Sunny Health

December is here and along with it comes the festive spirit. Whether you like parties, you’ll probably be invited to some, from reunion feasts to company year-end dinners. At such celebrations, alcoholic drinks tend to be a beverage of choice, especially red wine which is virtually a social norm at gatherings and an accompaniment to fine food. That doesn’t mean that everyone should drink it frequently though, especially when you’re already burdened with heavy food and late nights during the festive season. Red wine does have health benefits, which fans of the beverage are proud to declare, but they seem to have forgotten that it is but an alcohol.

What’s good about red wine? 

Red grape skins contain resveratrol, which has several benefits, including preventing fat accumulation, reducing insulin resistance and in turn the risk of diabetes, preventing blood clotting and plaque formation in arteries, and improving vascular function. This makes blood flow easier and keeps the heart pumping. The French Paradox strengthens this belief that red wine is good for the heart. The observation that the French experience low frequencies of coronary heart diseases despite a high-saturated fat diet. This has led to the speculation that red wine, practically a staple in French culinary culture, has contributed to the health of their hearts somewhat.

Resveratrol also inhibits some enzymes, destroying cancer cells, and preventing the development of blood vessels that feed a tumour. This means that resveratrols can reduce cancer risk.

What’s bad about red wine?  

Now, why don’t I say red wine reduces cancer risk? That’s because red wine contains alcohol, and alcohol is a carcinogen that increases risk of contracting any sort of cancer. The carcinogenic effect pretty much erases the good work of resveratrol.

Frequent, excessive drinking also negates the heart-healing properties of red wine, and increases the risk of stroke and damage to the heart muscle. Alcohol consumption raises triglyceride levels, which is associated with heart disease and diabetes.

Red wine also contains empty calories, or calories that lack nutrients, and lead to weight gain. One five-ounce glass of red wine is about 125 calories. Imagine how badly your body would take this after a night of drinking, especially when this does not include the party food.

Like all alcoholic beverages, excessive drinking can cause damage to vital organs such as the liver, weaken the immune system, impairs judgment (don’t drive when you drink red wine!), and lead to addiction and all its associated health and social problems. It is also dangerous to a developing fetus, so red wine should be off-limits during pregnancy.

An occasional toast for social events is all right, but do not drink it nightly as I’ve heard some people do because they mistook red wine for tonic. You can drink to good health, but not drink for your health. In fact, drinking to good health is the real paradox.