Nutrition guru Professor Tim Spector has raised a glass to the virtues of an occasional red wine, countering the generally accepted views on alcohol consumption. The King’s College London professor and brain behind the Zoe health app, disclosed his personal preference for red wine stating its relative benefits for health.
Despite agreeing with the fact that alcohol poses more harm than good, he presented a comforting assessment for those partial to a glass. Prof Spector admitted, “I can’t deny it, I like wine. I’ve always had an interest in it. But the epidemiological evidence is quite clear that alcohol is bad for you and, overall, is best avoided. If you do want to have a drink while you socialise, red wine is your best bet. Studies consistently show that drinking one or two glasses of red wine a day reduces the risk of heart disease. Although, overall mortality probably doesn’t change much.”
The professor said red wine indeed possesses anti-inflammatory elements, beneficial for fending off conditions like dementia, arthritis, and diabetes while also helping to lower blood pressure. He said: “This effect is probably due to the polyphenols in red wine. Thankfully, young wines tend to have higher levels of polyphenols, so you don’t need to splash the cash on vintage plonk to reap the health benefits. White wine, on the other hand, has three times less polyphenols, so their health effects are obliterated by the alcohol content.”
For those who partake in a tipple of red, he recommended: “If you do plan on having a glass of red, enjoy it with a meal, and don’t have it late at night alcohol can affect your sleep quality and duration. I tend to drink my wine earlier in the evening or as an aperitif (though I sometimes forget).”
Cheese enthusiasts too can revel in his findings, particularly fans of brie, as Prof Spector shared his own culinary weaknesses: “One of my biggest addictions is cheese. When I went vegan for a few weeks, I didn’t crave meat; it was cheese that I missed 10 years ago, vegan cheeses were not particularly pleasant, though they are much better now, especially the nut-based ones.”, reports Gloucestershire Live.
“However, I am delighted to inform you that you do not need to stop eating cheese to stay healthy. The evidence so far suggests that eating decent quality cheese, not ultra-processed or on a pizza, is slightly good for you. According to epidemiology studies, there are no major risks. Although cheese is high in saturated fat, the probiotics fermenting microbes that live in the cheese have a positive effect on your health via your gut.”
“Nowadays, I tend to have my cheese after lunch or my evening meal with some extra ferments such as sauerkraut or kimchi to make it even healthier. I think this is the best way to enjoy cheese for both your health and taste buds.”
