Elite Wine Reviews Eve’s Wine 101

The Benefits of Moderate Drinking

by Eve Bushman

Most would agree that while countless studies have been done showing that drinking red wine has its benefits – that is only the case when done in moderation.  Keeping that in mind, in this column I will share what I have learned about alcohol consumption from the internationally recognized Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), where I recently attained my Level 2 intermediate certification.
Guidelines for Healthy Alcohol Consumption
Generally, it is deemed medically acceptable and moderate for women to consume one to two drinks per day and men to consume two to three.   Any more than that increases risks to your health.
Responsible drinkers alternate their preferred alcoholic beverage with both food and water.
Coronary heart disease and stroke can be reduced by 30 percent in men over 40, and for women after menopause, with a moderate consumption of alcohol.  Take note, dear reader, we are most susceptible to heart disease at this age.  Also take note that a drastic increase of alcohol completely negates these benefits.
Dry wines, ciders and beers are fat free, almost sugar free and hover around 100 calories.  It’s the mixers in alcoholic beverages that add more calories and sugar.
Alcohol in moderation is included in the “Mediterranean” diet; where fruits, vegetables, fish, salad and olive oil are also incorporated.   
Vitamins C and E hold nothing against resveratrol and querticin, components found in wine, for antioxidant consumption.  (See more on resveratrol below.)
Keeping the word “moderation” in mind, the American Cancer Society has found a 20 percent reduction in cancer mortality rates for moderate drinkers.  On the opposite end, with consumption over 30g, the level of cancer greatly increases.
Breast cancer patients should restrict themselves to one alcoholic beverage per day to reduce risk.
Diabetics, though they may enjoy a drink with a meal, must make sure that they know what reactions this may cause when coupled with their medication.
Vegetarians may choose to avoid wine, or beer, as these beverages may have been clarified with an egg, milk, beef or fish compound.  
Your body can break down one alcoholic drink per hour, no matter how much water, or other non-alcoholic beverages, you consume along with it.  
Again, these recommendations are based on WSET guidelines.  Your own personal physician should make an assessment that takes your overall health into consideration. For further reading see drinkingandyou.com.
Nutrition News
I have a go-to nutritionist in town, Karen Roth, and I asked her if anything else was new as far as health benefits in wine.  Resveratrol, as mentioned above, is now also seen as just as effective as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in delaying the symptoms of menopause.
And, it does so without the cancer and other risks.
Roth said that the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry has conducted a recent study that showed that resveratrol mimics the benefits of estrogen.  So when you have a dietary intake of the compound – found in red grapes, red wine and some berries – your body thinks it has the estrogen levels from when you were younger.  
The study continued by saying that resveratrol helps keep cells healthy, which is important in combating disease.  The authors concluded by stating, “Resveratrol might be the most promising candidate for HRT and chemoprevention of breast cancer due to its estrogenic activity and high antitumor activity.”

Yours, in wine and out,
Eve

You may contact Eve at ebushman@earthlink.net for questions and comments. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, evewine101.blogspot.com and westranchbeacon.com