Eat, Drink, and be merry.. for tomorrow we die

Posted by Richard Beaudin on Jun 16, 2009 in Wine Issues | 0 comments

Eat this not that. Drink, don’t drink. Don’t smoke. Fish is good for you …. oops, but not these fish they might have mercury. Eat your vegetables… wait .. did you wash the insecticide off ?

How many times have we read conflicting stories about what to do or not do in order to be healthy?

Now I am not one to suggest that all studies are flawed or the opposite, all are well conceived and executed. But, I am getting to the point that I take everything I read with a grain of salt.

Case in point: An article in the NY Times today entitled: Alcohol is good for you? Some scientists doubt it.

The article goes on to discuss concerns by several scientists that “there has not been a single study done on moderate alcohol consumption and mortality outcomes that is a ‘gold standard’ kind of study — the kind of randomized controlled clinical trial that we would be required to have in order to approve a new pharmaceutical agent in this country” (stated by Dr. Tim Naimi an epidemiologist).

The main issue seems to be concerning a better understanding of moderate drinkers versus those that abstain. What are their habits, their lifestyles, etc.

I find it interesting that in a world where we cannot accurately predict the reaction for everyone to an aspirin (after having studied its use and drawbacks) for decades, or any major drug, that we feel we must have a definitive answer regarding whether a glass or two a day is good or not.

I have two words to say on this subject: Think and Moderation

Ancient Wine Goblet

Think: Wine has been a part of the human diet for thousands of years. It has a place in history as a medicine. It also has its place in religion.  Add in culture, agriculture, the economy, travel .. you name it. Here is a drink that has brought pleasure to countless millions over the centuries paring well with foods and increasing overall enjoyment.

Unfortunately it has and will continue to be abused as well, which brings me to the second word: Moderation

For most things in life, moderation is the word that separates healthy from unhealthy. The consumption and enthusiasm for wine for me has never been about whether it is healthy or not. It has been about the grapes, history, culture, language, geography and finally, simply something I very much enjoy to drink.

So I will leave you with the last paragraph from the article: “But this is a really important question,” he continued. “Because here we have a readily available and widely used substance that may actually have a significant health benefit — but we just don’t know enough to make recommendations.”

Da .. I knew that!