Category Archives: wines & spirits

Is alcohol unhealthy? Nothing is healthy when consumed in excess, but some alcoholic beverages may actually be healthier choices than others.

That’s the best way to describe the relationship between alcohol and health. As I’ve written about before, a number of studies have demonstrated health benefits with lower amounts of drinking. But if you drink too much alcohol (especially at inopportune times), there may be significant harms as well. Just how these balance out remains a matter of some debate and controversy.

If you’ve recently woken up with the mother of all hangovers, you will know that overdoing it on the alcohol front is never the best idea. But while drinking to excess is associated with a number of health concerns, is total sobriety really the only option if you want to look after your health and wellbeing?

Since the early 1990s, the news media has been full of reports about the health benefits of red wine. However, it can be difficult for wine drinkers to sort out the facts from the hype. There have been numerous scientific studies into this issue, and the results can help you understand whether moderate consumption of red wine really might help improve your health.

Pop quiz: What is the one modifiable lifestyle factor associated with the lowest rate of decline in mental function with age? (Hint: It isn’t doing Sudoku or crossword puzzles, though I am a fan.) (Another hint: This is a blog about the health benefits of wine.)

Am I really going to suggest that wine is an effective strategy against the corona virus outbreak? Not quite, but there is evidence to suggest that red wine and compounds derived from wine are potent antivirals. Resveratrol, a polyphenol from red wine, has been shown to inhibit replication of the MERS-CoV (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) corona virus, and its predecessor SARS-CoV, both close relatives of COVID-19.

Although gluten-free beer options are expanding and the selections are getting tastier, some people simply want alternatives to beer. Fortunately, there are several options, including a wide variety of gluten-free ciders.

In life, we are told there are two kinds of people: wine drinkers and beer drinkers.

Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy.