A little red wine goes a long way
Staff writer
“Use a little red wine for your stomach’s sake and your often infirmities,” the Apostle Paul wrote to his young disciple Timothy.
Don Vinduska of rural Pilsen testifies to the effectiveness of red wine. In the 1990s, he was struggling with high blood sugar levels and high triglyceride levels. His blood sugar levels were 200, more than twice what is considered healthy by doctors, according to the Mayo Clinic.
He was experiencing increased thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue.
His doctor prescribed a statin to lower his cholesterol, but the real help came when John Brose, a former owner of the liquor store in Marion, suggested he drink a little red wine every day.
He took Brose’s advice and started drinking four ounces of red wine every evening before bedtime. He stopped taking the drug.
Six weeks later, when Vinduska went to the doctor for a checkup, his numbers were much improved. He was no longer diabetic.
He still drinks red wine every day and recommends it to others.
“So many other people are glad I turned them onto it,” he said.
Now, his blood sugar is 95-100, well within normal ranges.
According to WebMD, the whole grape, including the skins, is included in the fermentation process for red wine. They provide therapeutic amounts of antioxidants such as polyphenols, flavenoids, and resveratrol.
If taken in moderation, red wine can control blood pressure and enhance heart health. Those with heart disease resulting from narrowed blood vessels may benefit most, the website said.
It also said moderate intake of red wine could lower the risk of colon cancer and diabetes. It boosts good cholesterol.
The key word is “moderation.” The National Heart Association advises people not to drink too much wine. A healthy adult may have one 5 oz. glass a day. High levels of alcohol over time are damaging to the heart.
The highest risk of using red wine is that it could lead to alcohol abuse. People with asthma should avoid it because it could lead to allergies. Pregnant women and people with gout should not drink red wine. Excessive drinking can lead to liver damage.
Hippocrates promoted wine as part of a healthy diet. He believed it alleviated pain during childbirth and treated symptoms of diarrhea and lethargy.
In 1892, when Germany had a cholera epidemic, red wine was added to water to sterilize it.
The Apostle Paul also said, “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess.”