RED WINE – Cheers to your health, but too much drink and nobody knows your name.

In the US of early 90’s, the TV series 60 minutes aired a report on a phenomenon known as French Paradox – the fact that the French have a lower rate of heart disease compared to Americans, despite the diet higher in fat.

The one thing that American diet lacks in comparison to the French diet is red wine. In the following this report, Americans increase their purchase of red wine by 39%.

Actually, drinking small amount of alcohol (not necessarily a red wine) can reduce your risk of heart disease. Cancer Research UK is one authority that concurs. However, this applies only to men above 40 and women who have been through menopause.

The maximum you should be drinking is 2 units per day for women and three units per day for men. A standard 175ml glass of wine (of 11 to 12% volume) contains two units. Premium pint of beer (5%) contains three units. Beyond that, the harm (heart disease, cancer)out does the good.

There is actually some science behind the supposed benefits of red wine. Red wine is rich in resveratrol. It is part of the plant’s defence system against disease.

Resveratrol has been shown to reduce tumour incidence in animals. Scientists are studying resveratrol to learn more about its cancer preventive activities in man. This research is in its infancy.

Even when resveratrol proven to be an anti cancer, the amount you get in each glass of red wine is so minuscule, you’ll probably need hundred glasses o wine daily to ap its anti cancer properties!

In years to come, it may be possible to take a tablet of resveratrol. It is more practicable. Too much alcohol put you at risk of cancer of the mouth such as , larynx(voice box), oesophagus(food pipe), liver, breasts and perhaps colon.

Smoking and drinking together increase your risks even more. Well, how does alcohol cause cancer? There a re several ideas supporting the question.

Alcohol is converted in the body into a chemical called acetaldehyde. This causes cancer by damaging out DNA and preventing it from being repaired. Alcohol can also increase the level of oestrogen in the body and this maybe how alcohol can cause a breast cancer. Alcohol can cause cirrhosis of the liver and this is in turn causes liver cancer.

Finally, reduces the amount of folate in our blood. Folate is a B vitamintht our cells use to create a new DNA correctly. Lack of folate can lead to mistakes in DNA and this may lead to cancer.

Hence, drink by all means and be merry. But drink wisely and be the aesthete, not the alcoholic.