The impact of wine on health can be positive but is it enough? Let’s get back to the articles from our trusted medical sources, discussing these “health benefits” of wine.  Some of the proposed benefits according to the mayoclinic are:

Good news right?  Before you jump back on the healthy wine bandwagon, lets take a deeper look.  Mayo Clinic states if you are not drinking, not to start.  Brilliant!  Now what about the rest of us.

Here are the mayo clinic recommendations:

If you already drink red wine, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means:

• Up to one drink a day for women of all ages.
• Up to one drink a day for men older than age 65.
• Up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger. The limit for men is higher because men generally weigh more and have more of an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol than women do.

A drink is defined as:

• 12 ounces (355 milliliters, or mL) of beer
• 5 ounces (148 mL) of wine
• 1.5 ounces (44 mL) of 80-proof distilled spirits

We already discussed how a glass of wine really isn’t 5 oz, but for fun lets go with that number to see how it works out over the course of 1 year and look at the potential weight gain.

One (5oz) glass of wine equals =123 calories x 365 = 44,895 extra calories/3500 =12.82 lbs in one year.

Exactly opposite of what we want if we are trying to get healthy.

Research shows that even a modest weight loss (2-6% of body weight) is associated with:

• Decrease in high blood pressure by 20-40%
• Decrease in incidence of diabetes by 30-60%
• Decrease in cardiac events by 30-40%

If reducing weight is associated with these improvements in health, is it safe to say that gaining 2-6% of your body weight would have the opposite effect? Maybe increase your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiac events?

If a 200 lb person gained 2% – 6% of his or her body weight that would be an 4 lb to 12 lb gain.  Compare that to the amount vs the 12.82 lbs in calories that you consumed with your daily wine. The way the numbers add up, it is reasonable to assume that any health benefits that you could potentially acquire from wine are easily offset by the health consequences from all the weight you may gain from drinking it.

So drink well my friend, but don’t drink to be well!

Alcohol beverages supply calories but few nutrients and may contribute to unwanted weight gain. If you need to lose weight, looking at your drinking may be a good place to start. Use the alcohol calorie calculator to learn how many alcohol calories you are consuming!

Dr.Richard Tellier is a board certified chiropractor in the state of Massachusetts and has been practicing at Align Health in Andover, Massachusetts for the past 10 years. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tellier for a weight loss consultation, or chiropractic consultation call 978-474-0836 or visit us online at Align Health.

Align Health

1 Dundee Park Drive

Suite 2

Andover, MA 01810