Is red wine healthy? Is drinking red wine advisable? |

In this article you will learn, among others:

• Is red wine healthy?

• Is fatty food harmful?

• Do fatty foods be eaten in France?

Is red wine healthy?

The French phenomenon has long been a mystery to the minds of health and nutritionists. It was only certain that the French were much less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than other nations. For comparison – 3 times less often than Poles. We have long heard that drinking red wine regularly (according to the World Health Organization it is 0,2 liters for women and 0,3 liters for men up to five times a week) reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Our nutritionist also writes about it in his article on the beneficial properties of wine. Recently, however, some doubts have arisen in this regard. We could find both information that no alcohol, in any amount, has a positive effect on our health, and assurances that it is the secret of this phenomenon.

Does red wine really do this? It does, however, there is one serious BUT – it only works for people who exercise regularly. During the congress of the European Society of Cardiology in Barcelona, ​​the beneficial effects of red and white wine on reducing the level of bad cholesterol – LDL were confirmed. However, the supply of total cholesterol decreased only in people in the group drinking only red wine. Most importantly, the most pronounced and lasting effect was noticeable in those who exercised regularly.

So it is not enough to sit down after work in a comfortable armchair with a glass of wine from Wednesday to Sunday. To achieve the assumed goal, you also need exercise, which in itself has a beneficial effect on the body. The more so because regular exercise does not really require much effort – it is considered that you can talk about it when you are active twice a week.

Do fatty foods be eaten in France?

The fanatics of not entirely healthy food probably rejoiced when they heard the arguments that the French, considered to be healthy, eat a lot of fatty pates (e.g. foie gras), cheeses and livers. So maybe it’s not true that fatty foods lead to cardiovascular disease? – the supporters of high-fat diets raised their voices.

Nothing could be more wrong. This rumor was exposed for us by a Polish woman who has lived in France for 12 years, has a French husband, who prepares meals on their farm.

When I read such arguments, it makes me feel weak. Yes, perhaps the French like to eat a delicacy from time to time in the form of good cheese or liver, but this is not their basis of nutrition. They eat too much regularly and often, and the meals are as varied as possible. In my family home, we did not eat as many raw vegetables as here for a month – Marzena is outraged.

Our heroine also tells about the method of preparing vegetables: 

… they are not soaked in mayonnaise, but herbs and wine oil are added. It’s enough. Such salad is our everyday life.

Perhaps the famous French phenomenon is a combination of several principles, which consequently give such excellent results in the fight against cardiovascular diseases. One thing is certain – frequent, varied meals full of vegetables, regular exercise will bring health benefits even if we eat something more fatty (albeit of good quality) from time to time and drink a glass of wine 5 times a week – for people who are against turning on any amount alcohol for the diet.

Do you think that Marzena and her family are unique? Maybe you have other examples the French paradox? Have you also heard that drinking red wine is healthy? Did you think France eats a lot of fatty food?

Main photo is from: fofie57 / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Photo 2 in the text is from: cyclonebill / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The first photo in the text comes from: HarshLight / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)