“And wine ...gladdens the heart of man.” (Tehillim 104:15)
Tuscany is a land of vineyards and small wineries. It seems like every village is famous for a particular wine.
We were served locally produced kosher wines – two dry reds and a white. Don’t ask me for a review. I can’t tell you if they had “hints of berry”, or a “flinty mineral note”. One of the reds was called “Aleph”, with a large Hebrew aleph on the label. Not very sophisticated, but delicious none the less.
At home we enjoy a glass of good Israeli wine on Shabbat and holidays. Even though there’s always a bottle in the refrigerator, we don’t even think about drinking wine with weekday meals. Our tradition encourages a moderate intake of alcohol.
But maybe we should consider drinking wine more often. After all, it was very relaxing and truly added to the pleasure of our meals.
And what about health benefits?
Is there a connection between alcohol and heart health? Does wine explain the French paradox – the observation that the French (and perhaps Italians) eat a relatively high-fat diet, enjoy wine with their meals and have a low death rate from heart disease?
People who drink one to two alcoholic beverages a day have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke than non-drinkers. Their overall mortality rate is lower as well.
Wine and weight reduction?
Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes and red wine, is showing promise. In mice fed a high-caloric diet, resveratrol prevented diabetes and clogged arteries caused by obesity. Preliminary lab studies indicate that resveratrol slows the growth of fat cells. The mechanism is complex, and much more research is needed, but it’s a start in understanding the French paradox.
There’s more to consider before you increase your alcohol consumption.
Can you afford the extra calories (or are you willing to cut calories elsewhere)?
Are you taking medications that don’t mix well with alcohol?
Do you have a medical condition that precludes drinking?
Are you pregnant or breast feeding?
Will you be driving or operating machinery?
As there’s no simple “One Size Fits All” answer, its best discussed with your physician.
Tuscany is a land of vineyards and small wineries. It seems like every village is famous for a particular wine.
We were served locally produced kosher wines – two dry reds and a white. Don’t ask me for a review. I can’t tell you if they had “hints of berry”, or a “flinty mineral note”. One of the reds was called “Aleph”, with a large Hebrew aleph on the label. Not very sophisticated, but delicious none the less.
At home we enjoy a glass of good Israeli wine on Shabbat and holidays. Even though there’s always a bottle in the refrigerator, we don’t even think about drinking wine with weekday meals. Our tradition encourages a moderate intake of alcohol.
But maybe we should consider drinking wine more often. After all, it was very relaxing and truly added to the pleasure of our meals.
And what about health benefits?
Is there a connection between alcohol and heart health? Does wine explain the French paradox – the observation that the French (and perhaps Italians) eat a relatively high-fat diet, enjoy wine with their meals and have a low death rate from heart disease?
People who drink one to two alcoholic beverages a day have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke than non-drinkers. Their overall mortality rate is lower as well.
Wine and weight reduction?
Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes and red wine, is showing promise. In mice fed a high-caloric diet, resveratrol prevented diabetes and clogged arteries caused by obesity. Preliminary lab studies indicate that resveratrol slows the growth of fat cells. The mechanism is complex, and much more research is needed, but it’s a start in understanding the French paradox.
There’s more to consider before you increase your alcohol consumption.
Can you afford the extra calories (or are you willing to cut calories elsewhere)?
Are you taking medications that don’t mix well with alcohol?
Do you have a medical condition that precludes drinking?
Are you pregnant or breast feeding?
Will you be driving or operating machinery?
As there’s no simple “One Size Fits All” answer, its best discussed with your physician.
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