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Wine Women and Weight

2010-03-13T09:13:00.002-05:00

Alcohol May Help Fight Weight Gain In Women

A study finds that women who drink moderately gain less weight despite alcohol's calories.

America's ever-expanding waistline makes front-page news on a regular basis, as health professionals and policymakers labor to stem a growing tide of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and type-2 diabetes. But now, drinking alcohol may be ruled out as a cause for weight gain, at least for women.

Women of a normal weight who consume alcohol in moderation appear to gain less weight over time than nondrinkers, according to a study published in the March 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The results of the study point to intriguing potential avenues for research regarding the metabolism of alcohol.

Drinking alcohol would seem to be a plausible culprit for weight gain. Nutritionists point out that people tend to underestimate the calories in the beverages they drink. Each gram of alcohol has 7.1 calories—higher than equivalent amounts of carbohydrates or proteins, which contain 4 calories per gram (by comparison, a gram of fat contains 9 calories). Consuming more alcohol—and thereby more calories—would logically lead to more pounds.

But that wasn't what a research team at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, headed by Dr. Lu Wang, found when examining almost 13 years of data collected from 19,220 female health-care professionals. They selected women over the age of 39 without preexisting medical conditions who had a normal weight for their height (18.5 to 25 on the Body Mass Index scale) and tracked their lifestyle choices via a questionnaire administered every four to nine years.

Nearly all the women gained weight as they got older. But those who didn't drink alcohol gained on average 8 pounds, while the women who reported drinking alcohol gained less, with those who drank 30 to 40 grams of alcohol a day (the equivalent of around three to four 4-ounce glasses of wine) gaining the least, at an average of 3.3 pounds. "Our study results suggest that women who have normal body weight and consume a light to moderate amount of alcohol could maintain their drinking habits without gaining excessive weight," wrote the authors.

Moreover, women who drank alcohol were less likely to become obese or overweight. Roughly 41 percent of the women became overweight (a BMI over 25) or obese (BMI over 30) during the tenure of the study, and the abstemious were the most likely to be included in those categories. Women who drank 15 to 30 grams of alcohol a day (the equivalent of two to three glasses of wine) were the least likely to pass that threshold, with a lower risk of about 30 percent.

This effect carried across all categories of alcohol: red and white wine, beer and spirits, with consumption of red wine showing the strongest link with lower weight gain, and white wine showing the weakest, but still a significant association.

The results cannot be explained away through lifestyle choices, though there were marked traits among women who reported regular consumption of alcohol. They were, on average, more likely to be older, white, smokers and post-menopausal. While moderate drinkers showed the highest level of physical activity, drinking alcohol was associated with a diet of nutritional no-nos: Drinkers were more likely to eat red meat and high-fat dairy products, but not fiber or whole grains. Even after researchers statistically accounted for lifestyle and genetic factors, however, the inverse association between drinking alcohol and weight gain remained significant.

Interestingly, women who drank alcohol appeared to ingest more calories overall than nondrinkers, but fewer calories in their diet came from sources that weren't alcohol. The study's authors raise the possibility of differences in the way our bodies process alcohol in comparison to other caloric sources. For instance, previous studies have shown that heavier women metabolize alcohol more efficiently than leaner women.

Metabolic differences could explain why this effect is not seen in studies of men who drink alcohol. In fact, some studies show that men who drink alcohol gain weight at a greater rate in comparison to their abstemious counterparts. Men have a greater proportion of alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that helps process alcohol in the body, and this difference could explain why men who drink might gain weight faster.

The study's authors also point to research that has shown that after consuming alcohol, men exhibit a moderate change in energy expenditure, while women show a substantial increase, meaning that women could potentially show a net loss of calories after consuming alcohol beverages.

Potential applications for further research aside, the study's authors stress the limitations of their methodology. Self-reported data on weight and alcohol consumption means that the validity of the study hinges on how accurately their subjects could remember and relay their choices. Plus, the study did not differentiate between women who drank a glass of wine every day with those who drank seven drinks on one day of the week, meaning that behavioral factors could further muddy the results.

