1. Could wine be the link to longevity?
A Finnish study on alcoholic beverage preference, mortality and quality of life in old men found that wine drinkers had a 34 per cent lower total mortality. The study was carried out over a 29-year period on 2,468 businessmen and executives. Findings showed that the group which preferred wine to other alcoholic beverages had a survival advantage due to fewer cardiovascular deaths. This study supports the idea that moderate consumption of wine may have beneficial effects on health and quality of life.
2. Benefits on brain health
A 2002 study by Dutch researchers on 7,983 individuals aged 55 and older found that light to moderate drinking was significantly associated with a lower risk of any dementia. But the study did not find any evidence that the relation between alcohol and dementia varied by type of alcoholic beverage. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11830193)
In a review study published last August (2016), researchers from the University of Malta highlighted the diverse neuroprotective abilities of red wine polyphenols that could be relevant to point the way to therapeutic application in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4981604/#B55)
3. Fight aging
A 2003 study by the University of Granada on commercial Spanish red wine confirmed that polyphenols found in red wine – gallic acid, trans-resveratrol, quercetin and rutin are significant antioxidants. (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408690390826509)
Many studies have been done on reservatrol, a polyphenol that is found in red wine, the skin of red and purple grapes. It is also present in certain berries and peanuts. A latest study conducted on mice by scientists from Virgina Tech Carilion Research Institute shows that resveratrol preserves muscle fibres and can have neuroprotective effects. (https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/03/07/study-supports-anti-aging-effects-red-wine-ingredient-resveratrol/TkxwrsvaDc8mHvwFYnvIMO/story.html)
4. Fat fighting properties
Biochemist Neil Shay at Oregon State University found that Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) native to southeastern United States contains ellagic acid which can slow the growth of existing fat cells and formation of new ones. Ellagic acid can also boost metabolism of fatty acids in liver cells. His study exposed human liver and fat cells grown in the lab to extracts of chemicals found in Muscadine grapes. Results suggest that drinking red grape juice or wine in moderation may improve the health of overweight people by helping them to burn fat better. But this is not to say that the compounds found in Muscadine grapes can improve body weight. (http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2015/feb/another-reason-drink-wine-it-could-help-you-burn-fat)
5. Long term benefits on heart health
Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with an immediately higher cardiovascular risk in the first 24 hours after intake. But this risk lowers after the initial 24 hours and habitual moderate drinking may have protective cardiovascular benefits. Researchers at the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health analysed a range of studies on alcohol intake and health. Results suggest that moderate consumption may lower risk of heart disease in both sexes. But consumption in large amounts in repeated bouts may result in higher long-term risk. (http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/133/10/979)
– Hedy Khoo