Can drinking red wine ever be good for us?
We�ve been led to believe that an occasional glass of wine might be better than abstaining from alcohol altogether, but that might not be the case.
* This story is featured in BBC Future�s �Best of 2019� collection. Discover more of our picks.
Even though alcohol kills millions of people every year, humans have been imbibing for millennia. In the last few decades, wine, in particular, has gained a reputation for being good for our health. Red wine even has been linked with longevity and lower risk of heart disease.
But could wine really be good for us?
The first question, of course, is what we mean by �good for us�. Many people think of heart health when we think of the potential upsides of wine.
What is less well-known is that research has found strong links between alcohol and cancer. One bottle of wine per week is associated with an increased absolute lifetime cancer risk for non-smokers of 1% for men and 1.4% for women. This equates one bottle of wine per week to five cigarettes for men, or 10 for women.
�While a lot of work [has] been done to communicate the link between smoking and cancer, this is less so for alcohol because public health officials control messaging for smoking, whereas with alcohol, it�s largely been up to the alcohol industry to communicate this itself,� says Mark Bellis, director of policy, research and international development at Public Health Wales.
The idea that research shows a tipple can be beneficial dates back to the 1970s, when scientists found that French people were less likely to have heart disease than other populations, despite eating more saturated fat. There was a clear relationship between lower levels of heart disease and wine consumption. This came to be known as the French paradox � a conundrum which scientists are still untangling today.
We have since been led to believe that moderate wine-drinking can reduce our risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain.
�Early research found that moderate levels of wine consumption had a �J�-shaped curve effect,� says Helena Conibear, co-director of The International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research. �Small, regular amounts of wine seem to lead to longer life, better health and less cognitive decline. Since then, more than 1,000 papers have been published reiterating that.�
As a result, for a long time, the consensus was that abstaining from alcohol is unhealthier than consuming moderate amounts of alcohol (equivalent to one or two drinks a day).
But that �J�-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption, and death and disease, has come under criticism. It�s now widely understood that a lot of this data could be flawed: people abstaining from alcohol may be doing so because they�re unwell, rather than becoming unwell because they�re abstaining. (This challenge in sorting out cause from effect is the issue with many observational studies, which most nutrition studies are).
When controlling for this, one 2006 analysis of 54 previously published studies found no correlation between moderate alcohol consumption and lower risk of heart disease.
But in the years since, says Conibear, other studies have found the opposite. �Over the last five years, research has looked at confounding factors,� she says. �We know wine drinkers tend to be better off, better educated and have a less sedentary lifestyle � and adjusting for that, the J-shaped curve can�t be denied.�
She says researchers have got around this bias by using participants who�ve never drunk before, rather than those who used to drink and now abstain, as they�re more likely to abstain for health reasons.
In one 2019 study, researchers took a different approach to determine whether moderate alcohol intake really is linked to lower risk of heart disease. For 10 years, they followed more than 500,000 adults in China, where two genetic variants (ALDH2-rs671 and ADH1B-rs1229984) influence alcohol drinking patterns, rather than ill health. They also excluded people with poor health.
�Those with no defects can drink as much as they like,� says Zhengming Chen, one of the study�s authors and professor of Epidemiology, at the University of Oxford�s Nuffield Department of Population Health. �But those with a dysfunctional enzyme can�t tolerate alcohol at all,� he says.
The researchers also used Chinese women as a control group, because while many Chinese women can metabolise alcohol, many don�t drink for social, rather than health reasons, Chen says.
* This story is featured in BBC Future�s �Best of 2019� collection. Discover more of our picks.
Even though alcohol kills millions of people every year, humans have been imbibing for millennia. In the last few decades, wine, in particular, has gained a reputation for being good for our health. Red wine even has been linked with longevity and lower risk of heart disease.
But could wine really be good for us?
The first question, of course, is what we mean by �good for us�. Many people think of heart health when we think of the potential upsides of wine.
What is less well-known is that research has found strong links between alcohol and cancer. One bottle of wine per week is associated with an increased absolute lifetime cancer risk for non-smokers of 1% for men and 1.4% for women. This equates one bottle of wine per week to five cigarettes for men, or 10 for women.
