Given that my last post was about excluding something from the diet I thought I'd do a post about something that many people really enjoy and that can be celebrated. A few people with nutrition qualifications might be very strict and there are lots of raw vegans out there but I do absolutely adore alcohol and I can't pretend otherwise!
Red wine is one of many alcoholic drinks I really like. Like anything, it's possible to enjoy it as part of a healthy diet if you're able to get the balance right.
Good or bad for you?
Messages about alcohol can be quite confusing, there's no black and white answer. It is generally well accepted that excessive alcohol consumption can be incredibly damaging to one's health and no one (except those in denial!) would really argue with that. Conversely it is often said that small amounts of alcohol can be beneficial for the heart and that teetotallers die younger.
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I've mentioned before about the blue zones (certain areas in the world where there are a higher percentage of centenarians) and their habits that are responsible for their longevity have been studied extensively. I can remember in one of my first lectures on my nutrition course where we learned about the 9 factors in these people's lives. When the speaker said that red wine was one of them I can remember practically the whole lecture auditorium cheered!
Many people might have heard of the French Paradox. In the UK, the health advice is generally to cut down on saturated fat in order to maintain a healthy heart but the French eat a diet high in saturated fat with lots of butter, cheese and meat yet have a lower rate of heart disease and obesity, attributed to their consumption of red wine. Sounds convenient doesn't it! (not to vegans like me obviously) but the idea of consuming rich, calorific foods and wine and remaining healthier is something a lot of people would dream of.
I've not looked into this in detail but I do truly believe that stress is a bigger factor in disease than nutrition and some experts believe that a more laid back attitude is the real explanation for the difference in disease prevalence. In fact only 3 out of the 9 habits of people living in the blue zones were diet related. This is not to say diet isn't important, it's crucial but the importance of the right lifestyle can't be overlooked. See my blog: http://samanthathesanevegan.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/no-such-thing-as-laziness.html for more on the lifestyle I'm referring to!
What's special about Red Red Wine? :)
Does that mean that we should drink as much as we want and that people who don't drink are missing out on these benefits? No! (Dammit)
Red wine is only good for you in moderation and excessive amounts of alcohol of any kind increase your risk of cancer, lower your immunity, deplete the body of essential nutrients, are harmful to the liver and digestive system and impair bone health. Red wine also contains a toxic kind of alcohol called methanol as well as the usual ethanol, which is why it gives some people really bad hangovers! There's nothing that's completely beneficial!
So what's the real deal? We should consume it in moderation to gain the benefits without being too adversely affected by its negative effects.
But what is moderation?
But what is moderation?
Yeah, that's realistic! ooh I can have half a
cocktail! sorry I can't stop laughing!
Yeah, that's realistic! ooh I can have half a
cocktail! sorry I can't stop laughing!
There are some general guidelines but I think it's another thing that's not black and white. Some people choose not to drink alcohol for personal, health or religious reasons and of course that's fine. Resveratrol is found in foods including peanuts, pistachios, grapes (duh), berries, cocoa and dark chocolate. It can also be supplemented and so no one has to miss out on its benefits due to dietary restrictions.
The general guidelines are to have no more than 3 units per day for women and no more than 4 per day for men. Hmmmm.
Do you think that when I meet up with my friends we have one glass of wine each and then we buy rounds of green tea and sparkling water with a slice of lemon? Er, nope. I don't drink a lot generally but sometimes on weekends and special occasions I like to get a bit merry and I don't see that as a crime ;).
The general guidelines are to have no more than 3 units per day for women and no more than 4 per day for men. Hmmmm.
Do you think that when I meet up with my friends we have one glass of wine each and then we buy rounds of green tea and sparkling water with a slice of lemon? Er, nope. I don't drink a lot generally but sometimes on weekends and special occasions I like to get a bit merry and I don't see that as a crime ;).
Get the balance right!
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If you have healthy habits (drinking sufficient water, ensuring you don't drink on an empty stomach) and don't have an addiction you can afford to indulge a bit sometimes. Regularly eating nutritious foods high in B-vitamins, Zinc, Selenium, antioxidants, protein and fibre helps to keep your liver healthy. The trouble is, a lot of people think the amount they drink is normal (when it's not!) and are in denial that they have a problem. If you feel like you 'must' have alcohol to get through the day or find yourself spiralling out of control it's advisable to get support. Some people are more genetically predisposed to addictions than others and it shouldn't be shameful to ask for help. If you drink too much because you are stressed or depressed my blogs: http://samanthathesanevegan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/5-things-to-do-when-black-dog-strikes.html &
http://samanthathesanevegan.blogspot.co.uk/2015_05_01_archive.html might be helpful in directing you on where to get help for this.
I am health conscious and I tend to judge what's an appropriate amount to drink by how I feel. I have gotten it wrong in the past. I've only had one hangover in my life (do not trust those 2 for a fiver bottles of wine from corner shops!) and I've thrown up because of drinking too much less than 10 times in my life (not bad for a 32 year old I think!) I allow myself to get a bit jolly but not to the stage where I lose complete control and become disorientated. The fact that more than 99% of the time I wake up feeling fine after drinking and have very few symptoms of ill-health demonstrates I'm not drinking at a level where it negatively impacts my health.
It's always good to keep an eye out for any changes in health that suggest something might be wrong (fatigue, weight gain, breast lumps, infertility, hormonal issues, headaches, digestive problems) that could potentially be related to excess alcohol consumption. But if you view red wine as something you enjoy and you're happy to have it in a quantity that's not harmful to your health, go ahead without guilt!
I am health conscious and I tend to judge what's an appropriate amount to drink by how I feel. I have gotten it wrong in the past. I've only had one hangover in my life (do not trust those 2 for a fiver bottles of wine from corner shops!) and I've thrown up because of drinking too much less than 10 times in my life (not bad for a 32 year old I think!) I allow myself to get a bit jolly but not to the stage where I lose complete control and become disorientated. The fact that more than 99% of the time I wake up feeling fine after drinking and have very few symptoms of ill-health demonstrates I'm not drinking at a level where it negatively impacts my health.
It's always good to keep an eye out for any changes in health that suggest something might be wrong (fatigue, weight gain, breast lumps, infertility, hormonal issues, headaches, digestive problems) that could potentially be related to excess alcohol consumption. But if you view red wine as something you enjoy and you're happy to have it in a quantity that's not harmful to your health, go ahead without guilt!
Cheers!
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