Showing posts with label it. Show all posts
Showing posts with label it. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Pregnancy Symptoms Week 1 after Conception Can you feel it
Pregnancy is usually a good news except a few situations when people want to avoid it. But one thing is common in both of these situations. That is, everybody want to know it as soon as possible. Usually women find it after they miss a period. But missing a period means that you are 1 to 3 weeks pregnant. Here are trying to find a way to find it after withing one week after conception.
There are no visible effects on the body of a women in 1 week pregnancy. According to some gynecologists fertilization takes place during the second week of pregnancy, so its hard to detect it during week 1. however some symptoms can be noticed during week one of pregnancy. These symptoms are:
There are no visible effects on the body of a women in 1 week pregnancy. According to some gynecologists fertilization takes place during the second week of pregnancy, so its hard to detect it during week 1. however some symptoms can be noticed during week one of pregnancy. These symptoms are:
- Fatigue
- Loss of interest in things
- Mood Swings
- Constant need to urinate
There are some other means to detect pregnancy during week 1. In some cases these symptoms appear in second week.
- Digestive problems like gas
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Tender breasts
- Morning sickness
- Other hormonal changes
Usually fertilization can take place only after first 2 weeks of menstrual cycle. But doctors count pregnancy from the first day of last menstrual cycle. 9 months period is calculated from that day.
Pregnancy symptoms differ from women to women. In some cases women think these symptoms to be PMS symptoms.
No, usually its impossible to feel pregnancy just by feeling something in your stomach. Usually early symptoms may also take more than 1 week to appear properly.
Can you feel Week 1 Pregnancy ?
No, usually its impossible to feel pregnancy just by feeling something in your stomach. Usually early symptoms may also take more than 1 week to appear properly.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Obesity and if it was a matter of gut flora
We know obesity is a multifactorial disease.
One of the possible causes is currently the subject of much research: the composition of our intestinal flora.
Intestinal flora which encourages obese to eat more?
A landmark study on the subject was published in 2010 in the journal Science (1). It focused on mice whose intestines had been genetically engineered and housed accordingly more bacteria than normal.
Result: mice unbalanced intestinal flora were heavier than the others, and ate 10% more if they had the chance. This effect was accompanied by the classic signs of the metabolic syndrome: hypertension, elevated blood lipids, glucose, resistance to insulin.
They were also more markers of inflammation, which is, for authors, perhaps the key phenomenon. When the cells of the organism must respond to inflammation, they are in fact less available to regulate the level of sugar in the blood. But this rate is important for the regulation of appetite!
How to rebalance our intestinal flora to fight against overweight and obesity?
The study is very preliminary and needs to be confirmed by other studies. Doctors are far from being able to draw practical lessons for the fight against obesity in humans.
However, it is not the only argument that makes us uneflore promote intestinal well balanced. The bacteria found in our gut are indeed important for our transit is harmonious. They are also part of our line of defense against infections ...
So bet on probiotics!
Thus, we call all the bacteria that we swallow and that will have a positive effect on our health.
You can find easily in capsule form, or in some foods - yogurt or other fermented milk products. This second solution is often the most effective, since Probiotics are living organisms that must remain until your gut to take effect.
Now sold as dietary supplements, probiotics are first dried and then stored for several months on the shelves ... It is easier to ensure their survival in a yogurt that is one of their natural habitats and to be eaten days.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Whats the best way to lose weight and keep it off
Diet plan, fitness regime or an app: what is the best way to shape up? Meet the women who will be testing three methods for three months

Georgina Horne wears Fly Sport tank top by Pearl Izumi, her own leggings and trainers by New Balance Photo: SOPHIA SPRING
We all like the sound of a body transformation. Bring on the kale chips, the 2014 pioneering health-trend gurus shout - or a juice cleanse, or a two-day fast. But with so many methods to choose from, what is the most realistic way to shift weight and keep it off? Over the next three months three women will each embark on a different route to the same finish line: shaping up their bodies for the long term.
