We’re sure you’ve heard on more than one occasion that drinking a glass of wine a day can have a positive effect on your health.
It is also very likely that you’ve heard, also on several occasions, that the former statement is a myth not based on solid scientific evidence.
So, who should we believe? To answer this question, in today’s post we have rounded up some of the serious scientific evidence that shows whether wine does, or does not, have a positive effect on our health and wellbeing.
As a matter of fact, in February 2017, the 8th Edition of the International ‘Wine and Health’ Congress, took place, coincidentally, in Logroño, Rioja, attended by some of the world’s leading experts in medicine, nutrition, food and diet. Around 200 people had the chance to talk about the latest lines of research and the most recent conclusions in terms of the effect of wine on health.
It was the first time that Spain hosted the event, which was supported by the Rioja DOCa Regulatory Council, alongside many other prestigious institutions such as the Riojan Government and the University of Barcelona. Previous editions have taken place in Italy (on two occasions), the USA, Chile, South Africa, France, and Spain took over from Australia.
Wine and health: What does science have to say?
Among the conclusions that the panels of experts came to in this and previous editions, we can find some really interesting statements such as:
- That moderate wine consumption reduces the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, both in men and women, proven in studies that compare moderate drinkers with teetotallers.
- Both red and white wine help to metabolize glucose, and therefore improve blood sugar levels. Thus moderate consumption of wine is also linked to a reduction in the occurence of type 2 diabetes.
- It has been demonstrated that wine, or more specifically, the polyphenols that it contains, have a prebiotic effect that improves digestion and intestinal transit.
- Resveratrol in wine is responsible for longer life expectancy, which has been scientifically proven.
- The intake of half a glass of wine (100ml) by people of 65 years and older is associated with a reduction in cognitive impairment (comparing, once again, moderate wine drinkers with abstainers).
- Unlike other types of alcoholic drinks, wine consumption is linked to reduced rates of some types of cancer.
Moderate consumption
One of the aims of the Wine and Health congress is to publicise the benefits of wine to society and encourage the development and promotion of public health policy that supports moderate and sensible drinking.
But what do we mean by moderate consumption? Generally, we mean two glasses of wine a day for men and one glass for women. But it is important to bear in mind that this rule is a generalisation, as determining what quantity of wine would equate to moderate consumption for one person in particular would entail bearing in mind other factors beyond their gender, such as their age, height, weight, build and general health.
In addition, to benefit from all of wine’s positive factors, it is vital that it is drunk alongside a balanced diet, like the Mediterranean diet.
Therefore, here at Bodegas Montecillo we support the promotion of health and the moderate consumption of wine alongside good eating habits and a healthy way of life that includes physical exercise to improve your quality of life.
To your health, good wine and food!
