Wine – The Elixir Of Man

Can our health and longevity be improved and increased by wine? According to scientist, this is true. But if the theory is true, then which wine will give us that?

Red wines that are rich in flavonoids are best for our health, and this was discovered by researchers. Flavonoids are best known for their antioxidant qualities and help the body resist such maladies as allergens, viruses and carcinogens.

Antioxidants which help the body resist cardiovascular disease and cancer are also found in red wines. When it comes to antioxidants and flavonoids, Petit Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir contain the highest concentrations.

Other red wines such as Merlots and red Zinfandels contain fewer flavonoids, but more than most white wines. When it comes to drinking wine for our health, the best bet would be to stick to the dryer red wines. However, there’s no need to get plastered every night just because wine contains components that are good for our health. Don’t overdo it — but adding a glass of wine to your daily diet can definitely make a difference to our health.

Paracelsus, the noted 16th-century Swiss physician wrote, “Wine is a food, a medicine and a poison – it’s just a question of dose.” As with almost any food or drink, wine consumed in large doses can be a detriment to our health.

One or two 4 ounce glasses of wine a day can be beneficial for men and women should only have one 4 ounce servings per day as agreed by most health officials.

Spending years in studying the evidence of health benefits from red wine is cardiovascular expert Professor Roger Corder. Most of us should include red wine in our everyday lifestyle, and this was mentioned in his new book titled “The Wine Diet.”

The “French Paradox” is what Corder discovered. The French have a lower rate of heart disease and he wondered about this since their diet is rich in fats. He concentrated his research on the southwest portion of France, where life expectancy seemed to be highest.

Very tannic local wines are produced in the region as discovered by Professor Corder, and this contains the highest procyanidin (antioxidant) content of any wines. He then did more research on the medical benefits of red wine.

Wine behooved us to consider having wine in our daily diet and raising a toast to good health, even if it’s not really the ultimate elixir or fountain of youth.