And the authors cautioned against interpreting the results as a recommendation to drink for the prevention of obesity, noting the numerous problems—both medical and social—associated with drinking. For now, they call for further research into the role of alcohol in weight management. Bonnie Taub-Dix, a nutritional consultant and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, agreed. "A study like this could be interesting," she said. "But don't treat this as an invitation to run to a liquor store."

Wine Tips on Mint.com

2010-02-07T10:27:00.000-05:00

budget planner – Mint.com

Saturday Morning Quote

2009-06-20T10:56:00.000-04:00

“Excellent wine generates enthusiasm. And whatever you do with enthusiasm is generally successful.” — Baron Philippe de Rothschild

Great Q & A Answer on Wine Consumers

2009-06-13T10:22:00.001-04:00

A Flemish food and wine critic named Filip Verheyden, who is launching a new international wine magazine (called Tong), answered a recent interview Question in the Wall St. Journal (pretty good answer, too)

Q: What do you think consumers most want from a wine?

"They want it to be straightforward and recognizable. Tastes have moved away from overwhelmingly abundant, hugely aromatic wines. The future of wine over the next five to ten years is honest, authentic products. Tasting wine is about primary feelings. In gastronomy, the trend is back to basics and away from molecular cuisine."

Read the article here

Great Red Wine and Health Story

2009-06-12T12:14:00.003-04:00

Health Secrets of Red Wine Uncovered
But for maximum benefits, sip don't gulp, research shows
Posted June 11, 2009

THURSDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists already knew that drinking red wine in moderation is good for your health; now they are figuring out why.

New research is uncovering the disease-prevention secrets of a polyphenol called resveratrol, one of compounds in red wine that seems to improve health. Although the benefits have been touted for years, researchers weren't sure how polyphenols, and resveratrol in particular, worked in the body.

"The breadth of benefits is remarkable -- cancer prevention, protection of the heart and brain from damage, reducing age-related diseases, such as inflammation, reversing diabetes and obesity, and many more," said Lindsay Brown, an associate professor of the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Queensland in Australia and co-author of a study that will appear in the September issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Brown said scientists are beginning to understand how resveratrol does its work. Possible mechanisms include:

* High doses of the compound may prevent cancer by increasing the process of apoptosis (programmed cell death).
* Low doses improve cardiac health by increasing cellular protection and reducing damage.
* Resveratrol may help remove very reactive oxidants in the body and improve blood supply to cells.

Scientists are also studying how the body absorbs resveratrol into the blood stream, since the compound is largely inactivated in the gut and liver.

"Most of the resveratrol in imbibed red wine does not reach the circulation," Stephen Taylor, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Queensland, said in a journal news release. "Interestingly, absorption via the mucous membranes in the mouth can result in up to around 100 times the blood levels, if done slowly rather than simply gulping it down."

Summer Wine Ideas

2009-06-07T15:42:00.006-04:00

Find some time this summer to drink a new wine!

Why? Because life is sometimes hot, boring and needs a boost of newness...just like the dog days of summer.

Here's some ideas of what I mean (five wines - listed A to Z):

Albarino: Native white grape of Spain. Grown mostly in Galicia and particularly good in the "D.O." of Rias Baixas. These grapes are greatly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. As a white wine, Albarino is very aromatic, with nice stone fruit flavors and nuances of minerals. Many experts believe there is a genetic relationship between Albarino and Riesling, but unlike most Rieslings, Albarino finishes dry and is an excellent match with Seafood.

Beaujolais: Native to this sub region of Burgundy, France, the Gamay grape of Beaujolais can be an excellent summer sipper, particularly in the "cru" regions such as Brouilly, Chenas, Morgon, and Moulin a Vent. Lighter in body than a Pinot Noir from Burgundy and elsewhere, Beaujolais wines (not "Villages" or "Noveau") from the smaller communes have elegance and fruit flavors of light black cherry and plum.

Rosé Wines: Dozens of juicy rosé wines can be found at wine shops and restaurants this summer. Just because the wine is pink doesn't mean it's sweet or like "white zinfandel." Rosés tend to be best if they are true pressings (not blended red and white wine) where the skins come into contact with the wine during vinification for a period of time (15-30 hours) and pick up the delicate color and flavors from the skins. Higher quality rosé wines are made from red wine grapes such as Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and others.

Sangiovese: The predominate grape in Tuscany and most recognizable from the wines of Chianti where bright red fruit flavors such as raspberry and strawberry come forward. Many domestic Sangiovese wines are being produced today, some of the best from the coastal regions of California from Napa all the way down to Paso Robles. One of the best I have ever tasted is from Caprone Winery.

Vermentino: An Italian grape variety grown mostly in southern Italy with some of the best coming from the island of Sardinia. Vermentino grapes are delicate and many times pressed at night during harvest to retain both a freshness of flavor and to preserve the light straw yellow color. Like the fare in Sardinia, this wine is a great match with seafood, particularly shellfish.

Don't be afraid to seek these wines out...if your wine shop doesn't have them, ask them to order some for you. Most distributors will ship several bottles of a new varietal or style of wine to a shop for special order customers.

Focus Wine

2009-05-09T14:17:00.005-04:00

I've been working with a remarkable wine importer and distributor in FL. For me, it's what's in the bottle is what truly counts.

This company has only artisan producers of wine, no beer or hard spirits.

Some examples of wineries can be found on the new site for this company Focus Wines Orlando

Most rewarding is not representing or placing wine brands into the broad market. I don't work with chains, grocers or discounters.

I call on family owned wine shops and restaurants, dedicated owners, like the wine companies and winemakers themselves, doing what they do best, every day.

Easter and Passover wishes

2009-04-12T12:35:00.005-04:00

My goal is for this blog to help you enjoy wine more. On that note, this post is to you and yours this fine Easter and Passover weekend. May your wine be as tasty as it is sacred.

On the "sacred" note - the four cups of wine are symbolic in Judaism, it's all about redemption. With Christians, wine represents the blood of Jesus Christ which symbolically washed away the guilt of those who broke divine laws. Again, much about redemption.

On the "tasty" note - remarkable Kosher wines are being made throughout the world, everyone should try them. Here's a link to a resource site

A last note, and another goal - I am working to be totally more aware of others than I am about myself. In the day to day wine business, it's about listening and looking for body language that speaks, too.

When you shop for or order wine out, make sure you relax and ask questions because not all merchants and restaurant servers are good listeners. Tell them what you like about a wine and perhaps mention a producer, style or grape varietal to them that you enjoy. It will help them match what they feature to your palate.

Cheers!

Australia Harvest Glut (earthy quotes from Wolfgang Blass)

2009-04-01T09:32:00.004-04:00

Of note is a story I read a couple of days ago in The Australian, an online news resource that works with the Wall St. Journal's division "down under."

Most wine readers have heard of the "glut" in Australia, in terms of wine grapes. This piece quotes Wolfgang Blass with hard hitting advice for wine producers there.

E.G. - "Our industry is in diabolical trouble with a surplus of 250,000 to 300,000 tonnes of grapes."

And - "I've seen five breakdowns in this country and each time we survived because we came up with innovative ideas. Our guys today wouldn't bloody know. They only know one thing -- discounting, and that's the end of the bloody industry."

A quick read: get the Full Story Here

2009-03-29T20:05:00.001-04:00

I hope this blog helps you enjoy wine more.

Rebirthing this site

2009-03-29T16:19:00.004-04:00

It was recently brought to my attention that I don't write enough about wine, although I taste wine frequently.

This blog is returning soon.