Related articles
30 minutes of exercise better for weight loss than longer workouts
Womens wacky weight-loss regimes from the early 1920s and beyond
Top 10 diet books
Kimberly Davis, the founder of the marketing firm Sarsaparilla , will be undertaking the Metabolic Balance nutritional programme under the guidance of Stellas own nutritionist, Petronella Ravenshear . The three-month programme is designed to reset metabolism and hormone levels to regulate fat storage. Key features include an eating-plan comprising the foods best suited to your personal biochemistry (determined through a blood test), leaving a five-hour gap between meals and no aerobic exercise until your target weight is reached (as, according to Metabolic Balance, exercise causes fat-burning to stop).
Georgina Horne, a plus-size blogger and nanny, will be in the hands of the personal trainer James Duigan and his team at his London gym, Bodyism . Duigan begins with a data-driven assessment, and his workout sessions include a long warm-up to activate muscle groups and are punctuated with high-intensity exercise bursts. Horne will also be committing to Duigans popular Clean &Lean diet , which champions eating organically and takes processed foods firmly off the menu.
And in our increasingly digital world, what role can technology play in the quest for weight-loss? Enter Alice Dogruyol, the creator of the plus-size-jeans label Beauty in Curves . Dogruyol will be testing WatchFit , an app that provides specialised exercise and nutrition plans compiled by a roster of top British nutritionists and personal trainers.
Keep up with our three womens journeys via their online diaries, which will be posted on the Telegraph website every Friday. They will share exercise and nutrition tips as well as their weekly highs and lows. Visit telegraph.co.uk/beauty . Their results will be published in Stella on 11 January.

Kimberly Davis wears tank top and leggings by Marks & Spencer and trainers by Reebok. Photo: Sophia Spring
Age: 39
Height: 5ft 6in
Weight: 16st 2lb
Dress size: 18
Waist: 116cm
Bottom: 130cm
Upper arm: 36cm
Thigh: 68cm
Shape-up method: Metabolic Balance nutrition plan with Petronella Ravenshear
When I was on the The Apprentice in 2009 I was called obese by a fellow contestant. Though I was certainly not obese, I recognised I had a few pounds to lose so I hit the gym and lost about 1½st. I was in the best shape of my life. Then I ran into some bad luck. A basic hospital procedure led to an E. coli infection ending with major surgery, so I was inactive for three months. In six months I gained 5st and my health and relationships suffered. Despite many efforts since, I have not been able to get rid of my extra weight. I weigh 16st but do not eat 16st worth of food, so I have a suspicion that my weight issue is to do with the stress of running my own business. I broke both my feet falling down some stairs six months ago and now I cannot get on a bike or go to the gym as I used to. I feel 39 going on 80 because I am unable to go out and do basic things. My goal is to shift some weight so I can start taking control of my body and health and get my quality of life back.

Georgina Horne wears Fly Sport tank top by Pearl Izumi, her own leggings and trainers by New Balance. Photo: Sophia Spring
Age: 26
Height: 5ft 7in
Weight: 17st 7lb
Dress size: 18
Waist: 111cm
Bottom: 135cm
Upper arm: 41cm
Thigh: 80cm
Shape-up method: Personal training sessions three times a week at Bodyism
I feel really enthused about getting in shape for about a week and a half - I will go running, do some skipping and watch my eating - and then it tails off because, actually, I like food and sitting on the sofa. (I do make sure I hit 10,000 steps every day with my Fitbit activity tracker .) I also lack motivation because I am not unhappy about my body shape. As a blogger, I can post a photo of my body on Instagram and receive some lovely comments about it. My main vices are snacking - I adore chocolate and popcorn - and eating big portions. I am getting married in July and have bought my dress already. Its a size 14, the size I was pre-relationship, when I felt the pressure of being on the pull and before my fiancé and I started going out to drink and eat all the time. My goal isnt to be really slim; I dont think I would enjoy life trying to maintain my weight at a size 10. I just want to feel a little less wobbly and to be able to run for a bus and not collapse when I get on it.

