Savannah Mul – Opinions Editor –
Within European culture, it is customary to enjoy a glass of wine with afternoon meals or dinners for anyone who might be over the age of 16-years-old. After all, a glass of wine does keep the doctor away.
Though red wine does contain antioxidants and polyphenols, a nutrient from the skin of the red grapes, (hence, why red is better than white) but a glass certainly doesn’t contain enough nutrients to fulfill the amount the body needs; so don’t throw away that apple so quickly.
The French culture contains many foods that are of high-fat and calorie content, but with almost every meal, it will be complemented with a glass of wine. According to webmd.com, it reports the French population to have healthy heart life, which they attribute to moderately drinking red wine.
Red wine is by no means the answer or a preventable cure for any type of disease, but if drank moderately with a glass or two every other night, it is possible that it’ll cut down the risk of heart disease, strokes and even increase a person’s longevity.
It’s almost about every year that new studies come out of the health benefits of drinking red wine and the long term effects that drinking the beverage will have on a person.
For all the red wine lovers out there, these studies couldn’t make a person happier. An alcohol that actually has health benefits, it’s a keeper then.
I grew up with parents who are wine connoisseaurs, and their glasses are more goblet- like than a glass you would get from a restuarant.
Every time a new study is annouced on the news, my father just says to my mother, “See, we’ll live the longest, cause we drink the good red wine,” is always what he says.
Since red wine has antioxidants, there is a higher chance of preventing heart disease than if you would be throwing back a few bottles of beer per night.
A tip for picking out the “healthier” wine is the darker or drier the wine is, the more levels of antioxidants and polyphenols are within the bottle. The darker the wine the more healthier it is.
So go for (my personal favorite) cabernet sauvignon, or petit syrah and pinot noir. All are dark red wines, which if drank in moderation will be benefiting a person health all their life.
Remember though that the sweeter the wine and the ones lighter in color are more your thing—white wines— they aren’t as beneficial to your health as the red; they have less antioxidants and nutrients from the grape skin.
The key to receiving the added health benefits in drinking red wine is moderation. Drinking in moderation, having one glass a night, is better and healthier than kicking back a whole 750mL bottle per night, which I won’t be surprised if many college kids do.
It’s a habit to break. First of all, you’ll wake up feeling better without that headache from drinking a whole bottle of wine, and you’re body will feel healthier too.
The key is moderation, which can be hard to explain to college kids, but maybe we have to learn to adapt part of the French lifestyle in regards to drinking wine. It’s not such a bad idea.
Have a glass before or after dinner. Start building up a healthy heart now.
Plus as stated in an old Medieval German saying, “Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved.”