For a million dollars, answer this question: What contains more antioxidants? Two glasses of sauerkraut juice, two glasses of carrot juice or two glasses of red wine? If you picked the wine, you are the winner! (Sorry, I lied about the million bucks.)

According to researchers at the University of California, Davis, Department of Viticulture and Enology, wine is "one of the best sources of phenolic antioxidants available to Americans." Every glass of wine contains approximately 200 different phenolic compounds (or phenols), many of them have been noted as antioxidants because they have been shown to slow the potentially damaging cell oxidation process. Scientists often refer to categories of phenolic compounds as flavonoids or tannins. Large-scale studies have associated general flavoid intake with overall better health. The most recent research and headline grabber has been the potential role of moderate wine drinking actually aiding in reducing the risk for both heart disease and cancer.

In a landmark Danish study published in l995, researchers for the Copenhagen City Heart Study found wine drinkers to have increased health advantages over nondrinkers or moderate drinkers of other beverages. The prestigious British Medical Journal, "suggests that other more broadly acting factors in wine may be present." The most apparent beneficial "factors" in wine are its phenolic compounds, often referred to as antioxidants, which recent studies have linked to potentially preventing heart disease and cancer. A similar study from Spain found that fish, vegetables and wine in the diet were associated with reduced risks of heart disease mortality. The Spanish researchers also noted that wine's effects were more pronounced than any other alcoholic beverage in the diet. "Our results suggest that the possible benefits to be derived from moderate daily consumption (2 to 3 glasses) of red wine may be due, in part, to components other than alcohol."

It is wonderful to consider the pleasure of drinking wine will enable us to live longer and healthier lives, but scientists also point out that the general lifestyle of wine drinkers is also likely to play a key role. Leisurely mealtimes shared with good companionship, a menu of grilled fish or poultry, seasonal vegetables, a bottle of your favorite red wine, candle light and some wonderful music, is what I call a great prescription for low stress and high enjoyment.

"For thousands of years, people have been saying that drinking wine with dinner aids digestion," says Dr. Martin Weisse, researcher at West Virginia University, "and here we have an explanation why." Weisse and his colleagues found that wine was even more effective that bismuth salicylate, the active ingredient in Pepto Bismol, in eradicating three types of bacteria that commonly lead to food poisoning, dysentery and diarrhea!

Call me crazy, but give me a glass of Long Island Merlot with my rack of lamb and hold the Pepto! Cheers, and to your good health!


Shari Alexander writes about food and wine in various magazines and newspapers. She is a graduate of the New York Restaurant School, a former chef, restaurateur, food stylist. Shari also acts as a food & wine consultant in NYC & The Hamptons and can be reached at 917-887-8823.

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