New Reasons to Drink that Glass of Red Wine

In an article I wrote in November 2006, "Red Wine May Help People Live Longer, Healthier Lives," I detailed how recent research reveals that red wine has some surprising health benefits, including helping prevent some of the health problems related to obesity, decreasing the risk of colon cancer, prolonging life (at least in mice and fish,) and decreasing memory loss.

Since then, a study reported by the American Chemical Society indicates that both red and white wine can help destroy bacteria that cause tooth decay and some upper respiratory tract diseases.

According to an article in ScienceDaily from June of this year, the study, "Antibacterial Activity of Red and White Wine Against Oral Streptococci," claims that:

"Overall, our findings seem to indicate that wine can act as an effective antimicrobial agent against the tested pathogenic oral streptococci and might be active in caries and upper respiratory tract pathologies prevention."

Anyone who's seen many winos know this is not a suggestion that overconsumption of any alcoholic beverage is good for the teeth, but in moderation, it seems to be so.

And in October of this year, researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia discovered that red wine and grape juice can help prevent food-borne diseases that cause, among other things, tumors and stomach ulcers. They also found that if you already have a food-borne disease, moderate amounts of red wine can help decrease the symptoms, at least a little bit.

In addition, other studies have found benefits from red wine for the heart, Parkinson's Disease, and cancer.

Except in the case of the oral bacteria, white wine does not have the effect of red wine. This is because it is an ingredient in red wine, resveratrol, a natural antioxidant, which not only gives the wine its color but has all these health benefits.

So, when you're invited to a holiday party or dinner, think about taking along a bottle of red wine. You're providing not only a boost to the festivities but a health benefit to your fellow celabrants as well!