Tag Archives: Wine
Health Benefits Of Wine
Will it give us an increase in longevity? Some very impressive statistics are coming out from Researchers who have found red wines rich in flavonoids are actually good for our health. These flavonoids are known for their antioxidant properties which work with the body to resist viruses and carcinogens among other perks, such as helping your body to resist cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Almost every year there are headlines touting the health benefits related to drinking wine. The good news is there really are health benefits to wine consumption. These benefits are based on moderate consumption. The American Heart Association classifies “moderate consumption” as one to two four-ounce glasses of wine per day. Here’s a list of benefits that should make you very happy to be a wine lover.
Resveratrol is produced by grapes to act as its defense, when it detects some kind of a fungal infection starting to develop in its skin, and when the skin is exposed to yeast during the process of fermentation. Other substances present in wine that have tremendous health benefits to our body are other types of polyphenols, antioxidants, and flavonoids.
Some studies in women regarding the consumption of alcohol and risk of breast cancer found an increase of this type of cancer in women who consume at least one drink daily. According to a report by the American Cancer Society in 2004 there was an increase of 30% in the death rate from breast cancer in women who would drink alcohol daily.
Many believe red wine is better for you than white wine, because that is what early studies found. Skin from red grapes contained a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol, which was transferred into red wine during manufacturing. However, nowadays manufacturers are altering their winemaking processes for both red and white wine to boost health benefits.
However, to get enough of the anti-oxidant for an immediate health supplement would require drinking a lot of wine at once, and of course that would be harmful. Chemists figured out how to get the beneficial antioxidants of red wine without the alcohol – the red wine pill. Resveratrol in pill form contains no alcohol, has no calories, and delivers more antioxidants than a glass of wine.
Also they have found that you can reduce your risk of getting heart disease as well so you may want to drink you daily dose of Resveratrol laced red wine. If are not a wine drinker and are looking to start then you may want to go to a wine tasting because it is the best way to find out what type of wine that you like. Also you will be able to taste a variety of wine without having to purchase a bottle that you may not like.
Extreme Weight Problems: While the term “beer belly” may have given alcohol a bad rap when it comes to weight, wine is actually proven to help the severely overweight. In order for this to be true, dry wine, wine that does not contain sugar, needs to be ingested: four or five ounces are taken at dinnertime or bedtime. In one study, the average weight loss of those who ingested this wine was twice that of those who didn’t.
Of course, the health benefits of wine are working only with a moderate consumption of this wonderful multi-use drink. Any abuse of alcohol which is contained in wine will not only eliminate all its benefits, but add to other health problems. So, always remember that like just about everything else, moderation is the key to take full advantage of wine.
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How to Cook With Wine
Contrary to what you might think, cooking with wine is simple. Now that we got that out of the way, budding cooks can gain a lot when they learn how to cook with wine. Some flavors remain locked and unused without the assistance of wine. Its ability to release the taste of foods is unparalleled in fine cuisine. So, let’s start with the basics.
How Much is Too Much
Cooking with wine is all about what works for you. There are really no hard and fast rules. What you need to remember, however, is to put in a little bit at first. If you don’t follow this tip, you will soon find out that it’s almost impossible to salvage a dish that got drenched in wine. Another thing to keep in mind is that alcohol does not give wine its distinctive taste. Wine is composed of just a small amount of alcohol and most of that evaporates throughout the cooking process.
This presents another thing that you have to be aware of. When you cook off the liquid in wine, the flavor intensifies. When wine is reduced, it gets concentrated and the flavor gets kicked up a notch. So, add it in near the end because you can end up overwhelming the dish when it’s done.
What Makes a Good Cooking Wine
Not just any wine will do. A wine that tastes good when drunk will taste good when cooked with. On the same note, an awful tasting wine will taste even worse when put in food. You don’t need to splurge and get a $ 100 bottle – you’ll just end up not using it as much as you should. There are many good priced one out there. A $ 10 bottle could work fine. You just have to search a little harder.
A common red or white wine that you enjoy would be a good starting point. For marinades, sautéing, chicken, and seafood – applications not requiring intense flavor – it’s hard to go wrong with a Sauvignon Blanc. Red meats or sauces with a red meat base have inherently deep flavor, so a more powerful wine is in order. A Chianti or Cabernet Sauvignon is perfect for the job.
Other Tips
The more you use wine in the kitchen, the more comfortable you will be in experimenting. Before you get to that level, keep the following in mind:
• If a recipe calls for water, put in wine instead.
• You can add a tablespoon or two to your gravy. Simmer until the alcohol fully evaporates.
• Your favorite flavored oil plus wine makes a good marinade for meat and poultry.
• Heat the wine before adding to meat dishes. Warm wine can tenderize meat while cold wine has the opposite effect. Don’t overdo it. Too much heat will cook your wine, robbing it of its taste.
• Heavier red meats need a dry red wine to flavor it or else it will seem that you put nothing in at all. Lighter meats, such as pork, poultry, and fish will be overpowered. It’s best to use white wine in this case.
• You can serve the same wine you cooked with along with a meal. If that is not possible, at least serve a matching variety. It is not very nice to serve a light white wine with a roast dinner flavoured with an intense red.
Final Thought
Cooking with wine need not be complicated. Find out what kinds work with what foods. Experiment and enjoy your culinary journey.
Learn the Best Health Benefits From Drinking Red Wine
Isn’t it wonderful to finally find out that something we like is finally good for us. There have been many articles written recently about the health advantages of drinking red wine. The news people have started calling this phenomena the French Paradox. We all know the French eat diets filled with rich sauces and eat food products rich in creams butter and cheese but yet these people seem to live longer. Through research it has been found that they have a lower incidence of heart disease. Why we may ask? The final result has been thought to be the red wine they drink. In this article I will highlight the benefits of drinking great wine.
