This evening from 7-10 pm in the Courtyard of the Maison Dupuy is the Grand Opening of the French Quarter Wine Festival. Over 50 wines from the many wineries featured in this year’s festival will be displayed and available to be sipped and well matched with some delicious appetizers from Chef Michael Farrell.

We figured that the Grand Opening on the French Quarter Wine Festival would an excellent time to discuss the pro and cons of wine and what people often refer to as the “Health Benefits” of drinking wine.

Nothing that follows is meant to obscure the fact that prolonged excessive alcohol consumption is detrimental to one’s health.

Many studies investigated the benefits of red wine suggested that moderate amount of red wine (one drink a day for women (5 oz) and two drinks ( 10 oz) a day for men) lowers the risk of heart attack for people in middle age by ~ 30 to 50 percent. It is also suggested that alcohol such as red wine may prevent additional heart attacks if you have already suffered from one.

Other studies also indicated that red wine can raise HDL cholesterol (the Good cholesterol) and prevent LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) from forming. Red wine may help prevent blood clots and reduce the blood vessel damage caused by fat deposits. Indeed, studies showed that people from the Mediterranean region who regularly drank red wine have lower risks of heart disease

What’s in Red Wine that is good for the heart?

Red wine is a particularly rich source of antioxidants flavonoid phenolics, so many studies to uncover a cause for red wine’s effects have focused on its phenolic constituents, particularly resveratrol and the flavonoids. Resveratrol, found in grape skins and seeds, increases HDL cholesterol and prevent blood clotting. Flavonoids, on the other hand, exhibit antioxidant properties helping prevent blood clots and plaques formation in arteries.

(Source: HealthCastle.com)

People with Diabetes or High Triglycerides: One downside to wine consumption is that it can elevate triglyceride levels, which is associated with health problems such as diabetes.  Those who already have high triglycerides should, therefore, avoid or dramatically limit their wine (and alcohol) consumption.

Women Be Extra Aware (CNN Health)

Attention red wine drinkers: Drinking moderate amounts of any kind of alcohol (including wine, beer, and liquor) is associated with a slightly increased breast cancer risk — and the rosy-hued beverage is no exception…

… researchers looked at 6,327 women with breast cancer and 7,558 women who did not have a cancer diagnosis. Risk rose with the amount of alcohol consumed, no matter whether it was wine, beer or liquor. The heaviest drinkers — women who reported having 14 or more drinks a week — were 24 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than nondrinkers… Lighter drinkers who consumed about a drink or two a day (7 to 13.9 drinks per week) were 11 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than women who didn’t drink at all.

Conclusion

Drinking in moderation is paramount.  While attending the French Quarter Wine Festival – be sure to take small sips of the wines you elect to taste…as a matter of fact it’s not unheard of to sniff, sip n’ spit at wine tastings.  “Wet your palettes” without swallowing.

Wine is also full of empty calories…so for the sake of your waist line – do keep it within 10 oz for men and no more than 5 oz for women. Five ounces white or red wine = approximately 120 calories.  Drink a bottle of wine (4 glasses), and you’ll be consuming about 480 calories (that’s the equivalent of two 20-ounce Cokes!).

Great Informational Video with more information

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