It is generally accepted that drinking one or two glasses of wine per day, preferably red, is beneficial for one's health. The international scientific community regularly examines the condition of our arteries in relation to alcohol consumption. It appears that one of the benefactors of our cardiovascular system is called resveratrol. This is a polyphenol (poly = several and phenol = aromatic molecule) found primarily in the skin of red grapes.
As early as Hippocrate, considered the father of medicine, praised the medicinal virtues of wine, stating that "like love, wine in excess can have deleterious effects on health." A few centuries later, and equipped with considerable scientific advances, researchers identified this unusually named polyphenol. It is a powerful antioxidant. It resides in one of life's most pleasant components: wine. It is also found in chocolate, another benefactor of humanity. This elixir for the heart and mind is said to prolong our lives by promoting the proper functioning of the arteries, preventing them from hardening, possessing anti-inflammatory properties, and helping to reduce bad cholesterol.
In the early nineties, a vast study conducted by a French scientist demonstrated that the inhabitants of southern France, despite a diet rich in fat and daily wine consumption, have lower rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer than their neighbors in Anglo-Saxon countries. The "French paradox" was born. A diet based on olive oil, vegetables, and fruit, typical of the Mediterranean rim, also contributes to the good health of our friends in France! The sun and a propensity for joie de vivre undoubtedly play a part as well.
This is at least the opinion of a French professor, Laurent Chevallier. He wonders if the current trend is to find health arguments for food products that are unnecessary for our balance but are pleasant. He suggests we stop seeking scientific justifications for their consumption. What a beautiful and healthy philosophy!
Let us savor a good glass of wine in the company of friends with moderation and without second thoughts! And if the heart so desires, let us bite into a piece of chocolate with pleasure!
