A glass of fruit wine at the end of the day is, for many of us, one of life’s little pleasures that we simply refuse to go without. Whether you enjoy the subtle sweetness of a peach wine or prefer to be more adventurous and plump for a durian fruit concoction, the simple routine of relaxing with a refreshing beverage can melt the worries of the day away in an instant.
Fortunately, it seems that this small habit can have a positive effect on your physical health as well as your mental wellbeing. While the benefits of red wine when combatting stroke and heart disease are fairly well-known perceptions, not everyone realizes that fruit wines can play a part in a healthy lifestyle too. Obviously, this is not an excuse to drink a bottle or two every night, but by keeping the consumption of fruit wine in moderation you can help to keep your body healthy in the long term.
All About Antioxidants
As previously mentioned, red wine has proven useful in tackling issues surrounding cardiovascular illness. This is, in large part, due to the antioxidant content of the bouquet.
Part of the fermentation process of white wine involves the removal of grape skin which, in terms of nutritional content, places white wines behind red. This is because much of the antioxidant content found in wine come from the skin of the grape; by removing the skin, the antioxidant count drops accordingly. As a general rule, seeking out the darkest wine available will yield the greatest results.
Antioxidants, as the name suggests, fight substances which attempt to oxidize cells within the body – think of them as a key ingredient of a molecular-level detox! However, alongside this they help to relax blood vessels and improve the flow of blood throughout the body, breaking down artery-clogging “bad” cholesterol and reducing the risk of blood clotting as they go.
Yet forgoing experimentation and sticking to a traditional bottle of red is not a price that must be paid in order to reap these benefits. The early results of recent studies have shown that pomegranate wine may have an even greater antioxidant count than the darkest red wine. Furthermore, for those who enjoy dabbling in winemaking, researching fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants is an excellent first step in creating a healthy alternative to the usual varieties. Who knows, you could even discover a new favorite flavor along the way!
Fighting Mental Illness
Scientists have long been baffled by what they call the “French Paradox” – for a country known for its love affair with cheese and red meat, France has a startlingly healthy population. Not only are the number of deaths from heart disease lower than many other western countries, but mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and dementia remain much more uncommon than in the UK, the USA and Canada.
It seems that, once more, wine has played a part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Researchers from UCLA believe that polyphenols, found in red wine, block the formation of toxic plaques which then attack brain cells. In fact, the same polyphenols can actually reduce the toxicity of already existing plaques, thus reversing the early effects of impairment in cognitive function.
ADHD and Alcohol Consumption
While many ADHD sufferers use Ritalin or Adderall to control their condition, researchers are increasingly examining the impact dietary deficiencies have upon developmental and psychiatric conditions. So far, the absences of certain long-chain fats, iron and zinc have all been highlighted as potential contributors to ADHD. Raspberries and blackberries are both excellent sources of zinc, while olives and tomatoes both contain huge concentrations of iron. With the variety of fruits and vegetables high in beneficial nutrients virtually endless, perhaps incorporating a fruit or vegetable wine into your diet could prove massively helpful in maintaining a healthy, focused lifestyle. However, a good piece of advice is to drink in moderation – food sensitivities and intolerances are often factors in the life of someone with ADHD, so following nutritional advice and making sure alcohol does not interfere with your medication is essential in controlling the condition.
The health benefits of red wine may well be well-known throughout the world, yet the possibilities contained within fruit wines remains, as yet, untapped. By using fruits high in antioxidants and minerals, the potential to improve your diet in an enjoyable way is within easy reach.