In Italy it is often said red wine makes good blood. This is just one of
the most famous Italian proverbs about the effects of wine on health, not the
only one, of course, concerning the beverage of Bacchus in relation to the many
aspects of human's life. Of course, we are not doctors and we certainly have not
the right experience or any conceit to give our readers indications on these
subjects, as it is always appropriate to ask a qualified specialist. Anyway, it
seems to be strange and improbable the fermented juice of red grapes has the
capability - after its ingestion - to transform itself into blood, as suggested
by the famous proverb. It is very likely this proverb is not to be considered
literally and it is also true the term blood gets different meanings
according to the contest in which it is being used, frequently used as a synonym
of courage, mood as well as of life.
Capability of making good blood apart, it is obvious wine however has some
effects on human body, including any side effect caused by alcohol.
Concerning these subjects, at least, it is not necessary to be a doctor in order
to understand the effects of alcoholic beverages, something which is hardly
agreeable. Anyway, wine is not alcohol only and its more than 250 elements of
which it is made of, have other effects on human body. According to a
nutritional of view, the contribution of nutritive elements contained in wine is
rather negligible, as the most important nutritive principles are contained in
traces only. Therefore, the nutritional value depends on the quantity of energy
ethyl alcohol is able to provide, about 7 calories per gram, including the ones
provided by any sugar contained in the wine. However, it is necessary to remind
the contribution of alcohol's calories is not directly usable from the body for
the muscular work, they are used by basal metabolism, allowing a saving in the
consumption of other nutritive values, such as fats and sugars.
According to a nutritional point of view, it is necessary to consider the
calories of alcoholic beverages and of wines in the total count of calories
ingested, while remembering calories provided by alcohol are not very efficient
for the body. For example, a gram of alcohol provides 7.3 calories (each unit of
alcoholic volume corresponds to 7,9 grams), a gram of sugar provides 4.1
calories, a gram of fat corresponds to 9.3 calories and a gram of protein to 4.4
calories. A gram of alcohol has more calories than sugar and proteins, and a
little less than fats. To calculate the calories alcohol contained in a beverage
can provide, it is enough to multiply the alcohol by volume in a liter times 7.9
(the weight in grams of an unit of alcohol volume) then times 7.3 (calories
provided by each gram). Therefore, a liter of wine with an alcohol by volume of
13% gives about 749 calories. If we consider the volume of a typical glass -
about 125 milliliters - each of them provides to the body about 93 calories. It
should be noted to this result must be added the calories provided by any sugar
contained in wine.
Wine is not alcohol only. It is an extremely complex beverage made of more than
250 different elements, and many of them can have positive effects and benefits
on the body. Since ancient times, man has always paid special attention to wine,
by observing its positive and negative effects. It is more likely, the first
effect seen in wine certainly was the one caused by alcohol, which is - as a
matter of fact - classified as a toxic substance and, as such, it is always
necessary to consume it in moderation, and never abusing of it. The
moderate consumption of wine and of alcoholic beverages is always subject of
debates, in which folk's wisdom - and the common sense motivated by a
responsible and clever consumption - has always recognized as deplorable and the
abuse was not encouraged at all, although in past times, certain meetings
exclusively reserved to men often ended with participants getting drunk. The
folk's wisdom on moderate consumption of wine can be summarized with the Italian
proverb One who drinks a little of wine is a sheep, who drinks it in
right quantity is a lion, who abuse of it, is a donkey, of course paying
respect to the intelligence of the animals mentioned in the less noble
examples.
The use of wine as a remedy or medicine is documented since the beginning of
civilization, not only for the effects related to alcohol, but also for the
other properties of the beverage of Bacchus for the prevention and cure of some
symptoms. For example, it is documented that, in past times, wine produced with
grapes affected by Botrytis Cinerea was given - of course to the ones who
could afford such expensive wines - for the cure of some diseases. It is
probable these wines had a mild antibiotic action - this could justify
their beneficial effects - noticed in some cases. Even in many medical and
cooking treatises of the past, the beneficial properties of wine for the body
and for the prevention of some disorders were extolled, something which
corresponded to be true, although not scientifically proven at those times, but
certainly proven by empiric methods and by direct observation.
Science and modern medicine keep on investigating on wine and on its effects on
health. In the last years, there have been many discoveries about wine,
probably also encouraged by the social interest towards this beverage and -
certainly - also by economic interests, as to make wine looking like a
panacea. Of course, modern methods and scientific research allowed the
discovery of many positive effects which modern medicine is attributing to wine.
It seems the humble grape juice after it has being fermented gets almost
magic qualities, like an elixir of life and wellness. The doubt there is a sort
of exaggeration about this subject is however pretty strong. Wine certainly has
good effects on health and body, it can surely have a preventive action against
certain disorders, however it is often forgotten its abuse is detrimental. The
exaltation of the positive qualities of wine could result in an excessive
consumption, even justified, because the higher the quantity, the better the
effects. An excessive consumption of wine means an excessive consumption of
alcohol and this is something which cannot have positive effects on health. We
should remember about that, and the ones who support the good quality of wine
should remember that as well, because among the good qualities of wine, there is
- and it must be, always and however - moderation. This is a good effect on
health, too.
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