»feine adressen – finest« – Berlin 4 21

46 b | finest health
scher Getränke befinden sich verhältnismäßig oft weniger
Raucher, es findet sich ein niedrigerer body mass index
(BMI) resp. geringe waist-to-hip-ratio; weiterhin ein höherer
Anteil von Personen mit gehobener Ausbildung und insgesamt
gesünderen Ernährungsgewohnheiten. Andererseits liegen
viele – auch experimentelle Studien – vor, die bei allen
sonstigen Zusatzstoffen des Weins, den eigentlichen Alkohol
(C 2
H 5
OH) als das wichtigste präventive Agens ausmachen.
Und dennoch: Der Wein, insbesondere der rote, in dem
Extrakte der Traubenschalen besonders in der Vinifikation
eingebracht werden, beinhaltet das auch wichtige, präventiv
wirkende Resveratrol (ein Polyphenol als sekundärer
Pflanzenstoff). Es handelt sich um ein Antioxidanz, dass die
Elastizität von Herz und Gefäßen schützt und damit auch deren
atherosklerotische Veränderung (Verdickung, Verkalkung)
mit den Folgen von Herzinfarkt und Schlaganfall verhindert.
Die Pflanzen verfügen darüber, da sie sich selbst damit gegen
Pilz- und Virusinfektionen schützen. Anekdotisch zeigten
experimentelle Studien an Ratten, dass unter den Rebsorten
insbesondere der Châteuneuf-du-Pape eine besondere
Relaxierung, eine Entspannung der Gefäße bewirkt. Zu den
Polyphenolen wiederum ist messtechnisch belegt, dass der
Gehalt im Saint-Émilion Grand Cru am höchsten ist.
In summa ist der Weingenuss, vorzugsweise des Rotweins, für
eine gesundheitliche Prävention empfohlen. Dabei ist neben
der moderaten Dosis der regelmäßige und nicht periodische
Verzehr (kein »binge drinking«), idealerweise zum Essen, von
Bedeutung. In vino veritas!
Bleiben Sie gesund und vital!
»Ein Schlückchen in Ehren kann niemand
verwehren!«
This is an old German saying, which means, roughly, that you
shouldn’t turn down a small (alcoholic) drink if it is drunk with
consideration. But does it also apply when you are thinking about
the issue of health? In vino veritas? Has there not been sufficient
pathological proof in the form of dramatic consequences such as
liver failure (alcoholic fatty liver/cirrhosis), heart failure (alcoholic
cardiomyopathy), brain fog (alcoholic encephalopathy, and also
dementia) and other nervous disorders (alcoholic polyneuropathy)
of the harmful effect that alcohol has on the health of chronic alcoholics?
What happens when the fermented juice of the grape is
only consumed in moderate doses, with food as is the Mediterranean
habit, and not binge drunk, resulting in getting drunk time
and again? Hippocrates (460-375 BC) was an early exponent
of this theory and introduced wine in its pure form into medicine.
And later, Galen (129-200 AD) put it to more specific use and
treated different diseases with selected types of wine.
The disastrous consequences of chronic alcohol abuse mentioned above
found a response some 30 years ago in a paradox shift known as the
French Paradox (Renaud SC, et al. Lancet 1992; WHO-MONI-
CA studies 2000). It was observed that in Mediterranean countries,
despite the fact that people often consumed a diet that was richer in fat,
the consumption of alcohol for pleasure was associated with a significant
reduction in cases of death from myocardial infarction.
Why is it that moderate wine consumption has an anti-atherosclerotic
effect (preventing thickening and calcification of blood vessels)?
Well, it has been proved that there is an anti-inflammatory
effect, which can be measured in all the inflammatory parameters of
the blood, particularly in the C-reactive protein. In addition, blood
platelet reactivity is inhibited, as is much of the coagulation system,
meaning that fewer clots form in the blood vessels. Insulin sensitivity
is also improved, and anti-diabetic effects have been proved. Wine,
particularly red wine, into which extracts of grape skins are introduced
during vitrification, contains resveratrol (a polyphenolic
phytochemical) which also has an important preventative effect.
It is an antioxidant which protects the elasticity of the heart
and the blood vessels, and as a result prevents atherosclerotic
changes in these (thickening, calcification), thus impeding
heart attacks and strokes. Any scientific problem with the
consumption of wine must always be carefully weighed
against these conclusions; that is, the confounding and
influencing factors.
In summary, the consumption of wine, preferably
red, is recommended for preventative health care.
It is important that consumption is not only
moderate, but also regular and not periodic (no
binge drinking), and ideally with meals. In
vino veritas!
Stay healthy and energetic!