Research shows wine can be part of a healthy lifestyle

By Marc Roland

As members of a wine community, it is our responsibility to learn about the bad and the good of alcohol consumption because our health depends on it. Unfortunately, folks pick and choose what they want to believe, usually to justify their behavior and relationship to booze. It can get confusing out there when it comes to health information.

I can’t give you all the facts, but I do want to encourage you to stay informed. But fads abound, and sometimes we just pay attention to the headlines. Remember when we all thought eggs were bad for the heart? It turns out that heart disease is more complex than that.

Regarding alcohol, it is not as easy as just going dry, because we may miss out on growing evidence of positive benefits of alcohol. Besides, who wants to go without wine? You maybe should just cash it in right now because there is nothing in this world better than the fruit of the vine. Life without wine is like life without the NFL!

There are risks in alcohol consumption, but there is also growing scientific evidence that wine can be a part of a healthy lifestyle. ‘Can be’ is the key. If all you do is sit in front of the computer or television for countless hours, spend very little time outside, worry about everything, and eat and drink thoughtlessly, wine is not going to be your friend. That’s the bad news. But let’s talk about the good news. Recent studies have shown a correlation between light to moderate wine drinking with lower rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes,

Longview resident and former Kelso teacher Marc Roland started making wine in 2008 in his garage. He and his wife, Nancy, now operate Roland Wines at 1106 Florida Street in Longview’s new “barrel district.” For wine tasting hours, call 360-846-7304.

Alzheimer’s, dementia, and respiratory illness. You can check it out for yourself. However, this model assumes you are also eating healthful food and getting plenty of exercise.

One thing that is clear, all bets are off if we over-drink. What is moderation when it comes to drinking? It is generally defined as two drinks per day for men and one drink for women. Heart health and consumption of certain foods have been an ongoing area of promising research. It revolves around polyphenols, including resveratrol found naturally in plants. In wine these are found in grape skins. Polyphenols give plants their pigments that protect them from ultraviolet radiation. The main cardiovascular benefit of wine is increasing HDL cholesterol for its ability to lower LDH cholesterol. Keeping your pipes clear is the goal. Also, moderate intake of alcohol was found to inhibit thrombosis, the formation of of large blood clots that cause strokes and heart attack. Brain research lately has found beautiful links between alcohol and health. As far as the brain is concerned, those who eat a varied diet and have an active life, along with drinking in moderation, have a greater chance of avoiding dementia, stroke, and depression.

Researchers have shown a strong link to the polyphenols found in grapes, olive oil, vegetables, and fruits. In fact, people between 60 and 100 years old who consume 15mg per day of flavonols found in wine experience a 32% decrease in cognitive decline. To our health...Cheers!

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