紅酒資料2

Introduction
Since the Medieval Times, wine has been added to drinking water to kill bacteria, or consumed as a more hygienic alternative to well water, particularly in France which has a very long history of producing fine, if not excellent, wines.  More recently, the antimicrobial properties of wine, especially red wine, are being studied for cavity prevention, as resveratrol is found in quality red wine by Medical Researchers and Professors.
 
Numerous studies have been conducted since the year 1980 and a connection between imbibing vino and lower rates of heart attack, stroke and death caused by heart disease have now been discovered, according to Medical Doctors and consultants at the Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts, in a long study of drinking moderate quality red wine may prevent heart disease, diabetes and coronary artery disease.  But, less empirical evidence is found on the effect on cancer and dementia.
 
Moderate Drinking
Consumption of “moderate” wine is said to be good for health by almost all medical doctors, researchers or professors.  However, what is “moderate”?  According to a research conducted by Dr. A.L. Klatsky on “Alcohol and Cardiovascular Diseases: where do we stand today?” published in the Journal of Internal Medicine in the USA on 8th July 2015, he found that the mortality rate amongst light-moderate drinkers, e.g. less than a full glass of red wine a day, is lower, as there is good evidence that supports the existence of mechanisms by which alcohol could protect against coronary artery disease.
 
There are, however, many other studies suggested that different persons including the person’s size, age, sex, body stature and whether the wine is consumed with food or on an empty stomach etc., would produce different results.  According to “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010”, which is published by the US department of Agriculture, alcohol should be consumed in moderation, i.e. up to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
 
Health Benefits of Drinking Wines
(a) Prevention of Colon Cancer – very encouraging news have been received from the Scientists and Professors from the University of Leicester, England, as they reported at the 2nd International Scientific Conference on Resveratrol and Health in New York, that moderate red wine consumption can reduce the rate of bowel tumors by approximately 50%.
(b) Anti-aging – it is also pleasing to see that the Researchers from Harvard Medical School have found that red wine has anti-aging properties, as resveratrol was the compound found to have the beneficial effect.  The resveratrol in wine comes from the skins of red grapes, particularly in blueberries, cranberries and nuts, etc.  As a matter of fact, wine’s anti-aging properties have been discussed for over a few thousand years, as the Monasteries throughout the entire Europe were convinced that their monks’ longer lifespans, when compared to the rest of the population in the European countries, was partly due to their moderate but regular consumption of wine.
 
The study conducted by the University of London has found that procyanidins, compounds commonly found in red wine, keep the blood vessels healthy and are one of the factors that contribute towards longer lifespans enjoyed by the people in Sardinia and the southwest of France.  The Researchers and Professors at the said University have also found that red wine made in the traditional way has much higher levels of procyanidins than other wines.
 
(c) Prevention of Dementia – a team of Medical Researchers from Loyola University Medical Centre found that moderate red wine intake can reduce the risk of developing dementia.  In this study, the Researchers gathered and analyzed data from academic papers on red wine since 1977.  This study, which has spanned over 19 nations, showed a statistically significantly lower risk of dementia among regular/moderate red wine drinkers in 14 Countries.  The Professors explained that resveratrol reduces the stickiness of blood platelets, which helps to keep the blood vessels open and flexible; and which in turn maintains a good blood supply to the brain.  Indeed, both white and red wines contain resveratrol, but red wine has much more, since the skin of the red grapes is used in the manufacturing process and such skin contains very high level of resveratrol.  Professor Edward J. Neafsey and his colleagues have announced in “The Journal of Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment” that moderate red wine drinkers had a 23% lower risk of developing dementia.
 
(d) Reducing Risk of Depression – a team of Experts from several leading Universities in Spain reported in the Journal “BMC Medicine” that drinking wine may reduce the risk of depression.  In these studies, the Researchers gathered data on 2,683 men and 2,822 women aged from 55 to 80 years over a period of seven years, and the participants had to complete a blood frequency questionnaire every year, which included details on their alcohol consumption as well as their mental health.
 
The Scientists found that men and women who drank two to seven glasses of wine per week were less likely to be diagnosed with depression.
 
(e) Prevention of Breast Cancer – a team of Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, found after extensive research over a period of time that red wine intake would reduce the risk of breast cancer.  In the Journal of Women’s Health, the Scientists explained that chemical in the skins and seeds of red grapes reduce estrogen levels while raising testosterone in premenopausal women, which results in a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
 
The Medical Consultants and in particular, Dr. Chrisandra Shufelt, MD, empha-sized that it is not just the red wine that has the beneficial compounds, but its raw material – red grape.  They suggested that when women are choosing an alcoholic drink to consume, they should consider red wine.  They reiterated that they were not encouraging wine over grapes.
 
In fact, this study surprised many researchers.  Most Studies point to a higher risk of breast cancer from consuming alcoholic drinks, because alcohol raises a woman’s estrogen levels, which in turn encourage the growth of cancer cells.
 
Conclusion
As numerous Studies and Researches have been conducted over the past 40 odds years by the World’s Scientists and Medical experts on the health benefits, as well as the health risks, on alcohol or wine, the findings with empirical evidence over all these years cannot be so inaccurate or wrong, as now found by Harvard Researchers on cancer risk, which has shocked all wine producers and drinkers, though such report has emphasized that moderate alcohol consumption is probably harmless.  It may be a mode of advertisement by them but, on the whole and particularly when different persons may have different reactions to alcohol, no prudent persons should, or would, take the aforesaid result as conclusive evidence, just like the findings on coffee to health over the last decade.  Insofar as other long Studies by other famous Universities and Scientists around the World are concerned, the consumption of “moderate” wine is surely good for one’s health, with at least the above-mentioned health benefits.
 
Dr. George Y.C. Mok
PhD MBA CCMI FCS FCIS FAIA
Wine Consultant
 © Hong Kong 2016