The health benefits of red wine have long been known in many societies across the ages:

“I think it is a great error to consider a heavy tax on wines as a tax on luxury. On the contrary, it is a tax on the health of our citizens.” ~Thomas Jefferson

“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favours what you do.”~ Ecclesiastes 9:7

“I have lived temperately…I double the doctor’s recommendation of a glass and a half of wine each day and even treble it with a friend.” ~Thomas Jefferson

“Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, make the sage folic, and the serious smile.”~ Homer

“In Europe we thought of wine as something as healthy and normal as food and also a great giver of happiness and well being and delight. Drinking wine was not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult; it was as natural as eating and to me as necessary.” ~ Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

“I have enjoyed great health at a great age because everyday since I can remember I have consumed a bottle of wine except when I have not felt well…then I have consumed two bottles.” ~ Bishop of Seville

The Documented Benefits of Red Wine

• Promotes Longevity ~ A Finnish study of 2,468 men over a 29-year period, published in the Journals of Gerontology, 2007 showed that wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than those consuming beer or spirits.  Source: www.foodandwine.com
• Reduces Risk of Heart Attack ~ Moderate drinkers suffering from high blood pressure are 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack than nondrinkers according to a 16-year Harvard School of Public Health study of 11,711 men, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007.  Source: www.foodandwine.com
• Lowers Risk of Heart Disease ~ Red-wine tannins contain procyanidins, which protect against heart disease according to a study at Queen Mary University in London, published in Nature, 2006. Wines from Sardinia and southwest France have more procyanidins than other wines.  Source: www.foodandwine.com
• Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes ~ Moderate drinkers have 30 percent less risk than nondrinkers of developing type 2 diabetes according to Amsterdam's VU University Medical Center. Research on 369,862 individuals studied over an average of 12 years each, at Amsterdam's VU University Medical Center, published in Diabetes Care, 2005.  Source: www.foodandwine.com
• Lowers Risk of Stroke ~ The possibility of suffering a blood clot–related stroke drops by about 50 percent in people who consume moderate amounts of alcohol according to a Columbia University study of 3,176 individuals over an eight-year period, published in Stroke, 2006.  Source: www.foodandwine.com
• Cuts Risk of Cataracts ~ Moderate drinkers are 32 percent less likely to get cataracts than nondrinkers; those who consume wine are 43 percent less likely to develop cataracts than those drinking mainly beer according to a study of 1,379 individuals in Iceland, published in Nature, 2003.  Source: www.foodandwine.com
• Slows Brain Decline ~ Brain function declines at a markedly faster rate in nondrinkers than in moderate drinkers according to a Columbia University study of 1,416 people, published in Neuroepidemiology, 2006.  Source: www.foodandwine.com
• Cuts Risk of Colon Cancer ~ Moderate consumption of wine (especially red) cuts the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent according to a Stony Brook University study of 2,291 individuals over a four-year period, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005.   Source: www.foodandwine.com
• Natural Pro-biotic Effect ~ People who drank 2 glasses of dry red wine per day had higher levels of beneficial bacteria in their gut and lower levels of pathogenic bad bacteria in their gut according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95:1323-1334).  Pro-Biotics help (i) guard against unfriendly bacteria; (ii) improve function of digestive system, (iii) maintain body’s chemical and hormone balance, and (iv) maintain high energy levels and proper immune function. Source: "Red Wine and Your Gut?" by Mike Geary 

Red Wine and Your Gut? It Boosts Beneficial Belly Bugs!

     by Mike Geary

You’ve probably heard that red wine can be a very healthy drink option, but you most likely only heard about generic benefits of the antioxidants and resveratrol in red wine.

But here’s another MAJOR reason below why red wine in moderation (1-2 glasses per day max) can be a super healthy part of your routine. I personally have really grown to enjoy having a glass of red wine with dinner about 4-5 days per week.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95:1323-1334) reported that people who drank 2 glasses of red wine per day (dry red wine, not sugary dessert wines) had higher levels of beneficial bacteria in their gut and lower levels of pathogenic bad bacteria in their gut. This is great news as you know from reading this site how vastly important your gut flora balance is to everything from your digestion, immunity, metabolism, skin health, and much more.

The study concluded that while red wine consumption decreased pathogenic bacteria in the gut, it actually had a prebiotic effect in the gut in that it supported the growth and colonies of healthy gut microbes which protect your health.

But the powerful health benefits of red wine don’t stop there…

Another exciting part of this study is that the red wine drinkers also decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and CRP (C-reactive protein). CRP is a measure of overall inflammation in your body, so it’s great to see an association between red wine and reduced inflammation.

The interesting part of the study is that red wine was compared against equivalent servings of gin (equivalent alcohol serving) and none of the benefits mentioned above were seen in the group consuming the gin. This means the benefits were probably related to the polyphenols and resveratrol in red wine and not necessarily the alcohol content itself, although there is likely a synergistic effect of the alcohol and other compounds in red wine as the group receiving de-alcoholized red wine got less of a blood pressure benefit.

You can choose Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Shiraz or any other dry red wine to get all of these powerful health benefits of the unique polyphenols and resveratrol.

Note that white wine also has some health benefits but not nearly as powerful as red wine due to the lower antioxidant levels.

Another benefit of red wine not mentioned in the study above is that I’ve seen studies that show that red wine consumed with a meal can slow and moderate the blood sugar response you get from that meal. This is yet another benefit to keeping your hormones balanced, controlling insulin levels, controlling appetite, and staying lean!

As you can see, there’s plenty of reasons raise a glass of red wine at your meals and toast to your health and happiness!

But beware…

As good as red wine is for your health and gut microbes, there are plenty of things that can DESTROY your beneficial gut flora…

Antibiotics (over-prescribed, often unnecessarily) are one thing that can destroy your gut flora balance and have huge ramifications for your health. In addition, too much sugar in your diet can increase the growth of bad bacteria, and using the artificial sweetener sucralose can KILL-off portions of your beneficial bacteria, destroying your health in the process.

Red wine is just one of many foods that boost healthy gut bacteria and can actually wipe out premature aging. For a complete list of 101 Foods that Fight Aging (and the worst foods) click the link below…

Source of Article:

http://www.thealternativedaily.com/red-wine-and-your-gut-boosts-beneficial-belly-bugs/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=N130701

Other Page Sources:

http://www.naturalhealthcarestore.com/

http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/8-health-benefits-of-drinking-wine

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