis is a very serious liver ailment. Chronic alcoholism is its
number one cause. In recent years cirrhosis has decreased by 12%. This
appears to be following the reduction in consumption of spirits. I must
conclude, changing people's drinking habits over to wine is saving
lives, here as well as in cardiac deaths.
10. Red wine contains anti-cancer compounds. The components thought to
be responsible for this are antioxidants. At least 25 antioxidant
compounds have been discovered in wine, especially red wine. The most
famous of these is resveratrol, a stronger antioxidant than Vitamin E
(and Vitamin E is one of the strongest antioxidants you can take). But
two other compounds in wine, epicatechin and quercetin, are twice as
strong as resveratrol! One example of the protective effect: The U.S.
Government's Center for Disease Control found that endometrial cancer
(lining of the uterus) is decreased by 83% in women who consume 12 or
more drinks per week.
11. Bones are more dense in both men and women with moderate wine
consumption. After menopause, osteoporosis becomes a very serious
problem in women. Hip fractures are notorious. Dense bones are resistant
to fractures.
12. Frequency of the common cold is reduced (or at least the symptoms
are reduced) by moderate wine consumption. It is an exciting possibility
that certain elements in wine bolster immunity. Nobody will be surprised
if it turns out to be those antioxidant compounds again.
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