The astonishing health benefits of champagne
Billions of people rang in 2019 with New Year’s Eve toasts. While many wish for good health in the future, few realize that they’re already sipping it out of their glass of champagne.
Champagne in France is regarded as “the divine beverage.” It remains a quintessential element of culture, loved across generations. Usually associated with indulgence and celebration, champagne is typically reserved for special occasions.
The truth is it’s actually good for you. Before it was a party favor, champagne was actually a form of medicine. It was revered throughout history for the capacity to soothe minor ailments of both the mind and body.
According to Dr. Tran Ky and Dr. F. Drourard in their book The Healing Power of Champagne, the beverage was even prescribed by doctors in 17th century France. Physicians at that time would prescribe a flute of champagne per meal to treat women suffering from anemia, as it is rich in ferric ions. This would help them immediately perk up. A pint of champagne was even prescribed to Madame de Montespan, the mistress of Louis XIV during childbirth to produce a male heir.
More recently, modern studies show that consuming champagne is actually good for you – in moderation, of course. We’ll raise our glass to that.
Here are some surprising reasons to bring out the bubbly:
• Champagne improves your heart health. Red wine has been praised for being heart healthy. Did you know that drinking champagne, which is made from mostly red grapes, shares the same perks? Research from the University of Reading found that drinking champagne improves blood circulation. It contains the plant chemicals polyphenols from red and white grapes, which get absorbed into the circulation when you drink champagne. This helps increase the levels of nitric oxide in the blood, which is linked to a decrease in blood pressure and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
“Our research has shown that drinking around two glasses of champagne can have beneficial effects on the way blood vessels function, in a similar way to that observed with red wine. We always encourage a responsible approach to alcohol consumption, but the fact that drinking champagne has the potential to reduce the risks of suffering from cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke is very exciting news,” explains researcher Dr. Jeremy Spencer from the UK Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences.
• Champagne improves your memory. Drinking up to three glasses of champagne a week has been linked to preventing cognitive decline. Studies show that champagne contains proteins that benefit short-term memory and reduce forgetfulness.
Dr. Spencer and his team gave a group of rats champagne with their dinner for six weeks and had them complete a maze. The test group’s success rate increased from 50 percent to 70 percent post-drink. The researchers credit this to a compound found in pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes used for champagne that wards off forgetfulness. Phenolic acid, on the other hand, boosts memory function.
Another new study by the University of Rochester Medical Center published in the journal Scientific Reports shows that low levels of alcohol consumption can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. It does this by decreasing inflammation and helping the brain clear away toxins.
How much should you drink? A glass or two per week was found to prevent the onset of dementia. The risk is cut by almost half for regular champagne drinkers, according to research in Pittsburgh.
• Champagne improves your skin. While it would be an expensive detox, it would be an effective one. “Champagne detoxifies the skin with antioxidants and lightening tartaric acid helps even out the skin tone. For those with oily skin, its antibacterial properties aid in leaving last year’s breakouts behind,” explains dermatologist Marina Paredo as reported by The Telegraph.
• It contains less calories. For those who are counting calories but still want to drink, champagne is definitely the diet option. It contains fewer calories than both red and white wine, lighter by 80 to 120 calories. It also comes in smaller servings making it healthier all-around.
Cheers to your good health!
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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.
