Moderate Red Wine Consumption: Risks & Benefits - Essay Sample

Introduction

Regular consumption of red wine gradually yields various risks and benefits to the consumer. Red wine is about 12-15% and it is made from crushed and fermented variety grapes, which differ in color and taste (Bjarnadottir, A. 2017, 1). The consumption of this sweet drink began thousands of years ago and up-to-date, it is an inseparable part of social life. Although not recommended officially, several studies have concluded that moderate drinking of red wine is associated with various health benefits (Bjarnadottir, A. 2017, 1). The health benefits of red wine are associated with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-regulating traits that distress the body, and help lower blood pressure (Smith, A. 2020, 2). However, although moderate drinking of red wine is safe to adults, regular and excessive consumption of red wine may expose the drinker to several health risks that can gradually become lethal. Over-consumption of red wine can result in liver cirrhosis, stomach ulcers, and alcohol dependence. This section reviews several existing studies to expound on various risks and benefits of routine consumption of red wine.

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Risks of Regular Red Wine Consumption

Drinking too much red wine is detrimental to health; first off, drinking red wine excessively raises the risk of getting various cancers like the voice box, colon, and breast (in women). This is because when ingested, red wine is digested to produce chemical acetaldehyde that degenerates the DNA and precludes its repair by the body (CDC, 1). The DNA is responsible for the growth and functionality of cells hence when it is damaged, cells can outgrow and result in a cancerous tumor. Moreover, research reveals that high concentrations of acetaldehyde can cause behavioral defects like confusion, headaches, nausea, and vomiting (Heyns, E. 2015, 6). Second, regular drinking of red wine can induce hepatic steatosis. Hepatic steatosis is a fatty liver disease caused by the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver (Boyce et al. 2010, 623). Small amounts of liver fat help protect the liver, however, prolonged accumulation may result in metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and other nonalcoholic liver fat diseases (Nassir et al. 2015, 16). Dysfunction of the liver often leads to health complications cerebral edema (excess fluid in the brain), failure of the kidney, reduced blood clotting, and increases the risk of infections in the urinary tracts, respiratory airways, and the blood.

Although many studies affirm that red wine is associated with better mental health, regular drinking of it can lead to unpleasant mental conditions. The brain operates through a balance of chemicals and processes that determine individuals’ cognition, moods, and feelings. Red wine is a depressant that disrupts the normal functionality of the brain, for example, after a glass of red wine a person feels relaxed and lightened; this change is caused by chemicals red wine introduces to the body. Excessive drinking of red wine increases anxiety in some situations; it makes someone to focus on things that they perceive threatening making them lose response to cues around them. Finally, although the probability of addiction to red wine is significantly lower than that of beer and spirits, regular excessive and binge drinking may induce Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and dependence (Rosoff et al. 2019, 1). Alcohol use disorders include alcohol abuse and alcoholism; abusing any type of alcohol causes major problems in life and besides short-term effects of binge drinking of red wine like reduced concentration and coordination, it may cause long-term effects like memory loss and habitual intoxication. Excessive and binge consumption of red wine may lead to health risks like cancer risk, liver diseases, psychological conditions, and Alcohol Use Disorders like abuse and alcoholism.

Benefits of Regular Red Wine Consumption

Red wine’s popularity can be partly attributed to its health benefits. Recent literature reveals that drinking a glass or two of red wine daily yields multiple health benefits, especially improving cardiovascular health. To begin with, red wine reduces the risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) (Castaldo et al. 2019, 1). Red wine contains antioxidant polyphenol, which is present in grapes, berries, cherries, and legumes among other foods, and they help abridge CHD. Red wines have a component called tannin that contains flavonoid polyphenols, which shield the body tissue from oxidative stress and associated conditions like CHD and inflammation (Anfindsen, A. 2015, 8). CHD and stroke are among the leading causes of disability and deaths in developed countries, and most of them are induced by oxidative stress and inflammation (Castaldo et al. 2019, 1). Also, numerous people across the globe have type 2 diabetes that occurs when the pancreas produces inadequate insulin to facilitate the oxidation of sugar in cells. Studies depict that red wine can help regulate blood sugar levels when taken moderately, which abridges the probability of developing diabetes. Diabetes is prevented by medicinal substances called ligands; red wine is a rich source of ligands that has more ligands in 1-2 glasses than type 2 diabetes’ treatment drugs (Anfindsen, S. 2015, 9). Therefore, red wine impacts cardiovascular health positively by preventing cardiac diseases like CHD and reduces the risk of developing diabetes by regulating blood sugars.

