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Drinking wine may increase men's longevity
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Men who drink half a glass of wine daily could be living five years longer, according to a study reported in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
The goal of this analysis was to determine the effect of long-term alcohol intake and types of beverages consumed on cardiovascular mortality and life expectancy at age 50 years. The study consisted of 1,373 men who were born between 1900 and 1920 and evaluated frequently between 1960 and 2000.
Compared with those who did not drink alcohol, men who drank about one-half a glass of wine per day had a life expectancy about five years longer. The study did not specify red or white wine as the magic elixir. There was no similar study on women.
“Light to moderate alcohol intake lowers the risk of cardiovascular death but whether this protective effect can be attributed to a specific type of beverage remains unclear,” a critic of the study wrote. “Moreover, little is known about the effects of long-term alcohol intake on life expectancy.”
But, there are proponents of wine drinking who have observed the results up close.
A Bay Area cardiovascular surgeon, said he has noticed during surgery that patients who have a history of drinking red wine have softer, more pliable arteries with no hardening. This is due to the nitric oxide extracted from the skins of red grapes that has been proven to be the active ingredient that decreases the level of cholesterol and bad lipids and increase the level of good lipids. What’s more, elements from grape skin extract also relax the blood vessels, decrease the tendency for blood to clot and create a blood pressure lowering effect.
The authors of the study admitted more investigation was needed. But, in the meantime drink up -- it’s good for you.
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