Health, Alcohol and Wine

2/8/2021

During a casual conversation with a coworker about vineyards in New Mexico and how they compare to wineries and vineyards in other parts of the country (of course Napa and Sonoma Counties headed the list), the topic switched gears to the health effects of wine and whether red wine offers a significant advantage over its white wine counterpart.

A typical glass of wine includes water (obviously), anthocyanin (an antioxidant), and polyphenols; a category of plant compounds that is thought to boost digestion and brain health, as well as to protect against heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even certain cancers. Other substances in wine that are considered to offer health benefits include tannin and resveratrol. Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.  Taken in moderation, they can help the body stay in good health, and may prevent some diseases. This is because tannins are a sort of antioxidant, normally found in tea. However, too many tannins can also disrupt a person’s health. Resveratrol is a natural substance that is produced by several plants in response to injury or when the plant is under attack by pathogens, such as bacteria or fungi.

Antioxidants – as a general class of substances – are compounds that prevent cellular damage caused by inflammation and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a condition caused by an imbalance of specific molecules called free radicals, which, due to their electronic valence, can damage DNA, cell functions and even causes symptoms of aging, such as wrinkles. Antioxidants such as thiols or ascorbic acid terminate free radical reactions.  Plants and animals maintain complex systems of overlapping antioxidants, such as glutathione and enzymes, produced internally. To enhance health, many people take such dietary antioxidants as vitamin C and vitamin E to balance the effects of oxidative stress.

Because red wine grapes are higher in antioxidants than white grape varieties, there is a belief that drinking red wine may increase your blood antioxidant levels to a greater extent than drinking white wines.

The main difference between white and red wine has to do with the color of the grapes used. It also has to do with whether the grape juice is fermented with or without the grape skin. To make white wine, grapes are pressed, followed by removing the grape skin, seeds and stems prior to fermentation.

To make red wine, the crushed red grapes are transferred to vats directly and they ferment with the skin, seeds and stems. The grape skins lend the wine its pigment, as well as many of the distinctive health compounds found in red wine. As a result of steeping with the grape skins, red wine is particularly rich in plant compounds that are present in those skins, such as tannins and resveratrol (mentioned earlier). White wine also has some of these healthy plant compounds, but generally in much lower amounts.  

Ruby red wines are considered to be the healthiest wines as they have more antioxidants than all the other varieties. Such wines include zinfandels, merlots, and cabernets. That’s because the grape skins aren’t removed during fermentation. The antioxidants within the dark skins provide substances such as procyanidins; a chemical class that has been linked to health benefits including heart disease protection, and possibly longevity.

But maybe the health aspect of wine may not be without question.  For instance, many studies that have used populations to determine the health of wine drinkers compared to those that do not drink wine; whether the choice of wine is of red a or white variety.  As it turns out, researchers have noticed that wine drinkers were younger, wealthier, less likely to smoke, and more physically fit than their beer or liquor-imbibing counterparts. And after adjusting for lifestyle factors, studies have suggested that wine may offer no greater health benefit than beer or liquor.

And then there is the health effects of alcohol itself.  The fact is, various wines will have alcohol contents that range from 5.5% to as high as 21.5%.  And, while alcohol is a broad category of a chemical family, the alcohol we all fondly refer to is ethyl alcohol or ethanol. And this substance is classified as a neurotoxin: a type of toxin that damages, destroys, or impairs the functioning of the central and/or peripheral nervous system. The nervous system is almost all-powerful in the body: all five senses depend on it, as do breathing, digestion, and the heart.

In addition once in our bodies, our biological mechanisms begin the breakdown process so we can easily remove it from our bodies through excretion (mostly urination). And through this process, known as metabolism, as alcohol reaches the liver, it is transformed into the chemical, acetaldehyde, which the World Health Organization has classified as a human carcinogen!

Alcohol also interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination.  

In addition, drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including:

• Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart muscle
• Arrhythmias – Irregular heartbeat
• Stroke
• High blood pressure  

Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to a variety of problems and liver inflammations including:

• Steatosis, or fatty liver
• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Fibrosis
• Cirrhosis

Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion. 

So, while we may recognize some positive attributes in wine (whether red or white), those that drink wine in excess may not reap the those benefits for which such compounds as antioxidants, tannins and resveratrol may offer.

Everything in Moderation….Including Moderation!

Oscar Wilde