Key to health and longevity? Drinking wine
Wine has been one of the most often mentioned reasons for living a long and full life. Obviously, longer life should mean a healthier one. Dietitians claim the determinant here is the quantity of the consumed alcohol. The rule is not to consume more than one drink a day for women and two for men.
The moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of a heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases from 25% to 40% as compared to non-drinkers. The red wine benefits health due to its polyphenols. They regulate blood sugar and so by drinking wine people also protect themselves from type 2 diabetes, Danish scientists conclude. Another report shows a glass of red wine is equivalent to an hour at the gym. Numerous centenarians have attributed their longevity to alcohol.
There is another side of the story, unfortunately. Wine can pose a risk to health so beware the quantities. Excessive drinking can cause inflammation of the liver and a potentially fatal cirrhosis. It can increase blood pressure, damage the heart muscle, and lead to different types of cancer. The risk increases for those who also smoke tobacco. Furthermore, any amount of alcohol consumption increases risk for those who have a strong family cancer history.
Vancouver dietitian Desiree Nielsen advises to keep drinks to the weekend most weeks and to remember not to consume the weekly allotment within two days.
