Since the 60 Minute broadcast
in 1991 on the "French Paradox,"
wine as it relates to good health has
become a topic of great interest, study,
and debate. The Wine Skinny's Wine &
Health section will be a work in progress
as more studies are completed and information
is released. Stay tuned.
Do you remember where you were when
you heard Elvis had died? How about
when O.J. was acquitted? And where you
were when you learned that wine was
good for you? Many of us remember that
60 Minutes broadcast in 1991 when we
first heard those magical words "French
Paradox." That is, why do the French,
with their rich diet, have fewer heart
attacks than Americans? The answer,
first presented in 1991, suggests that
their high consumption of wine acts
as a preventive to heart disease.
While it sounded revolutionary
to so many Americans, history shows us
that wine, as it relates to good health,
is an age-old concept.
"No thing more excellent
nor more valuable was ever granted mankind
by God."
-- Plato
"Drink no longer water,
but use a little wine for thy stomach's
sake and thine often infirmities."
-- I Timothy 5:23
"Wine is the most healthful
and most hygienic of beverages."
-- Louis Pasteur
By the time of 60 Minutes'
1995 follow-up to their 1991 broadcast,
the evidence had grown only stronger and
now featured a new study from Copenhagen,
Denmark. The study, sponsored by the Ministry
of Health, included a breakdown of the
kinds of alcohol that people drink and,
in short, it was wine that significantly
decreased mortality rates versus beer
or hard liquor. To read the complete transcript
click
here.
The preacher at the Southern
Baptist church in which I was raised took
great pains to explain to the congregation
that when the Bible says "wine"
it really just means "grape juice"
(or "crushed fruit of the vine").
Drink no longer water, but
use a little grape juice for thy stomach's
sake and thine often infirmities?
Is it really wine that provides
the health benefit? Would grape juice
have the same effect? Maybe this was just
all wine industry hype or a bunch of sinners
looking for an excuse.
In his article, Wine and
Heart Disease, Dr. Andrew L. Waterhouse,
Associate Professor of Enology with the
UC-Davis Department of Viticulture and
Enology, addresses this very issue. Dr.
Waterhouse summarizes the wine and heart
health connection as follows: "Phenolic
substances may be the compounds responsible
for the reduced incidence of heart disease
seen in people who regularly consume wine."
Phenolic compounds (often
referred to as antioxidants) inhibit platelet
clotting, and produce a more favorable
HDL-LDL cholesterol ratio. Phenolic compounds
are found in high concentrations in the
grape skins, seeds, and stems, so why
wouldn't simple grape juice provide the
same effect?
First, wine -- red wine
in particular -- utilizes all of the grape
parts in the winemaking process. Next,
Dr. Waterhouse suggests that while whole
fruits are rich sources of phenolics,
normal aerobic (with air) processing degrades
these compounds, while the largely anaerobic
(without air) wine production retains
the phenolic compounds. To read Dr. Waterhouse's
entire article (it's got lots of big scientific
words and is very detailed), click
here.
Do I want wine to be good
for me? Absolutely! Of course, as in anything,
moderation is the key (I've seen more
than one Southern Baptist hunker down
on a plate of fried chicken, some sort
of mayonnaisy casserole, and big slab
of pecan pie. Moderation is moderation.).
Moreover, the frequently healthy lifestyle
of wine drinkers can also play a big part
in the wine and health connection. Studies
show that in societies such as France,
Italy, and Spain, where wine is a part
of daily life, there are far fewer alcohol-related
problems such as drunk-driving and underage
drinking. In the months to come, Wine
& Health will address these issues,
as well as explore the new studies on
wine's potentially positive effect on
cancer, Alzheimer's, and more.
