Research suggests that resveratrol, an antioxidant, in red wine has the potential to prevent or contain cancer and to lower the incidence of heart disease amongst other things.

My father was an alcoholic and in fact died from cirrhosis of the liver (a disease commonly caused by alcoholism). My husband’s father was also an alcoholic. So not surprisingly, we both abstained from alcohol – we just did not have the desire to drink and did not see any benefits from imbibing the stuff.

That is, until I began to drink wine on a weekly basis as part of the practicum of a three-month long bible study on the Holy Communion. Besides the relaxing sensation I experienced from sipping a glass of red wine, my digestive system (symptomized by my bowel movement) improved markedly. I was converted!

Why do French People Live Longer?

The French Paradox (which describes the phenomenon where French people consume a diet high in saturated fat yet experience lower levels of heart disease) initiated several studies that indicated that drinking red wine was the reason for the low levels of cardiovascular disease observed in the French. Though these studies have not been conclusive, they have led to further research that highlighted the chemical called polyphenols contained in vegetables and wine, and more so the polyphenol called resveratrol which is found in the seeds and skin of grapes (and therefore in red wine).

Benefits of Drinking Red Wine

Research suggests that resveratrol, an antioxidant, in red wine has the potential to:

1. Prevent or contain cancer

Studies done by the University of Colorado Cancer Center showing that resveratrol kills damaged cells thus preventing cancer have been highlighted in the journal Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology . Another study also shows good promise in the curing of pancreatic cancer.

2. Lower the incidence of heart disease:

One study confirms that the antioxidant compound resveratrol has the potential to cure or prevent heart disease.

3. Slow ageing:

The Universities of Exeter and Brighton confirmed that resveratrol not only slows ageing but rejuvenates aged cells. Their study indicates the immense anti-aging potential in resveratrol that needs to be further explored.

4. Help manage diabetes:

Natural News reports that the antioxidant in red wine can lower your risk of diabetes (Type 2).

5. Fight against dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease:

Antioxidants in red wine (consumed in moderate quantities) can clean up the plaque which is known to cause Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

6. Reduce obesity:

In a study involving middle-aged women, a moderate consumption of red wine was found to have the strongest association with a lower risk of obesity.

7. Increase energy and endurance:

The journal Cell Metabolism published the results of a study indicating that resveratrol consumption has the potential to improve metabolic health.

All these benefits are attractive to those of us on the other side of 50. Add to them the mood enhancement that a glass of wine can deliver to a 'menopausally' torn soul and this abstainer of alcohol is now truly converted.

Wait! Be Warned

Keep in mind that I’m just sharing my experience with red wine and the positive effects that one glass of Merlot a week has had on my health and mood. Each person must know his or her limits and susceptibility to alcohol and over-drinking. In November 2017, the American Society of Clinical Oncology issued a warning about the connection between alcohol consumption and the risk of cancer. Be warned also that persons with the following conditions should not consume alcohol:

• Family history of alcoholism

• Liver or pancreatic disease

• On medication or daily aspirin

• Pregnancy

• Heart conditions

• At risk of breast cancer

The jury is still out on data that confirms the health benefits of resveratrol and there’s no data that confirms the optimal dosage. We shouldn’t expect a whole lot of research to be done either - the pharmaceutical industry does not view the production of natural resveratrol medical treatments or supplements as financially viable since resveratrol is a natural compound that cannot be patented.

Which Wine, When and With What?

For those of us who can safely imbibe a moderate amount of red wine, various medical sources advise that women should consume no more than one glass (4 ounces) a day and conservatively, no more than five glasses a week. Men on the other hand may be able to drink two glasses a day.

Which wine? An American Journal of Enology and Viticulture study determined that resveratrol is highest in dark wines so the darker the wine, the better. Therefore, resveratrol is lower in white wines, which are made from grapes from which the skin (remember this is where the resveratrol resides) has been removed. Resveratrol is also lowest in sweeter wines (such as Zinfandel), higher in wines produced in the cooler regions of France and Canada and lower in wines made in hotter regions so Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are good candidates for higher levels of resveratrol.

Not all wines are created equal and this is true regarding the concentrations of antioxidants (like resveratrol) in each wine. There are essentially five popular brands of wine on the market from which we can choose:

Not all wines are created equal and this is true regarding the concentrations of antioxidants (like resveratrol) in each wine. There are essentially five popular brands of wine on the market from which we can choose:

• Cabernet Sauvignon: the most popular red wine

• Merlot: from the cooler southwest of France where longevity is higher; good for the red wine initiate

• Zinfandel: a sweet wine that tends to have the highest alcoholic content and lowest levels of polyphenols

• Pinot Noir: easily the most expensive red wine with the highest content of resveratrol

• Syrah or Shiraz: made in the cool regions of Australia and therefore high in resveratrol

We can also kick back and enjoy that glass of wine with a choice of favourite snack or food. Wine connoisseurs have paired red wine with particular foods with which they taste best. So for example, Pinot Noir is compatible with pasta, chicken, duck, red meat, salmon, pork and ham.

Practical Christian Application

Various religions prohibit the consumption of alcohol, for example Islam which warns of the intoxicating effects of alcohol and promises its believers that in Paradise, they will get to drink “rivers of wine” and not be intoxicated.

In Christianity, Jesus’ first miracle as recorded in the Bible was the turning of water into wine at a wedding. This act indicates Jesus’ very practical approach to living the Christian way and implies that Christians are not forbidden to drink wine. In fact, Jesus and His disciples drank wine at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:19). Drinking wine is described in the Bible as a symptom of God’s abundance and blessings (Amos 9:14; Jeremiah 31:12) and was therefore included in the sacrifice of offerings to God (Exodus 29:40). Wine was also prescribed as being good for the health (1 Timothy 5:23) and we are told to “no longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments”.

What is forbidden for Christians is drinking alcohol to the point of drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18) or addiction (1 Corinthians 6:12) since we have a responsibility to be in a state of self control whereby we can take every thought captive and be subject to God in our thoughts, words and actions.

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