�While a lot of work [has] been done to communicate the link between smoking and cancer, this is less so for alcohol because public health officials control messaging for smoking, whereas with alcohol, it�s largely been up to the alcohol industry to communicate this itself,� says Mark Bellis, director of policy, research and international development at Public Health Wales.
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The idea that research shows a tipple can be beneficial dates back to the 1970s, when scientists found that French people were less likely to have heart disease than other populations, despite eating more saturated fat. There was a clear relationship between lower levels of heart disease and wine consumption. This came to be known as the French paradox � a conundrum which scientists are still untangling today.
In the 1970s, scientists found that French people were less likely to have heart disease � which may be related to wine consumption (Credit: Getty Images)
We have since been led to believe that moderate wine-drinking can reduce our risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain.
�Early research found that moderate levels of wine consumption had a �J�-shaped curve effect,� says Helena Conibear, co-director of The International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research. �Small, regular amounts of wine seem to lead to longer life, better health and less cognitive decline. Since then, more than 1,000 papers have been published reiterating that.�
As a result, for a long time, the consensus was that abstaining from alcohol is unhealthier than consuming moderate amounts of alcohol (equivalent to one or two drinks a day).
But that �J�-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption, and death and disease, has come under criticism. It�s now widely understood that a lot of this data could be flawed: people abstaining from alcohol may be doing so because they�re unwell, rather than becoming unwell because they�re abstaining. (This challenge in sorting out cause from effect is the issue with many observational studies, which most nutrition studies are).
When controlling for this, one 2006 analysis of 54 previously published studies found no correlation between moderate alcohol consumption and lower risk of heart disease.
Studies have found that moderate drinkers have a lower risk of heart disease� but also that they don�t (Credit: Getty Images)
But in the years since, says Conibear, other studies have found the opposite. �Over the last five years, research has looked at confounding factors,� she says. �We know wine drinkers tend to be better off, better educated and have a less sedentary lifestyle � and adjusting for that, the J-shaped curve can�t be denied.�
She says researchers have got around this bias by using participants who�ve never drunk before, rather than those who used to drink and now abstain, as they�re more likely to abstain for health reasons.
In one 2019 study, researchers took a different approach to determine whether moderate alcohol intake really is linked to lower risk of heart disease. For 10 years, they followed more than 500,000 adults in China, where two genetic variants (ALDH2-rs671 and ADH1B-rs1229984) influence alcohol drinking patterns, rather than ill health. They also excluded people with poor health.
�Those with no defects can drink as much as they like,� says Zhengming Chen, one of the study�s authors and professor of Epidemiology, at the University of Oxford�s Nuffield Department of Population Health. �But those with a dysfunctional enzyme can�t tolerate alcohol at all,� he says.
The researchers also used Chinese women as a control group, because while many Chinese women can metabolise alcohol, many don�t drink for social, rather than health reasons, Chen says.
One study found the more people drank, the more likely they were to experience high blood pressure and stroke, but not heart attacks, over a 10-year period (Credit: Getty Images)
This time, the researchers found no �J�-shaped correlation. Instead, they found that the more people drank, the more likely they were to experience high blood pressure and stroke � and there was no reduced risk among people who drank one to two units per day. There was no association either way with heart attacks.
As a result, while there was a clear link between alcohol consumption and stroke risk, something in alcohol may protect us against heart attacks.
�Our study shows that alcohol definitely has a protective mechanism, because high alcohol consumption consistently increases blood pressure, but for heart disease the association is quite flat,� Chen says.
�So even as blood pressure goes up, there may be another mechanism that offsets increased blood pressure. But we don�t know if this protective mechanism is enough to offset high blood pressure.�
It�s important to note that the researchers converted all alcoholic drinks into standard alcoholic units, so the results aren�t specific to wine. However, Chen argues wine wouldn�t have shown any different results.
Red wine
But wine normally is considered the �healthier� option because of its antioxidants called polyphenols. Also found in fruit and vegetables, polyphenols reduce inflammation in the body, which is a factor for disease. There are ten times as many in red wine than white.
Alberto Bertelli, a researcher at the University of Milan's department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, has found that small amounts of wine can protect us against heart disease, partly due to the drink�s anti-inflammatory properties. He recommends no more than 160ml of wine a day (the size of a champagne flute), but only with a meal, Mediterranean style.
