5 replies to this topic

[Rogerdodger]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Wed Sep 27, 2006-


Giving mice with Alzheimer's-like disease the equivalent of a couple of glasses of red wine daily slows memory loss and brain cell death, a new study shows.

The researchers calibrated the animals' wine intake to match the US Department of Agriculture's definition of moderate wine consumption, a single 5-ounce glass daily for women and two glasses for men, Dr. Giulio Maria Pasinetti of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City told Reuters Health. "Moderate consumption is the key factor," he said in an interview.

[calmcookie]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Wed Sep 27, 2006-


Giving mice with Alzheimer's-like disease the equivalent of a couple of glasses of red wine daily slows memory loss and brain cell death, a new study shows.

The researchers calibrated the animals' wine intake to match the US Department of Agriculture's definition of moderate wine consumption, a single 5-ounce glass daily for women and two glasses for men, Dr. Giulio Maria Pasinetti of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City told Reuters Health. "Moderate consumption is the key factor," he said in an interview.

Moderation, as you have said in the past, should be kept in mind. A good friend is, today, going in for hip replacement surgery. He is an alcoholic, but has not had a drink for 12 years. I had no idea that excessive alcohol could cause the need for hip replacement surgery ... but his many years of overconsumption has caused this painful problem. -



Osteonecrosis: (also known as Avascular necrosis (or AVN)): A loss of blood supply to the ball of the hip joint occurs. There may be an association with blood clotting factors or proteins and cholesterol metabolism.The result is pain, eventual collapse of the surface of the ball (femoral head), and in the end-stages, severe arthritis may develop, The most common causes that lead to a loss of this blood supply are: heavy alcohol intake on a regular basis, chronic use of oral steroids, such as Prednisone, prior trauma or surgery to the hip (hip dislocation or fracture), blood disorders that may block the blood supply (sickle cell disease), HIV disease (likely causes osteonecrosis in relation to the medications prescribed for HIV), and idiopathic (no known reason established). Less common disorders include metabolic diseases and chronic exposure to high underwater atmospheric pressure (Caisson’s disease).

[OEXCHAOS]

I seem to notice a lot of down playing of data related health benefits of any alcohol but particularly red wine. It's like it's OK to play up the health costs (which are numerous with over use) but to ignore the benefits of moderate consumption. There are dozens of studies suggesting that regular consumption of 2-5 (!!!) glasses of wine decrease the onset of alzheimers, decrease the incidence of heart disease, as well being generally associated with longer life (these studies are primarily of mediterranean people). There was little interest in the US in extending that research here. Go figure. I can tell you, though, since I stopped drinking Beer and virtually eliminated most other alcohol save red wine (which i regularly enjoy), I feel better on many different fronts. It's clearly much better for your body than grain-derived alcohol. I'd say that if the average american switched to a more mediterranean diet and swapped beer for red wine average weight would fall and so would the rate of a lot of chronic illnesses. Mark

[calmcookie]

Mark - You mention the "mediterranean diet" - how would YOU describe that? olive oil? greens? fish? rice? veges? ... definitely smaller portions .... just curious as to your take. (also - why am I always getting double spacing when I post a message now? This is unusual)

Edited by calmcookie, 28 September 2006 - 05:52 PM.

[Rogerdodger]

I find that beer puts on weight and I seldom drink it except for Guinness on special "Irish" occassions.
Of course Guinness is an antioxidant.

Moderation is the key, as in most things:
In excess alchol can cause, or at least intensify the effects of Gout.
I know because my dad had Gout and was a sales manager for a beer distributor.
He had to sample the beer but seldom drank one and never had it at home.

GOUT:

Regularly drinking alcohol interferes with the removal of uric acid from the body and can increase the risk for developing gout.

Gout is a systemic disease (i.e., condition that occurs throughout the body) caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints. An elevated blood level of uric acid (called hyperuricemia) occurs when the liver produces more uric acid than the body can excrete in the urine, or when a diet high in rich foods (e.g., red meat, cream sauces, red wine) produces more uric acid than the kidneys can filter from the blood.

Over time, uric acid in the blood crystallizes and settles in the joint spaces, causing swelling, inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Gout usually affects the first metatarsal phalangeal joint of the big toe (hallux) or the ankle joints.

Edited by Rogerdodger, 28 September 2006 - 09:45 PM.

[OEXCHAOS]

Mark -

You mention the "mediterranean diet" -
how would YOU describe that?
olive oil? greens? fish? rice? veges? ... definitely smaller portions .... just curious as to your take.
(also - why am I always getting double spacing when I post a message now? This is unusual)

Lots of fresh vegetables, olive oil, olives, limited saturated fat, lots of seaonal produce, lots of herbs and garlic, mushrooms, beans and whole grains, lots of fish, very little deep fried, very little processed.



The problem we have is that beans and nuts are (new) allergies for the wife and I have to watch my carbs very closely if I am to control weight, which ruins the pasta aspect which makes for a dandy delivery for some very good things. We sort of do a modified mediterranean diet around here. Though we do go through the olive oil and garlic.



Mark