What do you know about WINE?

Is Wine Good For You?

There is a great deal to be said for “everything in moderation.” While massive amounts of wine will definitely up your daily caloric intake, choosing a glass of healthier red wine each day isn’t bad for you.

In recent years, studies began to emerge about the health benefits of wine, including cardiovascular system improvements and decreases in certain types of cancer. Of course, that doesn’t mean to drink a bottle at a time. Despite the benefits, red wine calories range from 90 to 105 or more per glass. Those calories add up, and since wine is a beverage, you will be mostly consuming empty calories. Wine fans can, however, rest easy because the calories in your daily glass of wine will not wreck a healthy diet.

God have told the Levites not to drink wine or other fermented drink when they go into the Tent of Meeting. (Lev 10:9)

Different types of wine red wines are made with red grapes. But the color does not actually come from the grape juice itself. Instead it comes from the grapes being fermented with skins still on.

This gives red wines their color and also increases the amount of tannin. Tannin is a natural substance present in grape skins that gives wine part of its flavor. It also helps in the aging process. Wines that contain high amounts of tannin, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, age excellently.

White wine is made with white grapes, though it is possible to make white wine using red grapes. This is because when white wine is made, the juice is separated from the skins before the fermentation process. The juice does not absorb the color of the skins. For the same reason, white wine has much less tannin than red.

Rosé Wine - Rosé wines are made with red grapes, but are only allowed to stay in contact with the grape skins for a short time. This allows it to keep only some of the reddish color (and only some of the tannin).

Rosé wines are sometimes called blush wines. Sometimes they are even called white despite the obvious pink color. White Zinfandel is a rose wine, not a white.

Fortified wine - Also called dessert wines or liqueur wines, this type of wine has been "fortified" with extra alcohol. The Alcohol content of these wines will be over 14%.

Fortified wines are not generally served with a meal. These types of wines are often served after retiring from the dinner table. Some examples of fortified wines are Port, Sherry, and Madeira.

Sparkling wine and Champagne
Sparkling wine is easy to distinguish from table wine because it has bubbles. The process of making sparkling wine can take months, even years.
Sparkling wine is popular worldwide and is produced in all of the major winemaking regions. Perhaps you have heard of the most famous sparkling wine ... It's called Champagne!

Characteristics

Acidity
The acidity level in wine is derived in two ways: The natural acids in the grape and the acids that occur as a result of fermentation. When someone is describing the "acidity" of wine, he or she is referring to how sharp or tart the wine tastes. When a wine's acidity is too high, it's flavor is too tart and aggressive, too low and the wine will taste dull, bland and flabby.

Green
Wines high in acidity and generally unbalance flavors are described as green. This term is usually reserved for white wines.

Forward
These wines display their flavor characteristics at the fist sip and often do not leave any lingering flavors.

Aggressive
Wines described as "aggressive" are either too tannic, acidic or a combination of both.

Harsh
Harsh wines have high amount of alcohol content and the flavor characteristics are very astringent. Harsh wines are often aged in order for the wine to mellow.

Astringent
If a wine is described as astringent, it means that it leaves the mouth feeling overwhelmingly dry. Wines that are highly astringent have a high level of tannins, acids or a combination of both. Astringent wines are often described as austere mellow as they age.

Heavy
Used to describe wine that is too high in tannins. Heavy wines are considered to be unbalanced.

Balanced
This wine characteristic is exactly what it sounds like and refers to a wine that is not too acidic, astringent, tannic or fruity.

Herbaceous
Generally used as a positive descriptive quality in a wine's flavor and aromas. Herbaceous wines have flavor and aroma nuances of fresh herbs.

Austere
A wine that is described as "austere" is a wine with crisp, but harsh flavor characteristics. Austere wines are generally young wines with high acids, tannins or both.

Medicinal
These wines have aromatic and flavor overtones of chemicals usually found in liquor such as Single Malt Scotch.

Benefits of Drinking Wine

Red wine is made from red grapes, including the skins and seeds, providing plenty of antioxidants that offer health benefits. Researchers are looking at the effects that Mediterranean people who consume red wine experience, including lower rates of heart disease. Additional health gains include:

* Prevents blood vessel clotting
* Increases HDL (good cholesterol)
* Prevents formation of bad cholesterol (LDL)
* Prevents heart disease
* May prevent cancer
* Aids with digestion
* May protect the brain from the damage of a stroke

The antioxidants, or flavonoids, are available in many types of red wine, but the highest flavonoid counts are in Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Syrah. Merlot and Zinfandel have less flavonoids. Additionally, the vitamins and minerals in red wine, as well as potassium and low sodium provide additional health benefits.

