mild valvular heart disease

interest in wine's health in the last two decades were triggered by the desire to create a reason for the so-called" French paradox ". It is a, where a lower incidence of heart disease is in French. The French have a diet rich in fat and it is rational to think that this antagonistic diets would be incompatible with good health. The French are known to eat more beef, cheese and butter than their European neighbors. Several researchers came to the conclusion that, together with its rich fatty foods They also have a significant intake of red wine compared to other European countries and also in the west. The door was open to many researchers, the health effects of wine (especially red wine) as a possible solution to this dilemma. It is the research information that moderate consumption of red wine (that's one glass for women and one-two for men) can you do against heart disease, hypertension and cancer. It has been shown that a positive effect on cholesterol levels. Of course, moderation is the key here. This is certainly not an example where a little is good, a lot is better. That is why the medical community is very cautious to recommend the routine use of red wine, for obvious reasons.

Some studies in women in relation to the consumption of alcohol and the risk of breast cancer found an increase of this type of cancer in women who have at least one drink daily. According to a report from the American Cancer Society in 2004 there was a rise of 30% in mortality from breast cancer in women who drink alcohol daily. This confusing information aside the consumption of one or two drinks per day, with a reduction in risk of about 30 to 50 percent in cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of women overwhelming annually makes it the major target. So in total wine consumption has a positive effect on death in the female population.

The compounds responsible for the protective powers of wine are a class of compounds called antioxidants. Red wines contain several antioxidants the key to isolate the polyphenol connect Trans-Resveratrol, or Res short. Res in other fruit besides grapes, including mulberries, raspberries and grapes Muscadins (From the North and South America). And in this particular wine Res is seven times more concentrated. Resveratrol is also in peanuts and other nuts. Researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Illinois found that Res has both anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. A paper by The UNC researchers in 2000 in the journal Cancer Research reported that Res inhibits the activity of the protein NF-kappa B attaches to DNA inside human cells. This protein acts like a switch certain genes on and off. cancerous cells multiply and to survive with the help of NF-kappa B and thus under controlled settings, researchers introduction Res, arising out of this protein and thereby causes the death (apoptosis) of cancer cells.

In 1992 researchers at the Harvard Medical School, the moderate consumption of alcohol as one of eight ways to reduce cardiovascular disease at risk. The cardioprotective effect is due to the antioxidants in wine grape skins and seeds. These antioxidants (flavonoids) are in higher concentrations in red as opposed to white wine. As part of the red wine-making grape skins, stems and seeds are in contact with the juice for a long time, not only the "red" color, but also the health benefits flavonoids. It should also be noted that certain flavonoids in oak provides, like many red wine spends much time "Aging in oak barrels.

Cardiovascular disease by reducing resources and other antioxidant flavonoids in part by reducing the production of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increasing the good high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In addition, these agents reduce blood clotting thrombus of factors contributing to the "lumps" in the coronary arteries. Some of these properties can be attributed to the fact that Res has mild estrogenic properties and estrogens as a class of hormones seem to be cardioprotective.

Another study showed that resveratrol aided in the formation of nerve cells. There are experts who believe that this can be helpful in the treatment of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in the near future. There is even a study claimed that there daily moderate wine consumption is used in weight loss.

Not all wines are alike. Studies at the University of California at Davis who studies on several varieties. They determined that higher concentrations of flavonoids are Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir grapes. Red Merlot and Zinfandel have far fewer flavonoids. Whites were again briefly how greater courage more tannic wines seemed best for high yields flavonoid.

Resveratrol has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries in the form of a plant called Polygonum cuspidatum used in the treatment of liver and heart diseases. Why the bitter herbs, when you take a sip of fine wine?

According to recent statistics, 2002, wine volume in the United States about 595 million gallons. Around 34 million liters of wine annually, if the production in comparison with 2001 data and the trend continues. California remains the largest wine producing area in the U.S. with 90 percent in this state alone.

Sales of wine in the United States reached $ 21.1 billion in 2002, it has helped the U.S. to fourth in world wine production and consumption in the third. The Greek philosopher Plato is quoted as saying: "Nothing is more valuable than wine was excellent and always accompanied by the gods to humans. "" And that may be true about his fantasy view of the health benefits. The questions remain, with the increase in consumption in recent years, there will be a significant impact on the health of Americans? Cheers.

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References: (on request to author to jpsaleeby@aol.com)

JP Saleeby, MD is Co-Director of the Emergency Department at LRMC in Hinesville, GA. He is a strong advocate of nutritional medicine and oneophile the nature of the founding of the Savannah Wine Club. He holds faculty position at GSU Statesboro, GA, Lectures graduate nurse practitioners. He also maintains a blog on http://www.docsaleeby.blogspot.com and http://www.members.aol.com/savannahwine. To e-mail usage jpsaleeby@aol.com.