Alcohol
Daily tipple reduces heart disease risk Which wine is healthiest?
Which wine is healthiest?
For some of us, the fact that drinking wine in moderation may be good for our health is one of the best bits of news we've heard for a long time! However, are all wines created equal? Apparently not according to Professor Roger Corder who researches heart disease at Barts & The London School of Medicine and has written a book entitled 'The Wine Diet'.
Prof. Corder states that drinking the wrong type of wine will not lead to any health benefits and may simply be dangerously increasing your alcohol intake. However, drink the right type (in moderation) and you could protect yourself against heart disease, stroke and even certain cancers. So, which wines are the best? Here's our summary of Prof. Corder's research.
Red Wine
Red wine is normally revered because of it's resveratrol (a powerful antioxidant found in the skin) content but, in reality, you would need to drink vats of the stuff to reap the health benefits from this substance. The polyphenol (antioxidant found in grape skin & seeds) content of red wine is actually much more relevant to health. As are procyanidins (more antioxidants!) which may help to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and protect against hardening of the arteries.
The wines richest in these important antioxidants are those in which the grape has remained in contact with the wine during fermentation. However, this is not the type of information that you find on a wine bottle! You may find it on the internet - contact time of 10 days or more means lots of procyanidins.
The best wine growing regions for high procyanidin level are the Nuoro province in Sardinia and the Madiran region of the Pyrenees. Prof. Corder says that 1 small glass of Madiran wine contains more health benefits than a whole bottle of Australian wine!
In a nutshell....choose wines from Madiran or Cote de Saint Mont regions in France or from the Sagrantino or Nebbiolo region of Italy. Cabernet Sauvignon is generally better than Merlot or Shiraz - Chilean or Argentinian Cabernets are normally the best choice. Pinot Noir tends to be low in procyanidins.
White Wine
To make white wine, the skins of the grapes are quickly separated out after they are crushed but this doesn't mean that white wine has no health benefits. There are different compounds in white wine that may lower 'bad' or LDL cholesterol. In addition, white wine is high in potassium and this may help to lower blood pressure (although grape juice would do the same!).
White wine contains tyrosol and caffeic acid which act as anti-inflammatories and may help to prevent rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Research from Milan showed that 2 glasses a day reduced inflammation but more than this cancelled out the benefits. Other research has found that white wine may protect against heart attacks. However, it can also make your stomach more acidic leading to feelings of nausea.
In a nutshell....Chardonnay is highest in antioxidants and Sauvignon Blanc has the best anti-inflammatory properties. Wines from the Friuli Venezia region of Italy may help protect against heart attack.
Rose Wine
Rose wine generally has limited contact time between the grape seeds & skins and the liquid meaning that it has fewer health benefits. However, in moderation it may still confer health benefits. People who drink up to 2.5 bottles of wine per week have been found to have a lower risk of premature death than tea-totallers. Also, being physically active and drinking alcohol in moderation may be important for lowering the risk of ischaemic heart disease.
But.....
Remember, drinking alcohol in moderation will not compensate for an unhealthy diet and an inactive lifestyle. Also, drinking too much alcohol will do more harm than good - moderation is the key!
A daily tipple to reduce heart disease risk?
It's the news that a lot of people have been waiting for - drinking alcohol is actually good for us! In fact, it can reduce your risk of heart disease but does that mean you should start drinking if you are currently an alcohol free zone?
Well, research published in the American Journal of Medicine found that middle-age, non-drinkers can reduce their risk of heart disease by starting to drink a moderate amount of alcohol on a daily basis.
In fact, the new drinkers were 38% less likely to develop heart disease than those who stayed off alcohol over a 4 year period. However, moderation is the key as the new drinkers rarely binged on alcohol and stuck to safe intake limits.
Research has often shown that alcohol, in moderation, is beneficial to our health but it has never been recommended that non-drinkers change their habits to reduce their health risks. These new findings may challenge this school of thought but they will need investigating more thoroughly if medical professionals are 'prescribe' alcohol to individuals!
The study also seems to suggest that the new drinkers who took up drinking wine benefited the most - their risk of heart attack or stroke was 68% less than non-drinkers. Beer and other alcoholic beverages reduced the risks less dramatically.
The authors stated that, 'The findings suggest that, for carefully selected individuals, a 'heart-healthy diet' may include limited alcohol consumption even among individuals who have not included alcohol previously.'
Do not be fooled into thinking that adding a drink or two to your daily diet will reduce your risk of heart disease. Lowering your risk may be achieved through a combination of lifestyle factors such as following a healthy diet and exercising regularly - moderate alcohol intake is not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle.
The current recommendations are NOT for people to take up drinking in order to prevent heart disease. If you are considering this, we strongly recommend you speak to your GP before doing so.
If you want advice on reducing your heart disease risk, visit our information pages by clicking here.