October 29th, 2011 
Dennis 
Red and White wine are healthy.
Many of my clients ask me regularly – “Is it ok to drink wine?” The answer is – yes but, as I always say, all things in moderation.
Recent studies in various countries show that the positive effects of drinking a moderate amount of red wine are higher than you think. But white wine has also protective forces that are in some ways equal to red wine –and in some instances white wine is even more protective than red wine.
Sports Medicine Specialist and Professor at the University of Mainz, Dr. Klaus Jung has performed several consecutive studies in the past years on the health effects of white wine. He and his colleagues have proven in detail the following protective effects of white wine (if it is consumed in a moderate amount):
- The “bad” LDL cholesterol, drops while the “good” HDL cholesterol, that protects the heart, rises.
- Polyphenols which are only contained in wine act as antioxidants.
- Fibrinogen, that supports the clotting of the blood, drops too.
This means that wine prevents dangerous embolisms, thrombosis, heart attacks and cerebral infarctions. However, Dr. Jung points out that as much as wine can protect you against ill health it is important to note that it cannot heal existing illnesses.
How does the moderate consumption of wine affect our bodies? Read on.
Wine, your heart, and blood circulation
In France there are less people dying of heart attacks than in the US. At first there was no explanation to that fact, as French people love to eat “good food” too. But recently a possible explanation as to the cause of less heart attacks has been found: the consumption of wine! – Why?
- Lack of oxygen rich blood supply to the heart due to narrowed arteries (accumulation of cholesterol and potential formation of blood clots) is the main reason for a heart attack. Red wine works against that in multiple ways: The tannins in wine avert the oxidation of cholesterol (Vitamin B) and minimize the risk of accumulation of cholesterol inside the blood vessels. Furthermore, those tannins and the alcohol combined prevent the formation of blood clots; and can even cause a certain widening of the blood vessels.
- The consumption of wine – especially red wine – also helps to prevent arteriosclerosis (narrowing of blood arteries due to the accretion of cholesterol). Therefore the consummation of a moderate amount of wine can stimulate and stabilize low blood pressure. But beware – too much alcohol can cause high blood pressure too! Moderation is the key.
Conclusion: Wine can prevent the buildup of cholesterol and blood clots in the blood vessels and can therefore abate the risk of getting a heart attack. It also can help prevent arteriosclerosis; and stimulates and stabilizes low blood pressure.
Wine and your digestion system
Flavoring, mineral nutrients, the acid and alcohol contained in wine cause increased salivation and gastric juice secretion. Therefore, wine – especially highly aromatic wine with intense flavor – has long been consumed as an appetizer and to prevent the loss of appetite.
Wine activates the production of pepsin, which is a digestive enzyme, in the stomach. Furthermore the secretions of the pancreas and gall bladder are augmented, which increases the efficiency of the whole digestive system (and the risk of getting gall stones becomes smaller).
Wine can also be used as “medicine” for frequent digestive disorders especially young and fresh white wine or fermenting young wine. It abates constipation; while red wines rich in tannins can help cure diarrhea. This is because wine has a disinfectant effect on the gastrointestinal tract and kills the bacteria there.
Conclusion: Wine boosts the secretion of saliva, gastric juices and increases the production of digestive enzymes and helps against constipation and diarrhea!
Wine, your brain, nervous system and old age
A long-term study of approximately 4000 persons over 65 years of age showed that regular, moderate consumption of wine can help to prevent the degradation of the brain due to old age. Therefore wine drinkers often maintain their mental youth longer than people who don’t drink wine at all. Plus, according to that same study a fourth of a liter of wine per day reduced the aging process by more than a third.
The study also indicated that moderate consumption of wine also affects the nervous system by making us more aware of what is happening around us. Wine, as previously mentioned also causes the blood vessels to widen and an increased circulation of the blood, and therefore improves the oxygen supply to the brain.
Anecdotally, Johann W. Goethe, who was a fancier of wine, was said to say that wine increased his creativity.
Conclusion: Consumption of wine can increase awareness and creativity. And it slows down the degradation of the brain and helps slow down the aging process!
Wine and your immune system
The positive effects of the consumption of wine, especially the tannins and acids in wine, on the human immune system are based on its ability to detox the intermediate metabolism byproducts of bacteria and alcohol – and are therefore helpful in preventing intestinal infections caused by coliform bacteria and infections in the respiratory system.
Wine also helps to stimulate the respiratory system: the deepening and speeding up of breathing after drinking wine leads to a better transport of air through the bronchial tubes and therefore increases the supply of oxygen.
Conclusion: Wine can help fight against bacterial infections and helps to strengthen the immune system!
Can drinking wine help you lose weight?
Of course the consumption of a high amount of alcohol causes weight gain. But did you know that you can lose weight with alcohol too?
Weight loss methods using wine have been known and used for over 150 years. Around 1820, Dr. Johann Schroth developed a healing diet called “Schroth-Kur”, (still available today in Germany) – which essentially is an intensive purification of the body.
The vegan diet consists of low salt, no fat and is mostly protein free – and one has to alternate between “drinking days” (days where you drink a lot of a combination of herbal teas, juices and dry white wine and water) and “thirst days” (days where you don’t drink much at all).
Together with hot and cold body wraps, exercise and relaxation this cure guarantees weight loss by increasing your metabolic rate. It also rids the body of toxins, strengthens the immune system, calms the organs, lowers high blood pressure, lowers cholesterol and blood sugars, helps fight diabetes and respiratory and skin diseases and reduces the acidic build up in the body plus it lowers the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
Conclusion: With a moderate consummation of wine, combined with a vegan diet, it is possible to effectively lose weight!
Wine, your hormones, sex and love
The nervous system is not the only “controlling system” in the human body; another one is your hormones. Hormones are messengers that are manufactured in different places of the body (such as the thyroid, pancreas, and brain that regulates the reactions and maintenance of your body) to cause special effects on the body.
Moderate consumption of wine initiates the whole hormone system – and therefore increases the production of sex hormones. The noticeable feeling of warmth while drinking wine is caused by the expansion of blood vessels underneath the skin.
Consuming wine prior to love making relaxes the body and heightens the awareness of the moment and helps one feel “good”. Furthermore it has an impact on the production of estrogen – which therefore can help to ease the discomfort of menopause.
Another important significance is that wine increases the activity of the thyroid and therefore the resistance to diseases, such as colds, flu, rheumatic disorders and generally helps against stress.
Conclusion: Wine stimulates the hormone system, makes one feel “good” when making love and helps against discomfort during menopause. It also helps to reduce stress.
What is a “moderate” amount?
Generally speaking drinking a glass or two of wine a day combined with proper nutrition and regular exercise is considered to be moderate and beneficial to your health.
Drinking to excess of any alcohol is detrimental to your health. Balance is the key.
Yours in success in health and fitness
Dennis Croll
Vital Living
Many of us seem to have that knack for creating an overscheduled life. Are you finding yourself rushing from one event to another without time barely to breathe? If you feel in a jam and can’t cope with the over scheduled mess that is your life try some of these simple methods to get back in control again.
Take a moment for a mini-stress reliever. If you are overwhelmed, sometimes taking a little time for yourself will get you feeling back in control again. Try these mini-stress relievers:
Enjoy plenty of sleep