Alice Dogruyol wears tank top and leggings by Marks & Spencer and trainers by New Balance. Photo: Sophia Spring
Age: 36
Dress size: 22
Height: 5ft 9in
Weight: 17st 9lb
Waist: 110cm
Bottom: 142cm
Upper arm: 40cm
Thigh: 80cm
Shape-up method: WatchFit app and wearable technology
I have always been bigger than my friends. I love having a curvy body, but I dont like having a fat body, which I think I am getting into the realms of now. In the past year I have felt heavy and uncomfortable, and I feel pressure on my joints and back. I am the biggest Ive been and cant move as fast as Id like to. My relationship with food is connected to my emotional state. Having seen nutritionists over the years, I know what I should be eating and have probably done nearly every diet under the sun, but when life kicks in I go for a sugary hit. I overeat and comfort eat. Ive been gaining weight steadily since I was 10, by snacking, secret eating and yo-yo dieting. But now I feel in the right mental state to stick to an app. I have new self-awareness and an understanding of my body. If I am lying to myself, the app will prove it. My aim is to get back to a size 16, where I feel happy. I love feeling fit and judge my weight by how I feel and how my clothes fit, rather than what the scales tell me.
Georgina Horne wears Fly Sport tank top by Pearl Izumi, her own leggings and trainers by New Balance Photo: SOPHIA SPRING
We all like the sound of a body transformation. Bring on the kale chips, the 2014 pioneering health-trend gurus shout - or a juice cleanse, or a two-day fast. But with so many methods to choose from, what is the most realistic way to shift weight and keep it off? Over the next three months three women will each embark on a different route to the same finish line: shaping up their bodies for the long term.
Related articles
30 minutes of exercise better for weight loss than longer workouts
Womens wacky weight-loss regimes from the early 1920s and beyond
Top 10 diet books
Kimberly Davis, the founder of the marketing firm Sarsaparilla , will be undertaking the Metabolic Balance nutritional programme under the guidance of Stellas own nutritionist, Petronella Ravenshear . The three-month programme is designed to reset metabolism and hormone levels to regulate fat storage. Key features include an eating-plan comprising the foods best suited to your personal biochemistry (determined through a blood test), leaving a five-hour gap between meals and no aerobic exercise until your target weight is reached (as, according to Metabolic Balance, exercise causes fat-burning to stop).
Georgina Horne, a plus-size blogger and nanny, will be in the hands of the personal trainer James Duigan and his team at his London gym, Bodyism . Duigan begins with a data-driven assessment, and his workout sessions include a long warm-up to activate muscle groups and are punctuated with high-intensity exercise bursts. Horne will also be committing to Duigans popular Clean &Lean diet , which champions eating organically and takes processed foods firmly off the menu.
And in our increasingly digital world, what role can technology play in the quest for weight-loss? Enter Alice Dogruyol, the creator of the plus-size-jeans label Beauty in Curves . Dogruyol will be testing WatchFit , an app that provides specialised exercise and nutrition plans compiled by a roster of top British nutritionists and personal trainers.
Keep up with our three womens journeys via their online diaries, which will be posted on the Telegraph website every Friday. They will share exercise and nutrition tips as well as their weekly highs and lows. Visit telegraph.co.uk/beauty . Their results will be published in Stella on 11 January.
Kimberly Davis wears tank top and leggings by Marks & Spencer and trainers by Reebok. Photo: Sophia Spring
Age: 39
Height: 5ft 6in
Weight: 16st 2lb
Dress size: 18
Waist: 116cm
Bottom: 130cm
Upper arm: 36cm
Thigh: 68cm
Shape-up method: Metabolic Balance nutrition plan with Petronella Ravenshear
When I was on the The Apprentice in 2009 I was called obese by a fellow contestant. Though I was certainly not obese, I recognised I had a few pounds to lose so I hit the gym and lost about 1½st. I was in the best shape of my life. Then I ran into some bad luck. A basic hospital procedure led to an E. coli infection ending with major surgery, so I was inactive for three months. In six months I gained 5st and my health and relationships suffered. Despite many efforts since, I have not been able to get rid of my extra weight. I weigh 16st but do not eat 16st worth of food, so I have a suspicion that my weight issue is to do with the stress of running my own business. I broke both my feet falling down some stairs six months ago and now I cannot get on a bike or go to the gym as I used to. I feel 39 going on 80 because I am unable to go out and do basic things. My goal is to shift some weight so I can start taking control of my body and health and get my quality of life back.