Medical Studies
The latest study from the Harvard Medical School and National Institute of Aging looked at the effect of the resveratrol in red wine on a diet high in calories. Remarkably, early findings indicate that resveratrol contributed to overweight lab mice living a healthy life. Heavy doses of the extract provide significant benefits, lowering the rate of fat-related illnesses, diabetes and liver problems.

The wine industry has promoted wine for its health benefits and the medical community has been trying to validate any health benefits to drinking wine, particularly red wine

Before we get down to the numbers, let’s talk about why you’ll want to make room in your diet for all those wine calories.

Red wine in particular is thought to be good for your health. Drinking red wine seems to protect the heart; it’s what’s known as the French paradox — how do the French eat so much saturated fat in cheese and meats but have half the rate of cardiovascular deaths that America has? The answer seems to be something in the wine.

The French Paradox is that red wine consumed on a regular basis may decrease coronary heart disease (CHD). And as anyone who has ever eaten a flaky, melt-in-your-mouth croissant can attest, the French don't skimp on their butter .As obese as Americans are known to be, the slimmer French consume a significantly higher amount of butter, cheese, and other foods with saturated fats than Americans. Logically, the folks on the east end of the Chunnel should be clutching their chests and dropping like flies. Yet statistically, the French have a significantly lower incidence of heart disease fatalities. This noted paradox supposed that the mitigating factor in reducing heart disease was the imbibement of red wine.

There are specific flavanoids in red wine grapes known as catechins, which seem to act as antioxidants and protect the body’s cells from damage. Wine may help to regulate cholesterol, prevent ulcers, keep people from developing colorectal cancer and prevent diabetes. Moderate drinking can also calm anxiety, aid digestion and stimulate the appetite.

So what is “moderate drinking”? Although there is no official line on how much wine gives you the optimum health benefits without the risks of overconsumption, most experts say one or two glasses of wine a day is ideal for women, while men can have two or three drinks a day. If you and your partner are regularly emptying a bottle a day, that’s probably a bit too much which may intoxicated a person and tends to be violence. (Proverb 4:17, Matthew 24:49)

Red Wine Benefits — Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the number one killer disease in the United States and affects more than one million people. Besides genetics, a common root cause to CHD is anteroschlerosis, or in the more vernacular, hardening of the arteries, a disease affecting arterial blood vessels and decreasing the body's oxygen supply. The hardening of the arteries occurs through the build-up of lipoproteins (cholestrol and triglycerides) in the arterial walls, resulting in the loss of elasticity. The best way to get these lipoproteins? Eat a thick piece of marbled prime rib with a double scoop of sour cream on that baked potato and with Red wine to rescue.

An active ingredient in a red grape's skin is a phenolic compound called resveratrol. This flavonoid, and others, can be found in a grape's skin and stems. These phenolics help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), while at the same time up one's good cholesterol (HDL). There are higher levels of resveratrol in red wine compared to white wine due to longer contact with the grape skins during fermentation and subsequent extraction time (and longer equals better). This may help explain the French Paradox and lower heart disease rates but there aren't any conclusive studies to confirm or to counter the paradox's suggestion.

Alcohol's Role
Phenolics such as resveratrol are important for their benefits, but the role of alcohol cannot be understated. The chemical component in red wine that gets you tipsy may also play a part, perhaps a bigger part, in reducing heart disease. Research has also indicated that alcohol consumed regularly in moderation also aids in boosting the good HDL cholesterol and reducing the bad LDL. It also generates anti-coagulants to discourage the blood clotting which will raise heart attack and stroke risks. Another factor to consider is the relaxing mood effect that alcohol can provide as well. Stress can trigger cardiac events and the tonic potency of alcohol can reduce stress.

Antioxidants
Antioxidants have been overhyped and underestimated. Regardless, antioxidants in general are regarded as important substances to aid cancer prevention. Coincidentally, red wine's resveratrol and other phenolic compounds are antioxidants that carry these anti-cancer properties. There is some positive research showing red wines help reduce ovarian, prostate, and lung cancers. However, alcoholic consumption may also increase the risk in cancers of the breast, the digestive tract, esophagus, and also stomach and colon. So, in this case the benefits are a mixed bag of news.

