Are there any benefits of drinking wines?
In early 1990s, a cardiologist, Dr. Serge Renaud, found that the fat-derived cholesterol that builds up in the arteries and can eventually lead to heart disease by blocking the heart’s supply of oxygen can be dispersed by the tannins in red wines.
Statistically, with moderate drinking, the risk of death from cardiovascular disease may be reduced by up to 30 per cent, especially for men over 40 and post-menopausal women. However, drinking wines has no health benefits to younger age groups. Anyway, it is not recommended that anyone should start drinking for health reasons.
Alcohol and Its Metabolism
Alcohol is absorbed by the body through the stomach and small intestines. As the body cannot store alcohol, so it has to be excreted by the metabolism of the liver and through urine, breath and sweat.
The metabolic process is very complex. To cut it short, the liver first convert alcohol into acetaldehyde (highly toxic), which is then changed to acetate (harmless), which is then turned into carbon dioxide and water, and are finally excreted from the body.
Heath Concerns
About 90-95% of alcohol consumed is processed by the liver. Therefore, excess drinking will cause serious damage to the liver. In the extreme case, it will lead to alcoholic fatty liver and cirrhosis.
In addition to liver trouble, excess drinking on a regular basis can also increase the risks of
- Alcoholism
- Sexual difficulties
- Cardiac arrest and stroke
- Pancreatitis
- Stomach disorder, such as ulcers
- Certain types of cancer, especially of the aero-digestive tract and breast cancer.