Red wine also yields mental benefits like reduction of depression and slowing dementia in moderate consumers. Depression is the most prevalent mental disorder with over 300 million people affected in the world and it is associated with increased suicides, unemployment, and other psychological disorders. Based on several studies, red wines contain resveratrol antidepressants which exhibit lowers all types of stress and have positive effects on depression (Moore et al. 2018, 20). The effects of resveratrol treatment of depression are like those of clinical antidepressants which make it a potential agent of therapy. Dementia is also known as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and it refers to the condition of the natural and inevitable decline in human cognition marked by symptoms such as thinking and memory impairment, and deteriorated communication (Lange, K. 2018, 32). Many natural polyphenol antidepressants like those found in red wine are useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Studies depict that due to antidepressants contained in red wine, it can effectively slow the aging effects and on brain function which slows the progression of dementia (Lange, K. 2018, 35). Therefore according to existing literature, regular moderate consumption of red wine improves cardiovascular and mental health in various ways.

Conclusion

In conclusion, red wine is an inseparable part of social life and it is consumed by numerous people across the globe daily. Red wine spices up events, family celebrations, and relaxes the consumer when exhausted or stressed. However, there is a side of the sweet drink that most people globally neglect, its unhealthy side. Several studies have associated excessive consumption of red wine with increasing health risks for various cancers like colon, throat, and breast cancers, and also increases the risk of hepatic diseases caused by the accumulation of liver fats and may lead to kidney and pancreatic infections. Besides, regular drinking of red wine also causes behavioral alterations, for example, it may lead to the development if Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) like alcohol abuse and alcoholism. However, when consumed moderately, red wine can yield several health benefits, for example, it improves cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Also, existing literature affirms that red wine affects mental health positively; it is an antidepressant that relaxes the body reducing all types of stress and depression, and it slows down dementia. Therefore, it is recommendable to have a glass of red wine a day for its health benefits, however, people must avoid excessive drinking at all times and seek help if they feel dependent on any type of alcohol.

Report on Risks and Benefits of Home-Made Wine

Home-made wine is just as fine as the commercial one, provided that it is prepared with the right ingredients and process. The wine-making process involves the creation of an inhospitable environment for bacteria thus sanitation cannot ruin home-made wine. However, there are risks of home-made wine including headaches, unhealthy processes, and lead poisoning. Headaches are a common complaint about home-made wine; they are caused by excess tannins and histamines in the wine (Boling, C. 2016, 1). An unhealthy preparing process of home-made wine risks contamination of the wine that may result in stomach aches after drinking the wine. Also, there is a risk of lead poisoning that may occur if the containers used to prepare the wine are not food-grade, and they erode into the wine; this can cause stomach, liver, and heart problems.

Home-made wine is also associated with several benefits and should be perceived as efficient as commercial wine if not more. Among the benefits of home-made wine is that one can use other fruits than just grapes. Most commercial wines are made from grapes, making your wine at home, however, allows trying new ingredients from the varieties of fruits and berries. Home-made wine also enables the preparer to store and stock different types of wine. Making your stock of wines with various ingredients and packing them in preferred bottles; imagine having your collection of wines that tastes better after each day. Lastly, home-made wine is cost-effective. It is cheaper to prepare your wines and pick from your cellar than to buy from the supermarket.

To effectively and safely make home-made wine, it is critical to ensure that you know the wine-making process from a competent and trusted source. It is also essential to understand all the ingredients you want to use in your wine and the amounts needed. Lastly, you should have all the necessary tools to be used and they should be food-grade and sterilized before the process; your hands to need to be cleaned thoroughly to avoid contamination. If all these recommendations are followed then you can comfortably enjoy your healthy wine.

References

Ahmed, R.F., Abdel-Rahman, R.F., Farid, O.A., El-Marasy, S.A. and Hessin, A.F., 2014. Combined hepatoprotective and antidepressant effects of resveratrol in an acute model of depression. Bulletin of Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, 52(2), pp.191-197.

Anfindsen, S.M., 2015. The Health Benefits of Red Wine. [Online] (Updated May 2015). Available at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1038&context=senior_theses

Baur, J.A. and Sinclair, D.A., 2006. Therapeutic potential of resveratrol: the in vivo evidence. Nature reviews Drug discovery, 5(6), pp.493-506.

Bjarnadottir, A., 2017. Red Wine: Good or Bad? [Online] (Updated 4 June 2017) Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/red-wine-good-or-bad

Böhm, M., Rosenkranz, S. and Laufs, U., 2004. Alcohol and red wine: impact on cardiovascular risk. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 19(1), pp.11-16.

Boling, C., 2016. Some Risks of Homemade Wine you should Know. [Online] (Updated 2 June, 2016). Available at: http://www.valentinesagefieldvineyards.com/2016/06/02/some-risks-of-homemade-wine-you-should-know/