We ’ ve often heard that a glass of wine a day can reduce the risk of heart disease , especially for middle-aged and older adults . In fact , international comparisons show that there is a lower prevalence of heart disease in “ wine drinking countries ” than found in “ beer drinking countries .” This might be because wine , specifically red wine , contains antioxidants and polyphenols . One polyphenol in particular , resveratrol is credited with reducing inflammation and damaging chemicals in the body . Although alcohol itself thins the blood and helps blood vessels expand , resveratrol is thought to add an extra punch in helping prevent blood clots , relax blood vessel walls , and prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol , otherwise known as the bad cholesterol . It may even protect skin from harmful UV rays ! One five-ounce glass of wine also contains about 187 mg of potassium , which is about four percent of your daily intake , and it only adds up to about 125 calories .

The down side of wine is that most of these effects only come from red wine , meaning those who are partial to white wine are out of luck . There are also some conflicting studies suggesting that there is no real link between resveratrol consumption and the reduction of cardiovascular disease , and that other lifestyle choices may contribute to the lower prevalence of heart disease found in wine countries . So it ’ s really anyone ’ s guess as to how much benefit you ’ re actually getting . What is a proven fact is that all wine , regardless of

color , will erode tooth enamel because of its high acidity .

You might not hear it very often , but beer actually contains a fair share of polyphenols too . Often coined as “ liquid bread ,” beer offers a surprising amount of nutritional benefits that outweigh those of wine , including having more selenium , B vitamins , phosphorus , folate , and niacin . Because beer is derived from wheat and barley , it has a significant amount of protein and fiber , and it may contain the same prebiotic properties of wheat , which help nourish the good bacteria in our gut . In fact , the hops in beer can help treat restlessness , anxiety and sleep disturbances .

International comparisons show that there is a lower prevalence of heart disease in “ wine drinking countries ” than there is in “ beer drinking countries .”

Unfortunately , beer ’ s bread-like qualities also means it packs a lot more carbs than wine . It still has a lower carb count than actual bread , but it contains significantly more than its wine counterpart . A standard five ounce glass of wine has around one or two grams of carbs , while one 12-ounce bottle of 5 % alcohol beer contains between 10 or 20 grams of carbs , which amounts to 40 to 80 extra calories . If you venture into the world of craft beers , the carb and calorie counts only grow . The common misconception is that craft beers are healthier because they are made with natural , grain-based sugars and few synthetic additives . Many craft beers , however , tend to have a higher alcohol content and a higher hop content , which adds up to more calories . One bottle of craft beer can be anywhere from 300 to 500 calories !

Despite the higher calorie count , if it ’ s a contest of nutrients , then beer is still the clear winner . But before you go guzzling a few bottles , it ’ s worth noting that you might not be absorbing much of those nutrients . The thing about all alcohol is that it isn ’ t digested like food . Instead , it passes directly through the walls of the lining of your stomach and small intestine into your bloodstream . This means that there ’ s no guarantee that your body is absorbing much of what you ’ re putting in . Eating food may slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream and thereby increase the chances of getting these nutrients , but again , there ’ s no real guarantee .

Regardless of which side you ’ re on in the booze debate , both beer and wine have the potential to help lower the risk of heart disease . The key , oddly enough , is consistency . One or two 5 ounce glasses of wine or a few 12-ounce servings of 5 % alcohol beer just may help keep the doctor away . Of course , you should always beware of overdoing it . Excessive alcohol consumption can damage the liver and sometimes cause fatal alcohol poisoning . And while resveratrol and vitamins and minerals in your alcohol is definitely a bonus , you won ’ t get nearly as much as you would by eating whole grains , grapes , blueberries , and raspberries .

CRYSTAL HAN is a freelance writer and artist . She graduated from San José State University with a BFA in Animation / Illustration and is an aspiring novelist , currently working on two books .

GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN MARCH / APRIL 2017 gmhtoday . com

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