Raising a glass to good health

Americans prepare for the holidays as if we’re going into the biosphere. We start with a game plan:

Diet in October and November so we can splurge in December.

We eat before going to a cocktail party to avoid the buffet or appetizers that, yes, often are loaded with calories. We avoid alcohol during the week so the sky’s the limit on weekends. But it doesn’t usually work out the way we plan.

It’s unfortunate that we can’t accrue our skipped cocktail points, but somehow, we adapt.

Most physicians are hesitant to tell patients about any benefits of alcohol — with good reason. Look what’s happening to the good word on dark chocolate. It’s everywhere, and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, from chocolate manufacturers to the clients I see as a registered dietician.

I have one client who gained nearly 15 pounds in a single month. After reviewing her diet history, we discovered dark chocolate was the culprit. Repeat after me: A little is good; a lot does not necessarily mean real good.

In excess, alcohol can create numerous health problems. Too many to list. Alcohol in moderation is another story. Research from all over the world continues to show that moderate alcohol consumption actually may improve cardiovascular health and possibly reduce the risk of strokes and certain cancers. Studies even have shown a decreased risk in age-related diseases such as dementia.

Let’s clear up one thing. We’ve all heard about the French paradox. The French drink wine all the time, but they don’t gain weight and they have lower rates of heart disease. Why don’t we have the same luxury? Because we don’t.

Our eating and drinking habits just aren’t the same as those of the French. For one, we often pour larger glasses, and we Americans drink to take the edge off or feel a buzz. The French drink wine as part of the meal. It’s part of their food and food culture.

The way we drink wine is also associated with other American food choices, such as our heavy use of processed foods and supersized portions that play a leading role in our country’s health maladies. It’s just not the same. Move on.

We’ve been told for years that moderate consumption of red wine is the best choice when choosing a cocktail. The antioxidant resveratrol (called “res,” by those in the know) is prevalent in the skins of red grapes and is the power ingredient responsible for red wine’s purported virtues.

Recent research has found that moderate red wine consumption may be beneficial for more than just your heart. It’s believed that it might lower bad cholesterol and boost good cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

One study found that res may inhibit tumor development in some cancers, while another study touted its ability to aid in nerve formation. This makes red wine potentially helpful in the treatment of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.

Red wine has received the most attention simply because it’s the most studied. Through additional research, the focus is slowly expanding to include white wine, dark beer and some spirits.

White wine is proving to have its own unique set of antioxidant benefits that promote heart health. Dark beer also contains antioxidants and minerals that may play a role in regulating blood sugar levels. The darker-colored spirits, such as whiskey, seem to have some of the same antioxidants found in red wine.

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