A Litany of Red Wine Benefits
Red wine's alcohol and resveratrol help reduce cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol and other antioxidants help fight cancer causing cells. It that it? Not quite. Actually research is proliferating around the world and making connections with many other potential health benefits linked to a daily glass or two of red wine. The following are some of the reported possibilities associated with red wine:

* Ulcers - Wine diminishes certain bacteria that can cause ulcers.

* Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
Studies have shown that resveratrol can protect against the encroachment of
Alzheimer's by inhibiting beta-amyloid protein that creates the plaque found in
Alzheimer sufferer's brains. It may also slow the progress of dementia.

* Colds and Respiratory Ailments
Red wine's antioxidants have shown to help ward off the common cold. It
also may help against bronchitis, emphysema, and pneumonia.

* Obesity and Longer Life
A study has also indicated that obese mice that have consumed large doses
of wine live longer than those fat mice that abstained.

* Stroke - Moderate drinking indicates reduced risk of stroke.

* Bones - A couple of glasses of red wine may help build stronger bones.

* Longer Life - Overall, moderate drinkers have shown a tendency to live
longer than abstainers.

These are just a sampling of consequential benefits derived from red wine. However, it is important to remember that these benefits are based upon moderation rather than heavy or binge drinking.

Moderation
General consensus is that moderation equates one glass and two glasses per day for women and men respectively. That's glasses , not bottles. A glass is about five ounces. There may be some deviation in this amount based upon an individual's body size.

Negative Effects of Alcohol
This last bit is to rein in your enthusiasm. Whereas there are excellent health benefits from drinking red wine, it would be disingenuous to suggest there isn't a dark side. All research indicates that alcohol abuse incurs higher health risks. The following are some of these negative effects to keep in mind when thinking about opening that second bottle of wine.

* Obesity - Alcoholic beverages are high in calories, empty calories. Obesity is
a confirmed health hazard, so remember that when eating nachos with
Zinfandel.

* Liver Disease

* Addiction

* High Blood Pressure - Heavy drinking can raise a person's BP and cancel
out the cardiovascular benefits.

* Accidents - Accidents happen, sure. Don't encourage them. Never drive
drunk.

* Pregnancy - If you're pregnant, it's better to abstain from drinking rather
than risk harming the fetus.

* Looking Foolish

Wine Calories
How many calories are in that glass? That varies depending on the manufacturer and the type of wine, but a good average is around 100 calories per four ounce glass. Red wine tends to have more calories than white, but white doesn’t offer the same health benefits as red.

Here are some more specific approximate calorie values for some of the most popular types of wine. Again, this is for a four-ounce glass, so if you’re drinking more than that, you’ll be getting more calories.

Variety Calories
Bejoulais 95
Bordeaux 95
Burgundy 95
Cabernet Savignon 90
Chablis 85
Dry Champagne 105
Chardonnay 90
Chianti 100
Merlot 95
Ruby Port 185
White Port 175
Reisling 90
Rose 95
Sangria 115
Red Zinfaldel 90
White Zinfandel 80

Determining Red Wine Calories
While the calorie count will vary among the different types of red wine, you can safely assume that you will be drinking about 100 calories in each serving. A serving of wine is four ounces, so be aware when pouring your wine. Those large wine glasses are beautiful, but remember not to overfill or you will be increasing the calorie load. Red wine calories are also impacted by alcohol content, with higher alcohol content equating to more calories. To make sure you’re not drinking too many calories, use a measuring cup to determine what a four ounce serving looks like.

Fitting Wine into a Healthy Diet
If you’re only wanting one glass of wine, it’s easy to fit most any wine into your diet. If you exercise a few extra minutes you’ll completely cancel out the calories.

If you like having a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, it’s possible to sabotage a diet by not counting wine in your daily calorie intake. That extra 200 calories a day adds 1,400 calories a week or 73,000 calories a year, which would cause you to gain 18 pounds if you didn’t compensate by eating less or exercising more.

But it’s easy to make room for that extra 200 calories in your diet. Just cutting out one regular soda from your daily diet will give you most of the calories you need for your wine, and the health benefits of drinking wine instead of soda are huge.

You could also cut out a snack or change your snacking habits to something lower calorie to make up for the calories in your favorite adult beverage. "A little sacrifice is more than worth the pleasure of drinking without worry".

Wine for Weight Loss
If you are concerned about your weight and finding ways to cut calories, you may want to consider limiting your wine intake until you reach your target weight. Once you reach that targetted number, you can include the occasional glass of wine without too much guilt. If you are tracking your daily calories, visit a calorie counter for red wine calories to get the exact number.

Therefore do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery, instead be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 4:18)