Georgina Horne wears Fly Sport tank top by Pearl Izumi, her own leggings and trainers by New Balance. Photo: Sophia Spring
Age: 26
Height: 5ft 7in
Weight: 17st 7lb
Dress size: 18
Waist: 111cm
Bottom: 135cm
Upper arm: 41cm
Thigh: 80cm
Shape-up method: Personal training sessions three times a week at Bodyism
I feel really enthused about getting in shape for about a week and a half - I will go running, do some skipping and watch my eating - and then it tails off because, actually, I like food and sitting on the sofa. (I do make sure I hit 10,000 steps every day with my Fitbit activity tracker .) I also lack motivation because I am not unhappy about my body shape. As a blogger, I can post a photo of my body on Instagram and receive some lovely comments about it. My main vices are snacking - I adore chocolate and popcorn - and eating big portions. I am getting married in July and have bought my dress already. Its a size 14, the size I was pre-relationship, when I felt the pressure of being on the pull and before my fiancé and I started going out to drink and eat all the time. My goal isnt to be really slim; I dont think I would enjoy life trying to maintain my weight at a size 10. I just want to feel a little less wobbly and to be able to run for a bus and not collapse when I get on it.
Alice Dogruyol wears tank top and leggings by Marks & Spencer and trainers by New Balance. Photo: Sophia Spring
Age: 36
Dress size: 22
Height: 5ft 9in
Weight: 17st 9lb
Waist: 110cm
Bottom: 142cm
Upper arm: 40cm
Thigh: 80cm
Shape-up method: WatchFit app and wearable technology
I have always been bigger than my friends. I love having a curvy body, but I dont like having a fat body, which I think I am getting into the realms of now. In the past year I have felt heavy and uncomfortable, and I feel pressure on my joints and back. I am the biggest Ive been and cant move as fast as Id like to. My relationship with food is connected to my emotional state. Having seen nutritionists over the years, I know what I should be eating and have probably done nearly every diet under the sun, but when life kicks in I go for a sugary hit. I overeat and comfort eat. Ive been gaining weight steadily since I was 10, by snacking, secret eating and yo-yo dieting. But now I feel in the right mental state to stick to an app. I have new self-awareness and an understanding of my body. If I am lying to myself, the app will prove it. My aim is to get back to a size 16, where I feel happy. I love feeling fit and judge my weight by how I feel and how my clothes fit, rather than what the scales tell me.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Good News! Trader Joes Now Offers White Whole Wheat Flour Heres How It Measures Up
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| White Whole Wheat Flour at Trader Joes. Grown on the high plains of the Midwest and Colorado. Follow Foods For Long Life on FACEBOOK . |
Finally, More Choices!
For years Ive been baking with King Arthurs White Whole Wheat Flour. This type of flour is milled from hard white spring wheat instead of traditional red wheat. The beauty of white whole wheat is that it is delicate like white flour (in fact you wouldnt know youre eating whole wheat!) AND it has the fiber and other nutritional benefits of whole grain. Unfortunately King Arthur is sometimes hard to find and is twice the price as conventional all-purpose flour.
A few weeks ago I noticed that Trader Joes had their own brand of white whole wheat flour, "Baker Josefs", so I picked one up to try. Im excited to report that it bakes as well as King Arthurs. Heres how else it compares:
Price
A 5-pound bag of King Arthurs white whole wheat flour costs $4.95. If you buy King Arthurs organic white whole wheat flour, it costs $7.95.
Trader Joes Baker Josefs white whole wheat flour costs $2.99 for a 5-pound bag. Unfortunately, organic is not available.
Nutritional Content in 1 Cup of Flour
* White, all-purpose flour has 455 calories, 4 g of fat, 13 g of protein, 95 g of carbohydrates and only 3 g of dietary fiber.
* King Arthurs white whole wheat flour has 400 calories, 2 g of fat, 12 g of protein, 72 g carbs and 12 g of dietary fiber.
* Baker Josefs white whole wheat flour has 440 calories, 2 g of fat, 16 g of protein, 92 g carbohydrates and a whopping 16 g of dietary fiber!
Bottom line, Baker Josef costs about the same as conventional all-purpose white flour and is 40% cheaper than King Arthurs white whole wheat.
Baker Josef has 23% more protein than all-purpose white flour and has 33% more protein than King Arthurss white whole wheat.
Baker Josef has 433% more dietary fiber than all-purpose white flour and 33% more than King Arthurs.
Remember, dietary fiber from whole grains can keep your regular and may lower your risk of colorectal cancer. Fiber also lowers cholesterol and helps control your blood sugar levels.
