07/04/08 Wine & Health

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. I regularly hear people referring to having their glass of red wine for "medicinal purposes" as the joke goes. However, recently, when a luncheon companion did not get the joke, I realized just how long it has been since the television program 60 Minutes aired its feature on the French Paradox. There are people out there who know nothing about it. It was more than a decade a go when the media broadcasts were filled with the news that moderate consumption of wine might actually be good for us. In case you haven't heard about it  Researchers couldn't understand why the French, with diets so high in fats, primarily from cheese, were not suffering from more heart attacks. The findings of the researchers indicated that it was the moderate and steady consumption of red wine that was to be applauded for the surprising health of the French. I myself think that it is not only moderation of wine but also moderation in general that keeps them so healthy. That is the catch  moderation. Most studies emphasize the merits of moderation, which is defined as one to two glasses of wine per day. Saving them all up for the weekend is unacceptable. Because on the flip side too much wine per week can lead to impaired health and can actually make you more susceptible to disease rather than less. Since the first research, studies have shown that the benefits do not lie in red wine alone but that white wine also contains many of the elements that contribute to wines health benefits. Nice to know isn't it. In addition, thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.