... and other interesting wine related health facts

Many of us have heard rumours of the health benefits of drinking wine, but the pessimistic element amongst us usually write such good news off as pure speculation with no proper research foundation. So we did a little digging to find out whether or not there is, in fact, any hard evidence that wine is good for you and we were mightily surprised at what we found.

All of the following facts are backed up by officially recognised, comprehensive medical research carried out at some of the world’s foremost medical research and educational institutions. Prepare to celebrate the good news with a healthy glass of your favourite vino!

• Moderate wine drinkers (half a pint or less per day) who have pre-existing high blood pressure are 30% less likely to suffer a cardiac arrest than teetotallers.
• The tannins in red wine contain procyanidins, flavonoids which have a positive effect on your blood vessels and help protect against heart disease.
• Moderate wine drinkers have a 30% less risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who abstain from alcohol.
• Those who enjoy the occasional glass of wine are 50% less likely to suffer a blood clot–related stroke.
• Wine drinkers are at lower risk of developing cataracts. Those who drink wine in moderation are 43% less likely to suffer with cataracts later in life than those who do not.
• Moderate red wine drinkers are 45% less likely to develop cancer of the colon.
• Brain function declines a lot less rapidly in those wine drinkers who enjoy it in moderation than in those who choose not to drink.
• Moderate wine drinkers live longer than those who drink beer or spirits in safe amounts.

More Interesting Wine Health Benefit Information

Sulphites – What are they and are they bad for your health?

Most wine drinkers will be aware of the issue of sulphites in wine and the negative press that they seem to regularly receive. The reality with regards to sulphites in wine and, indeed, in a large range of other consumable products, is very different from that perceived by many. To clarify things, the particular sulphite used in winemaking is SO² or Sulphur Dioxide which is a preservative. It helps to prevent oxidation and maintain a wine’s freshness. Wine would have a dramatically shorter shelf life without it. Now, let’s do a little myth busting:

Myth 1: The sulphites in wine cause headaches – There is no medical evidence that this is the case. It’s far more likely to be the tannins in red wine, or the histamines or alcohol, which are in all wines. Red wine will have less sulphites than white wine due to food industry regulations, so sulphites are certainly not the cause of the so-called red wine headache.

Myth 2: Sulphites are an artificial preservative – Not true, sulphites are produced by the yeast during the wine fermentation process. More SO² can be added to ensure good shelf life for the wine.

Myth 3: Wine containing sulphites should be avoided – Only if you are one of a tiny percentage of the population who are allergic to sulphites, but then you would have to avoid canned food, dried fruit, jam, crisps, pickled foods, cheese, tea, shrimp and a whole list of other products.

Resveratrol – What exactly is it and does it really help combat weight gain?

Another little nugget of information that is sometimes bandied about is with regards to the possibility that wine can actually help you lose weight. A study carried out at Washington State University in the U.S. looked at the polyphenol chemical compound “resveratrol” found in grapes, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and apples. The results of the study concluded that those who have a diet that’s a little too high in fat actually gain 40% less weight if they include a decent amount of these fruits in their diet. Unfortunately, when grapes are turned into wine, the levels of resveratrol are reduced but it’s still there and as long as wine is consumed responsibly, it can indeed assist in controlling weight gain if you enjoy high fat foods.

So, there you have it. If you needed another excuse to relax and enjoy a glass of Premier Estates wine, what better excuse could there possibly be than because of the health benefits of wine!