If theres a Trader Joes near you, I suggest you give Baker Josefs white whole wheat flour a try, especially if you are still using white flour. If you use and enjoy King Arthur, its still a great product and a great choice. Trader Joes is just giving us another option.
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| King Arthurs is still a great product and a great choice! |
Baking with White Whole Wheat
White whole wheat flour bakes like white flour. Start out by substituting it for 1/4 or 1/2 of your white flour but eventually Im sure youll use it for the entire recipe. It absorbs a bit more moisture than white flour so add a little more liquid to your recipes. All of my baked recipes on the blog (except for those that are wheat-free) assume the use of white whole wheat flour so theres no need to add additional liquid to these.
White whole wheat flour can be used for bread, pizza dough, pancakes, muffins, breading, stuffing, biscuits, to thicken gravy or anywhere else white flour is used. I promise you, your kids wont even know you snuck in all this fiber and nutritional goodness into their diets!
Take What’s Best from Nuts Not all of it should be in Your Healthy Baskets
Nuts are very small nutriments, which are filled up with fats important for the heart, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
The finest nuts for your own diet – Almonds, Cashews, Pistachios
All nuts are healthy supplements to any diet due to their mix of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein. These substances, which are contained in nuts, will help you feel fed up and repress your appetite. All kinds of nuts are about the same in terms of calories per ounce.
The substandard nuts for your diet – Macadamia Nuts, Pecans
Macadamia nuts and pecans possess the most calories (200 each), as well as the lowest amounts of protein and the highest amounts of fats. 10 to 12 macadamia nuts contain 2 grams of protein and 21 grams fat; while 18 to 20 halves of pecans contain 3 grams of protein, and 20 grams fat.
Despite all these, they’re still good nuts. The distinction in calories between macadamia nuts and pecans in comparison with the lowest calorie nuts is not more than 40 calories an ounce. Any kind of raw, simple nut will afford you a good portion of healthy fats and nutrients, as long as you’re consuming them reasonable.
Best nuts for your heart – Walnuts
Even though all nuts contain heart-healthy omega-3 fats, walnuts possess high amounts of alpha linoleic acid (ALA). 14 halves of walnuts contain 185 calories, 18 grams fat, and 4 grams protein. Research has revealed that walnuts are as effective as olive oil at decreasing inflammation and oxidation in the arteries after consuming a fatty meal, additionally ALA may help heart arrhythmia’s. The researchers suggested consuming about eight walnuts daily to acquire almost identical benefits.
Best nuts for your brain – Peanuts
Peanuts have high amount of folate, a mineral crucial for brain growth that may preserve against cognitive reduction. One ounce of peanuts contains about 170 calories, 7 grams protein, and 14 grams fat. Folate also makes peanuts an excellent choice for vegetarians, and pregnant women, who need folate to keep safe their unborn babies from birth deformities. The same as many other nuts, peanuts are also full of brain-stimulating healthy fats and vitamin E, as well.
Best nuts for disease prevention – Almonds
Almonds are relatively low in calories. They possess more calcium compared to any other nut, which makes them an excellent food for overall health. What’s more, they are wealthy in fiber and vitamin E, an antioxidant that aids in fighting dangerous inflammation and possibly health problems, like lung cancer and age-related cognitive reduction.
Source: http://www.healthyfoodsolution.com/take-whats-best-from-nuts-not-all-of-it-should-be-in-your-healthy-baskets/
Is It Healthy to Drink Wine
My son Vaughn and I enjoying a special bottle of wine for my birthday (we are NOT drinking the entire bottle!)

Day 28 of Our “One Month Raw Food Cleanse”
During my one month raw food cleanse, I have enjoyed some wine. Wine is raw, although not all wine is vegan—we’ll talk about that later. In moderation, wine has some significant health benefits. The key word is moderation which may mean different things to different people. A person who polishes off a bottle of wine with dinner each night after he’s had a few cocktails before dinner would have a different definition than someone who drinks only on occasion. As they say, the definition of an alcoholic is someone who drinks more than you do. The definition of “moderate drinking” would also depend on your sex, age, body weight and underlying physical condition. So it’s tough to say a woman should have one glass of wine a night and a man two. That should certainly be the upper limit but for some, that may still seem like too much. So you should listen to your body and use judgment – something that gets more difficult to do after you start drinking wine. After a wonderful glass of wine, it’s pretty tough to say, “Oh, one is my limit to achieve optimum health benefits”. It would be more like, “hey, that’s pretty good. I’ll have another and pass over that big block of cheese”.
