BY THE NUMBERS

Four More Reasons To Drink Red Wine

The heart-healthy beverage may also keep you from developing physical disabilities or Alzheimer's Disease.

By Tina Peng | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jan 23, 2009

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  • Posted By: MichaelX @ 03/05/2009 3:37:57 PM

    There's always good reasons to drink. What, and how much is debateable, but drink is the only vice that is heavily advertised and promoted. A good meal, a glass of wine, and a nice fat joint will smooth out the worst of the day.
    Just try to keep the Pavlovian Pixies out of your mind. If you believe you want another, you will. If you believe you dont want one, you wont.

  • Posted By: okieliberal @ 01/28/2009 8:15:29 PM

    hmm, better go refill my glass with some more Shiraz, later Newsweek...

  • Posted By: blackdog2 @ 01/28/2009 6:47:56 PM

    Reba621, You are being silly. No one is "telling" alcoholics to drink red wine. But for the rest of us, a glass wine or two is a pleasant experience. Should everyone give up sugar because some individuals are diabetic? Get a grip.

  • Posted By: Reba621 @ 01/28/2009 3:26:09 PM

    Are there any reasons to drink red wine?What about alcoholics? Why are you telling people to drinkwine ? I think this attitude may be responsible for some alcoholics in recovery to start drinking again or enablle others to defend their alcohol
    abuse. Not to mention most addicts started out as alcoholics.

  • Posted By: jlarsenayh@mac.com @ 01/28/2009 12:51:21 PM

    Large population correlational studies among events and health are useful indicators for further research, but cause-effect interpretations are difficult to make. Don't get me wrong, I like rotten grape juice, especially Pinot Noir. It's just that health is a complex mix of exercise, nutrition, attitude, etc.

  • Posted By: Dr. Baxter @ 01/27/2009 5:47:13 PM

    As the author of Age Gets Better with Wine: New Science for a Healthier, Better, and Longer Life, this has been an area of special interest for me for several years. One thing that is important to remember is that the benefits of regular consumption of red wine cannot be put into a pill. that is because associated behavoirs (moderation, consumption with meals) are linked to other healthy behaviors; alcohol as an independent variable has health benefits in the right amounts; and there are a large number of polyphenol antioxidants in wine besides resveratrol. The absorbtion, metabolism, and effects of resveratrol supplements in humans remains largely unknown.

  • Posted By: Bada Bing @ 01/27/2009 4:44:25 PM

    thanks Doc B, I will have some vino tonight

  • Posted By: Dr. Baxter @ 01/27/2009 3:19:51 PM

    AS the author of Age Gets Better with Wine: New Science for a Healthier, Better, and Longer Life, this has been an area of special interest for me for several years. What is important to understand is that the benefits of wine relate to several factors, including associated lifestyle habits (moderation, drinking with meals), alcohol (yes alcohol is independently beneficial in the right amounts) and the polyphenol antioxidants including resveratrol. It is not accurate to presume that all of the benefits of drinking wine can be put into a pill, despite all of the impressive science on resveratrol.
    Richard Baxter MD

  • Posted By: DrDavidR02740 @ 01/25/2009 3:11:07 PM

    ...Appears to be a much more social and happy way - and less expensive to some extent depending on the wine - than purchasing the Resveratrol supplement for ingestion! DrDavidRobinson4H

  • Posted By: Yush @ 01/24/2009 7:52:43 PM

    Wouldn't it be good if had followed this super article with a list of you top ten recommended wines?

  • Posted By: StrategicPlanner @ 01/24/2009 6:58:45 AM

    Articles on the benefits of wine often include the formula "one drink for women, two drinks for men". Is that purely related to the sex of the drinker or is there some connection to body mass? Should both a 125 pound man and a fit 220 pound man be drinking the same amount? How about women of different sizes?

    • Posted By: C. MacLean @ 01/24/2009 6:29:11 PM

      From the NIAAA, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:

      "Why are lower levels of drinking recommended for women than for men? Because women are at greater risk than men for developing alcohol-related problems. Alcohol passes through the digestive tract and is dispersed in the water in the body. The more water available, the more diluted the alcohol. As a rule, men weigh more than women, and, pound for pound, women have less water in their bodies than men. Therefore, a woman???s brain and other organs are exposed to more alcohol and to more of the toxic byproducts that result when the body breaks down and eliminates alcohol."

      http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochurewomen/women.htm#drinking

      And NO amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is 100% preventable.

      Two other important quotes from the above mentioned NIAAA article to consider:

      Heavy drinking increases a woman???s risk of becoming a victim of violence and sexual assault.

      Drinking over the long term is more likely to damage a woman???s health than a man???s, even if the woman has been drinking less alcohol or for a shorter length of time than the man.

      C. MacLean, RN, MS

  • Posted By: Halima @ 01/23/2009 9:43:30 PM

    Tada, four more reasons to enjoy a good glass of wine, besides the usual reasons: goes great with red meats and other foods, is a wonderful way to unwind after a stressful day, is a super way to host a party with your friends, and last but not least, a great glass of red wine just makes you feel good. Now you can enjoy it knowing it's healthy for you as well. Prosit.

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