“HOW RED WINE LOST ITS HEALTH HALO.” That’s the New York Times article title that grabbed my attention. Today, I examine “pour decisions”: the shocking truth behind red wine’s tarnished health crown.
Red wine has long been touted as a health elixir, but recent research suggests many overstated its health benefits.
This article examines the truth behind red wine’s tarnished health crown and whether you should start drinking it to promote your health.
So what’s the truth? Should you start drinking red wine to promote your health? Or is it all hype?
Always be drunk
I’ll start with this interesting observation from the late Charles Pierre Baudelaire, a renowned French poet, essayist, art critic, and translator in the 19th century:
“One should always be drunk. That’s all that matters…But with what? With wine, with poetry, or with virtue, as you chose. But get drunk.” ― Charles Baudelaire, Paris Spleen
But what about more modest drinking, say, a glass of red wine daily? First, a brief diversion about how we got to this question.
The French paradox
The French paradox refers to the intriguing observation that despite consuming a diet rich in saturated fats, the French population experiences lower cardiovascular disease rates than other Western countries.
This phenomenon gained widespread attention in a 1991 “60 Minutes” segment hosted by Morley Safer.
The television giant explored the apparent contradiction between the French diet, replete with high-fat foods like pâté, butter, and creamy cheeses, and their relatively low incidence of heart disease.
The 2004 coronary heart mortality rates (per 100,000) seemed to support the idea that maybe it was the red wine that was protecting the French:
1991: Morley Safer causes red wine sales to explode
Alice Callahan’s piece begins by reminding us of the origins of the modern-day belief in red wine as a health elixir.
In the early 1990s, a “60 Minutes” television segment hailed red wine as a key factor in the French paradox, linking it to lower heart disease rates.
This endorsement created a craze, with U.S. red wine sales soaring by 40 percent.
“Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises” — Samuel Butler.
Decades later, we learn that Safer was wrong.
Red wine is not a health elixir.
But as time passed, red wine’s previously praised health advantages faded.
What was once seen as a good-for-your-heart treat is now being questioned as ongoing research uncovers more about how red wine affects our health.
“Give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather and a little music played out of doors by somebody I do not know.”
― John Keats
As we learn more, the story of red wine’s journey in the spotlight of health consciousness becomes more complicated, showing how our views have changed and how we’re rethinking its once-high status in the world of well-being.
What went wrong in Safer’s analysis?
The first problem may be that the French physicians made bad estimates of congestive heart mortality. Garbage data in, garbage data out.
This hypothesis centers on the fact that French physicians may not declare all coronary artery deaths properly.
Validated data suggests that the French do have a low coronary artery disease incidence and mortality risk.
Correlation is not causality.
In studies that look at connections between things, like how much people eat or drink and the rates of heart disease, researchers often use general information about entire groups of people, such as how much animal fat, dairy milk, or alcohol they consume.
However, there are some challenges with these studies. They can’t tell us how a specific person’s habits directly link to their disease risk.
Also, it’s tough to account for other factors that might influence the results, and they usually give us overall averages instead of looking at each person’s unique situation.
So, while these studies provide valuable insights, they have limitations in giving us a complete picture of how individual behaviors relate to specific health outcomes.
Putting a Cork in Belief That Wine Helps the Heart
What if alcohol is not a cardiovascular disease risk-reducing agent? Could it be that moderate consumers were healthier than others?
After all, moderate drinkers are more likely to be educated, physically active, and wealthy. Moreover, they tend to eat more fruits and vegetables and are more likely to have health insurance.
Kaye Middleton Fillmore offered answers with her landmark 2006 publication.
Errors – Red wine and health
When researchers look at how alcohol consumption relates to the risk of death, most studies suggest that people who completely avoid alcohol might face a higher risk of dying from various causes, including heart disease.
In a study that analyzed 54 published research papers, Kaye Middleton and colleagues wanted to check if there was a mistake in classifying some people as non-drinkers.
Details – Red wine and health
The investigators discovered that some individuals who had cut down or stopped drinking were mistakenly labeled as non-drinkers, especially as they got older or experienced health issues.
The studies that corrected this mistake did not show a significant protective effect of alcohol against overall or heart-related mortality.
This finding suggests that the previously thought heart benefits of alcohol might have been exaggerated, and the risks associated with heavier drinking could be higher than we initially believed.
New message – Red wine and health
In 2022, researchers reported graver news: Not only was there no cardiovascular benefit to drinking alcohol, but it could even increase the risk of heart issues.
The World Health Organization offers a very clear message (that differs from the Safer view):
No amount of alcohol is safe, regardless of whether you’re drinking wine, beer, or liquor.
I am not saying you should not drink alcohol in moderation. Rather, be aware of the potential hazards of consumption.
I have no problem having an occasional cup of sake.
But I have long ago let go of the belief that alcohol can reduce my chances of suffering an adverse heart event.
Thank you for reading “Pour Decisions: The Shocking Truth Behind Red Wine’s Tarnished Health Crown.”