So yes, if you have will power, and alcohol doesn’t completely cloud your judgment, a “moderate” amount of wine can potentially have significant health benefits.
Health Benefits of Moderate Wine Consumption
• Delay dementia. David Teplow, a neurologist from UCLA, found that polyphenols in red wine can block the formation of the amyloid-beta proteins that are the plaques that form in the brain contributing to Alzheimer’s. Studies have also shown that wine may actually improve memory function by causing the release of acetylcholine. Too much alcohol can have the opposite effect.
• Good for the heart and could prevent strokes. The flavonoids in wine have antioxidant qualities and can prevent the formation of plaque in the arteries and blood clots. Resveratrol, found in the skin and seeds of the grapes used to make red wine, can increase HDL (the good cholesterol), reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol) and prevent blood clotting. Preventing the formation of plaque in arteries and blood clots would also prevent a person from having a stroke.
• Protects against throat cancer. A Kaiser Permanente study (see March issue of Gastroenterology) showed that moderate wine consumption could offer protection from the onset of Barrett’s Esophagus which leads to esophageal cancer. Although drinking beer had no effect and drinking spirits could actually raise the risk, drinking one or two glasses of wine a day lowered the chance of developing Barrett’s Esophagus by 56 percent.
• Prevents type 2 diabetes. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, women over 25 who had one or two glasses of wine daily were 58% less likely of developing diabetes than those who did not drink. Red wine may help regulate blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity.
• May induce overwhelming joy. There are other benefits that you don’t normally see in medical journals. Like the absolute joy of sharing your favorite bottle of wine with a close family member or a good friend. Or the excitement of opening that special bottle of champagne you’ve been saving for your anniversary. And the joyous ritual of a sommelier opening a fine wine to go with a special meal. No one will dispute that joy improves health and extends life.
There are also some risks associated with wine consumption which you should be aware of.
Risks of wine consumption:
• Increases the risk of breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute found that women who consume one to three drinks a day have a 24 percent increased risk of getting breast cancer.
• Increase in triglycerides. Wine consumption can elevate triglyceride levels which can lead to health problems like diabetes.
• Can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Pregnant women should avoid alcohol as it has been associated with developmental disorders in their babies.
Conclusion: So should I drink wine?
If you can drink in moderation (that’s usually defined as 5 ounces of wine per day for a woman and twice that for a man) you can reap the benefits and joy of drinking wine while minimizing the risks. But if you don’t drink wine or you don’t particularly enjoy it, don’t start. You can still get many of the benefits listed above through proper nutrition and excercise.
Full disclosure:
In the spirit of full disclosure, one: My family is Italian so a little wine was mixed with water and put in my bottle when I was a child and two: my husband and I live in Sonoma county (some of California’s most beautiful wine country) and are about to plant 3,000 vines of Pinot Noir which will make us wine growers.
Is wine vegan?
Although wine is raw, it is not always vegan. Some winemakers use animal products to clear the wine which prevents it from turning cloudy. The most commonly used agents to accomplish this are casein (milk protein), gelatin (from bones), egg whites, egg albumin, and isinglass (from fish). Vegan wine makers use bentonite clay, carbon, diatomaceous earth and kaolin (a clay mineral). For a vegan wine guide, go to http://vegans.frommars.org/wine/ .
Menu for Day 28
Breakfast is a big fruit salad with fresh strawberries, cantaloupe, mango and dessert helper. I’m meeting friends for lunch so I’m not sure what I’ll find. Dinner will be raw pizza (see May 18, 2009 posting) since I just pulled a big batch of sprouted lentil crusts out of the dehydrator. Dessert is chia pudding (see April 11, 2009 posting).
