WINE
& YOUR STOMACH
Alcohol in the stomach
stimulates the production of gastric acid,
which breaks down fat and protein and makes
digestion possible. That is why wine is
commonly consumed with meals in many cultures.
Large quantities of alcohol can lead to
a lot of gastric acid being produced causing
irritation of the stomach’s inner
walls. This results in stomachaches and
heartburn in some people. The reverse can
occur when people ingest alcohol too quickly,
hindering gastric acid production, which
results in bloating undigested food.
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WINE
& YOUR HEART
Until recently the positive
effects of wine consumption have been generally
overlooked, but recently studies have begun
to show that moderate consumption is healthier
than abstinence. Red wine has been shown
to protect the coronary arteries, which
in turn guards against heart attacks.
It’s the phenols in red wine that
prevent the build up of cholesterol rich
fatty deposits on the walls of the coronary
arteries. Phenols are found in all wine,
but they are ten times more abundant in
red than in white wines. The more tannic
the wine the greater the quantity of phenols.
It’s high tannin content that oxidizes
cholesterol and ensures that it is metabolized.
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