by Linda Bayley-Brown

Created on: January 21, 2009

Vino veritas as no doubt Bacchus the Greek God of wine would say with regard to the health giving benefits that are becoming evident more and more of consuming a daily glass or two of wine. Without a doubt , those of us that do enjoy this alcoholic beverage will be delighted to find that Nutritional research is confirming the many benefits that wine promotional spiel indicates. Investigative studies of the 'French Paradox' took place due to the raised possibility that red wine gave the consumer advantageous health benefits through the antioxidants within grape poly-phenols, which help to slow down the growth of damage to cells caused by oxidation of cells in the body. The whole of the grape , including the skin, seeds and juice contain several variants of poly-phenols which include flavonoids, reservatrol, anthocyanins and phenolic acids. These combined ingredients are the key to aid health.

In lay-mans terms these chemical components of the grape and products made with grapes are the reason that the 'French Paradox' exists. Just why is it that the French have less cardiovascular disease related deaths ? The magical ingredients of the nations favourite accompaniment to their meals and cheeses are believed to be the reason that the French suffer a much lower rate than most other westernised countries . Even though the French are often guilty of eating a continuously high fat diet.

It is clear that the good news is that wine and especially red promotes longevity by the very fact that moderate drinkers will, due to the blood thinning ability of the poly-phenols, reduce their heart attack risk, lower the risk of strokes, cuts the risk of colon cancer, slows down brain decline and cuts risk of cataracts. The blood flow is easier and therefore helps patients with coronary artery disease and so to contributing to lowering the high rate of deaths from cardiovascular disease. Lowered blood pressure in patients suffering from hypertension has been recorded in studies of the effects of both grape juice and wine. Also evidence points to nondrinkers as having thirty percent more risk than moderate drinkers of developing type 2 diabetes.

Research shows that poly-phenols in red wine can block the formation of proteins which build into plaque which is long thought to destroy brain cells and so promoting senility and Alzheimer's disease. Also by reducing the toxicity of the existing plaques, thus contributing to the prevention of further cognitive degeneration.

The prevalence of

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