Get Free: Wine Health Benefits
First, Researchers have found that wine lowers the cholesterol by changing our blood lipid levels. Wine also makes it very difficult for blood to clump up in our blood vessels to form clots. If there are already clots it may help to dissolve them preventing our risk from stroke. If wine is drunk in moderation it can lower blood pressure. Some studies even went as far as to say red wine can lower our insulin levels. But do keep i mind these researchers are saying yes it is healthy to drink some wine in moderation, but an excess of drinking can cause many issues that will out weigh the good it does.
How to Find: Information About Wine
Secondly, red wine can be a good source of anti-oxidants. It is hard to watch TV without seeing the advantage of aniti-oxidants that are found in fruits. Another benefit from great wine is that doctors have found that it can reduce stomach ulcers.
Third, red wine does not suppress the immune system as does many other alcoholic beverages tend to due. Too much other alcoholic beverages tend to increase our risk of getting sick.
Fourth, red wine has also been found to increase bone mass. This is especially a plus for women who tend to have issues. With so many women fearing the consequences of Osteoporosis red wine could be a pleasant remedy.
Lastly, with the stressful lives all of us live today, and the scientific research that has done drinking 1 to 3 glasses of wine may be just what we need to keep our bodies healthier. It heals both the body and the soul.
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Reading the wine label
When talking about wine labeling, you will find that it might different in each country. This makes manufacturers have to confirm the laws of the countries where the wine is produced and the wine will be sold. You will find that the newer labels will help you to find the details about the wine. You will also find that some labels are difficult to read.
Related to the wine label, there are several smart tips that you can follow to read the label. By being able to read the label in it, you will be able to serve it well. Thus, you will be able to enjoy it in the event that you have.
The appellation and grape variety
This is the first term that you should understand in the wine label that you might find. Grape variety means the type of grape that is used to produce it, while the appellation indicates the place where the grapes were grown. You will find that the wines that are made in South America, North America, Africa, Australia put the grape variety on the label such as the wine was made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
Burgundy, Loire region and Burgundy are appellation of wines in France. You will find that wines from this country have the appellation of origin on the label. Thus, you should know the kinds of grape that grow in those regions in order to determine the flavor of wine that you want.
Class of wine
This indicates the type of the wine for example, it will be labeled as “class one” if it is table wine and “class two” if it is sparkling wine. You will also find that there are other types of wine such as aperitif, citrus, fruit and imitation wines. However, you will find that the most common one is the table wine. Sometimes, this also refers as “light wine”.
Alcohol content
This is another thing that you might find in the wine label. This indicates the sweetness of the wine. In this matter, the wine that contains less than 11% alcohol will tend to be sweeter. Meanwhile, the higher percentage of the alcohol in the wine will make it drier.
Vintage
The vintage shows the year when the grapes used to produce the wine were harvested. This is important for you to know the best time to drink the wine. This is because there are some wines that are best to be drunk after some times. It is also important to know the vintage of the wine if it is produced in the fluctuating weather area.
Those are some things that you should know for reading the wine label. You will find that there are many other terms that you can find on the label that will tell you the flavor of the wine itself. Therefore, you should read the label in order to get the wine that you want.
Wine Bottle Holders
Wine Bottle Holders are a fantastic gift idea for anyone who loves their wine. Our great selection has such a variety of themes and designs you are sure to find something for the wine lover in your life. Brilliant for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, Valentines or even as a thank you gift, these are a great gift idea that anyone would love to receive.
The wine bottle holders in this range include a whole host of animals and characters. We have dog wine bottle holders and cat wine bottle holders for pet lovers, as well as many other themed wine bottle holders for shopping addicts, party girls, motorbike fans and foodies amongst others and they are all made from 100% recyclable metal. Wine Bottle Holders make a great centrepiece for a dinner party. Why not give one to your host instead of the usual box of chocolates it will certainly be a talking point. And it is something your host can keep and use time and time again. These wine bottle holders are each a little work of art bringing something fun and eye catching to the dining table. And theyre useful too as the wine bottle is placed in the holder, those annoying drips of wine (especially red wine!) no longer get onto your tablecloth or wood staining and ruining them.
Wine Bottle Holders even look great out in the kitchen and are an ideal place to store open bottles of wine which do not need to be refrigerated. However it is always important to ensure that unopened bottles of wine are stored at their correct temperature and in their best environment. This ensures that the wine maintains its character and taste. Because each wine is different, it is best to find out the recommended storage for that particular grape so you get the best out of it, especially if you have a really good bottle of wine.
If youre picnicking then a wine bottle holder is a must. Safely tuck your bottle of wine into its holder as you lay out your food and you wont have to worry about finding a non bumpy bit of ground on which to store your bottle. If you are on a romantic picnic with the girl of your dreams the last thing you want to be worrying about is spilled wine and shell be very impressed with your organisation skills too! If your picnic is on the beach then using your wine bottle holder is even better. Keeping your bottle safely stored in its holder means you wont knock it into the sand or stones. And you can guarantee that even if the wind is blowing everything around when you eat outside at least you know your bottle of wine will be safely secured in place. Dining al fresco was never so easy!
Wine accessories such as these wine bottle holders make excellent gift ideas for wine lovers. Why not give a bottle of their favourite wine with the holder. It is a gift that can be used time and time again. For the full set why not also add a wine bottle stopper so all their wine drinking needs are catered for.
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