It’s “National Drink Wine Day“!
This celebration is held each year on February 18, so get ready to unwind with a glass or two of your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay.
There are so many “national” days – but this one is always fun, because “wine is life.”
All joking aside, wine is healthy, so let’s look at all the ways to celebrate that fact!
“Wine is sunlight, held together by water.”
We all know that a glass of red wine every day tastes great, but science has shown that it’s a great way to maintain a healthy heart. Did you know the other benefits of a glass of wine? How about boosting your memory and immune system. Not only that, but wine in moderation might also help with weight loss. I mean, this stuff is gold!
Toast To Good Health And Eternal Life!
We all know how good wine taste, but thanks to Food and Wine magazine, here are the eight great reasons you need to be drinking an f’in Merlot right now – let’s cut down these great health benefits!
Benefit #1: Promotes Longevity
The Evidence: Wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers. Source: a Finnish study of 2,468 men over a 29-year period, published in the Journals of Gerontology, 2007.
Benefit #2: Reduces Heart-Attack Risk
The Evidence: Moderate drinkers suffering from high blood pressure are 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack than nondrinkers. Source: a 16-year Harvard School of Public Health study of 11,711 men, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007.
Benefit #3: Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
The Evidence: Red-wine tannins contain procyanidins, which protect against heart disease. Wines from Sardinia and southwest France have more procyanidins than other wines. Source: a study at Queen Mary University in London, published in Nature, 2006.
Benefit #4: Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
The Evidence: Moderate drinkers have 30 percent less risk than nondrinkers of developing type 2 diabetes. Source: research on 369,862 individuals studied over an average of 12 years each, at Amsterdam’s VU University Medical Center, published in Diabetes Care, 2005.
Benefit #5: Lowers Risk of Stroke
The Evidence: The possibility of suffering a blood clot–related stroke drops by about 50 percent in people who consume moderate amounts of alcohol. Source: a Columbia University study of 3,176 individuals over an eight-year period, published in Stroke, 2006.
Benefit #6: Cuts Risk of Cataracts
The Evidence: Moderate drinkers are 32 percent less likely to get cataracts than nondrinkers; those who consume wine are 43 percent less likely to develop cataracts than those drinking mainly beer. Source: a study of 1,379 individuals in Iceland, published in Nature, 2003.
Benefit #7: Cuts Risk of Colon Cancer
The Evidence: Moderate consumption of wine (especially red) cuts the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent. Source: a Stony Brook University study of 2,291 individuals over a four-year period, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005.
Oh, and happy birthday to the visionary wine maker Luc Morlet!
I will toast you today!
Now, back to the health benefits of wine!
Benefit #8: Slows Brain Decline
The Evidence: Brain function declines at a markedly faster rate in nondrinkers than in moderate drinkers. Source: a Columbia University study of 1,416 people, published in Neuroepidemiology, 2006.
I mean, these are just the tip of the “wine is healthy” iceberg! My wife and I got the chance to explore the Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine region of France:
We had incredible wines all over the region – here is a look at that tasty trip:
Finally, I leave you with Daryl Hall and John Oates and their raucous musical tribute to wine:
Daryl Hall & John Oates – Intravino!
Wine is so good for you that Hall & Oates once wrote a song about it!
“Gimme wine, wine, I need IntraVino
Wine, wine, I need it every day-o
Wine, wine, Mis en bouteilles au Chateau
All the time, I need wine all the time.
Six o’clock gotta have Beaujolais
Eight o’clock I open up Pouilly-Fuiss?
Love the ruby color. Grand cru classe
Never love another once I’ve savored that bouquet
Oh yeah need IntraVino!”
Here they are performing it live:
Wine is also funny. If you don’t believe me, ask Monty Python, who offered up this wine review:
“It’s a fine regurgitator!”
See some of the Python’s best wine reviews here:
Finally, Alex and I got to explore a unique winery on the Greek Island of Santorini:
Yes, they have no rain but they grow grapes – in a very unique way!
Click here to see how:
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If you enjoy these moments, please share on social media – and get ready for more Greek adventures….let me know if you’ve been!
Categories: Art, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Travel, Travel Adventures, Wacky Food, wine
Do these benefits only apply to red wine, John? I drink white wine as red gives me headaches. I use red to cook though. I remember that post from Santorini, the shape of the grapes was very memorable.
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Robbie, white wine is also healthy…slightly less so as red wine has a bit more of the nutrients and antioxidants based on the contact with the skins being a bit longer
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That is good to know, John. I do enjoy a glass of wine…
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I love this!! My two glasses of wine each day is obviously contributing to my, well, everything. 😀
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I love wine. Thank God something I love is good for me. Prost!
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Indeed! As with everything moderation is key, but the facts are the facts – wine is life! Thanks for reading and commenting, always great to hear from you!
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John, I must be getting confused in my old age! I thought EVERY day was ‘drink wine day’.
Luckily, I have some Argentinian Malbec to salute the day with later. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, I know you ar win the middle of a huge storm, but a Malbec could very well be the thing that makes it pass by easier!
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Cheers, John…enjoy the wine 🙂 x
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Woo hoo! Don’t miss a minute!
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