Research has focused on the polyphenol resveratrol in particular, a naturally occurring compound found in grapes� skin and seeds. Resveratrol is thought to protect against high blood pressure by dilating blood vessels.
But despite there being no resveratrol in white wine (even though it�s in white grapes), Bertelli observed the French paradox also applies to white wine-drinking areas in France. In other words, white wine may have the same health benefits � if wine has benefits at all.
�We found in white wine two compounds common to extra virgin olive oil, which is recognised as a healthy food, more or less in the same amount,� Bertelli says. These compounds, tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, have also been found to be protective against Alzheimer�s disease.
Most researchers, however, have found that the vast majority of any believed health benefits apply only to red wine.
Red wine may be good for gut health, which has numerous benefits to the rest of our body, including improved immunity and digestion, and a healthier weight. In a recent study, researchers studied the drinking habits of twins and found that drinking red wine could improve the diversity of bacteria in the gut, which is linked to better health. But the observed benefits on gut health were found with just one glass of red wine per week, and anyone drinking more than two small glasses a day was excluded from the study. (Find out how your the bugs in your belly could heal your brain.)
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191021-is-wine-good-for-you
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The wines from the Margaret River region of Western Australia teem with personality. Travel down the winding lanes of the region as well as you'll uncover that every winery and also vineyard make a distinctive design of wine. These wines aren't simply made up of grapes expanded in the area - they are all created with the regional ingredients and also climate in mind.
For many years, white wines have emerged as the best marketing in the country. This is since the environment in this area makes it suitable for growing grapes. The grapes are perfect for making the perfect red wine and the environment is right for growing the most effective of both worlds - reds and whites.
Nonetheless, there are numerous red wines to be found right here. Popular selections include Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, as well as Viognier. Nevertheless, don't forget the appeal of the supposed Jura wine region.
The weather condition has actually grown in popularity as several vineyards have actually expanded in manufacturing and also selection in grape selections. Nevertheless, there are a couple of regions that dominate the entire area as well as make it one of the very popular red wine areas in the world. The following finest places to attempt would be the Skoda region, the Wilsons Promontory and the Barclay Downs areas. It ought to additionally be noted that there are some wineries in the Margaret River region that have been around for generations, producing several award-winning wines.
While white as well as red wines are the most popular, there are many other grape selections that have revealed a passion in the Margaret River area. It is frequently noted that the Fraser Valley grapes are generating a few of the most effective in the nation and there is no quiting that fad.
Red wines are commonly made using the red wine grape selections that remain in need today. These consist of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah. Furthermore, completely dry wines, which are made without too much alcohol, have ended up being preferred over the past couple of years.
Many people in the UK like to buy these red wine in the type of a Chardonnay. In Australia, a Chardonnay is available in a light, crisp, green color. This is sometimes referred to as "the triple medicine" as well as has a completely dry flavor that is moderate bodied and also light in its alcohol material.
Many individuals appreciate their a glass of wine on the rocks, without ice. This is done by positioning the red wine right into a cooled a glass Continue of wine glass and also pouring the white wine straight over ice. Typically, a container of Pinot Noir will certainly include as much as 25% alcohol, yet can vary from really light to very solid.
One of the prominent beverages cost Australian a glass of wine shops is beer. Beer is available in a wide range of styles and also rates, although the majority of have a tendency to be reduced in cost than red wine. The customer can select from a number of prominent beers consisting of: Saison Blanc, IPA, Pale Ale, Session Ale, and Witbier.
In Australia, there are a variety of wines available, but red wine can just be purchased from a vineyard. A winery is primarily a vineyard that creates a particular kind of wine. There are numerous sorts of these sorts of vineyards, including: Greening Vineyard, Dunlop or other Australian brands, and the Harvest Creek.
Margaret River Wines uses several grape selections that are utilized to make their wines. Although it is unusual, some of these grapes can be used to make both red as well as gewurztraminers. Among the most typical grape selections in the area is: St. John's Clay, Sassafras, as well as Merlot.
As noted, there are a variety of wines to be discovered in this area, as well as these white wine producers want to pop over to these guys share what is offered with customers. If you are trying to find the perfect red or gewurztraminer, there is lots to pick from.
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