I tend to be a beer drinker but hey, Valentine’s Day is
this month and your gal might appreciate sharing good bottle of wine. So go ahead and indulge, once I arm you with
some nutrition facts of course, as I have done my best to cut through all the
anecdotal, bro-science out there!
Make no
mistake - I am in no way a wine connoisseur, so brand selection is on you. And if you currently don’t drink alcohol the
medical experts all still say the health benefits associated with moderate wine
consumption are not enough reason to start drinking. Now that I got those two disclaimers out of
the way, let’s get on with it!
Wine
Wine consumed
in moderation, (1 glass a day for a woman and 2 glasses a day for a man), is widely
accepted as good for us and linked to longevity in many cultures. Alcohol in general, has LDL-cholesterol
(‘bad’-cholesterol), lowering properties, and is a vasodilator – dilates your
blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure – and is relaxing. This means that alcohol in moderation is
heart-healthy for a person currently in good health with no liver
problems! Wine adds in another tier of
health because it is so rich in plant-polyphenols from grapes, the most
noteworthy being resveratrol. The high
polyphenol content comes from the grape-skins, and since the grapes are
fermented longest for red wine, not only does red wine contain more resveratrol
content, but it is also lower in sugar.
(Remember, alcohol is NOT sugar.)
All polyphenols are also antioxidants as well, which mean they bind to
free-radicals and repair oxidation damage.
Oxidation is a normal
metabolic process of all oxygen breathing mammals, and it’s free-radical
byproducts are also normal. In fact, our
bodies are very much equipped to handle all oxidative damage and repair, if we
just get out of own way, and actually, consuming too many anti-oxidant
supplements will actually prohibit proper post-workout repair and
adaptation. Also, the jury is still out
in the efficacy of consuming resveratrol in supplement form, so for now you’re
better off obtaining it through whole-foods, grapes and wine. You can also drink grape juice, but your Valentine might not be as stoked if you
show up with a bottle of grape juice instead of a nice Merlot. Plus, grape juice has way more sugar content
than wine does, per serving – just sayin!
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| This article was originally written by me for Four EL magazine, FEB 14 issue |
