GROWING WISER Red Wine, White Wine and Your Heart
by Dorie U. Sugay
dorie@visitingangels.com
O
K, so you already know that red wine is good for the heart. And you may also know that there has been evidence to suggest that antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols may possi- bly help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of “good” cholesterol, protecting against artery damage and preventing blood clots. These antioxidants were believed to be in the skin of the grapes. White wines were not credited with such merits because in processing white wine, the skins were quickly separated out. But is red wine really better than white wine? Recent evidence suggests that the Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs and Rieslings may have been unjustifiably regarded as “second” to red wines when it comes to matters of the heart. Findings published by the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry suggest that the pulp of grapes appears to be just as healthy for the heart as the skin which means that the Merlots, Cabernet Sauvignons and Pinot Noirs are no longer the only choices for a heart-healthy drink! (Ooh is my heart smil- ing. This heart loves Riesling, you see. Boy, am I glad I stubbornly believed that my Riesling was worthy of my loyalty!) So if you want to be good to your heart,
should you take up drinking? Not neces- sarily! Eating grapes or drinking grape juice supposedly gets you resveratrol (a polyphenol in red wine) without drinking alcohol. And supposedly, red and purple grape juices are believed to have antioxi- dants as red wine does. Peanuts, blueber- ries and cranberries also contain resvera- trol. But there isn’t enough evidence yet to determine if eating these foods or taking reseveratrol supplements are as good for your heart as wine, however. (Don’t let that stop you from using them as snacks to be good to your heart anyway!)
So does this mean we can party away to
our heart’s content? Not really. US News Health did a survey and found that 76% of 1000 Americans polled were not aware that although wine is good for the heart, drink- ing more than what is considered a healthy amount, can cause problems. What is con- sidered a healthy amount may surprise you: an average of two drinks (ten ounces total) a day for men and one drink (five ounces) a day for women. The limit for men is high- er because men generally weigh more and have more of an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol than women do. Drink much more than that regularly and you may be opening the door to potential issues like irregular
heartbeat, obesity, cancer, high blood pres- sure, high triclycerides, and in some cases, even a weakened heart muscle, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). As with most things, being responsible about what you do is key. If you can do that, why not be a good citizen at the same time and support our local wineries. Our Google search listed the following award- winning wineries in our neighborhood: Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill has won seven gold medals in 2010-2011. Solis Winery on Highway 152 in Gilroy has won Best of Class, one gold, two silver medals just this year, and two golds and one silver last year. Sarah’s Vineyard, Thomas Kruse, Hecker Pass Winery and Fortino Winery, all on Hwy 152, boast of gold, sil- ver and bronze medals for their wines. Jason Stephens on Watsonville Road in Gilroy also has a few silver and bronze awards under its belt. Down the street on Watsonville Road towards Morgan Hill are Kirigin Cellars, Sycamore Creek, Clos La Chance. Martin Ranch Winery is off Watsonville Road on Redwood Retreat Road.
In July, local wineries will participate at
the Wine Pavilion at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. The Wine Pavilion is a big fund-
42 June 2011 • Out & About
www.outandaboutmagazine.com
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