Wine and Your Heart

Red wine may actually be good for you.

A recent study released by Paul E. Szmitko BSc and Subodh Verma, MD, PhD tracked the health of over 200,000 individuals over their lifetime. They found some curious and interesting results.

For those test patients with a moderate daily consumption of alcoholic beverages (1-2 drinks per day, or 1.5 oz of liquor, 5 oz of wine, or 12 oz of beer) there was a decreased mortality risk. The most significant reduction in mortality was for middle aged men and women (those at a high risk for developing cardiovascular diseases) and those with diabetes.

Of these alcoholic beverages, red wine in particular has long been associated with heart health. There may in fact be connections between moderate alcohol use and a slower development of atherosclerosis, or fatty plaque deposits in blood vessels in arteries. These fatty deposits are the ones the create blood clots and potentially lead to heart attacks. Some positive claims about moderate alcohol consumption have been made about the connections – perhaps there is a correlation between healthy drinking and heart health.

This is experimental research, insufficient to encourage those who do not already drink red wine to begin consumption, but worthwhile and potentially life altering in the long run. Keep your eyes (and your grapes) peeled for further research on the subject.

For more information about how the molecular components of red wine might affect atherosclerosis and the health of your heart, check out the full article at:

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/111/2/e10.full