Read more »

Day 28 of Our “One Month Raw Food Cleanse”
During my one month raw food cleanse, I have enjoyed some wine. Wine is raw, although not all wine is vegan—we’ll talk about that later. In moderation, wine has some significant health benefits. The key word is moderation which may mean different things to different people. A person who polishes off a bottle of wine with dinner each night after he’s had a few cocktails before dinner would have a different definition than someone who drinks only on occasion. As they say, the definition of an alcoholic is someone who drinks more than you do. The definition of “moderate drinking” would also depend on your sex, age, body weight and underlying physical condition. So it’s tough to say a woman should have one glass of wine a night and a man two. That should certainly be the upper limit but for some, that may still seem like too much. So you should listen to your body and use judgment – something that gets more difficult to do after you start drinking wine. After a wonderful glass of wine, it’s pretty tough to say, “Oh, one is my limit to achieve optimum health benefits”. It would be more like, “hey, that’s pretty good. I’ll have another and pass over that big block of cheese”.
So yes, if you have will power, and alcohol doesn’t completely cloud your judgment, a “moderate” amount of wine can potentially have significant health benefits.
Health Benefits of Moderate Wine Consumption
• Delay dementia. David Teplow, a neurologist from UCLA, found that polyphenols in red wine can block the formation of the amyloid-beta proteins that are the plaques that form in the brain contributing to Alzheimer’s. Studies have also shown that wine may actually improve memory function by causing the release of acetylcholine. Too much alcohol can have the opposite effect.
• Good for the heart and could prevent strokes. The flavonoids in wine have antioxidant qualities and can prevent the formation of plaque in the arteries and blood clots. Resveratrol, found in the skin and seeds of the grapes used to make red wine, can increase HDL (the good cholesterol), reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol) and prevent blood clotting. Preventing the formation of plaque in arteries and blood clots would also prevent a person from having a stroke.
• Protects against throat cancer. A Kaiser Permanente study (see March issue of Gastroenterology) showed that moderate wine consumption could offer protection from the onset of Barrett’s Esophagus which leads to esophageal cancer. Although drinking beer had no effect and drinking spirits could actually raise the risk, drinking one or two glasses of wine a day lowered the chance of developing Barrett’s Esophagus by 56 percent.
• Prevents type 2 diabetes. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, women over 25 who had one or two glasses of wine daily were 58% less likely of developing diabetes than those who did not drink. Red wine may help regulate blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity.
• May induce overwhelming joy. There are other benefits that you don’t normally see in medical journals. Like the absolute joy of sharing your favorite bottle of wine with a close family member or a good friend. Or the excitement of opening that special bottle of champagne you’ve been saving for your anniversary. And the joyous ritual of a sommelier opening a fine wine to go with a special meal. No one will dispute that joy improves health and extends life.
There are also some risks associated with wine consumption which you should be aware of.
Risks of wine consumption:
• Increases the risk of breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute found that women who consume one to three drinks a day have a 24 percent increased risk of getting breast cancer.
• Increase in triglycerides. Wine consumption can elevate triglyceride levels which can lead to health problems like diabetes.
• Can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Pregnant women should avoid alcohol as it has been associated with developmental disorders in their babies.
Conclusion: So should I drink wine?
If you can drink in moderation (that’s usually defined as 5 ounces of wine per day for a woman and twice that for a man) you can reap the benefits and joy of drinking wine while minimizing the risks. But if you don’t drink wine or you don’t particularly enjoy it, don’t start. You can still get many of the benefits listed above through proper nutrition and excercise.
Full disclosure:
In the spirit of full disclosure, one: My family is Italian so a little wine was mixed with water and put in my bottle when I was a child and two: my husband and I live in Sonoma county (some of California’s most beautiful wine country) and are about to plant 3,000 vines of Pinot Noir which will make us wine growers.
Is wine vegan?
Although wine is raw, it is not always vegan. Some winemakers use animal products to clear the wine which prevents it from turning cloudy. The most commonly used agents to accomplish this are casein (milk protein), gelatin (from bones), egg whites, egg albumin, and isinglass (from fish). Vegan wine makers use bentonite clay, carbon, diatomaceous earth and kaolin (a clay mineral). For a vegan wine guide, go to http://vegans.frommars.org/wine/ .
Menu for Day 28
Breakfast is a big fruit salad with fresh strawberries, cantaloupe, mango and dessert helper. I’m meeting friends for lunch so I’m not sure what I’ll find. Dinner will be raw pizza (see May 18, 2009 posting) since I just pulled a big batch of sprouted lentil crusts out of the dehydrator. Dessert is chia pudding (see April 11, 2009 posting).
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