For many years, people associated drinking wine with a nice
meal, amid a gathering of friends or simply to relax in the
sanctity of home after a long day at work. Drinking wine for health
reasons never crossed our minds.
For many years, people associated drinking wine with a nice meal, amid a gathering of friends or simply to relax in the sanctity of home after a long day at work. Drinking wine for health reasons never crossed our minds.
A phenomenon in the early 1990s known as the “French paradox” helped to promote the idea that wine was medicinal rather than pure toxin.
Typically, the diet of the French includes a high amount of cheese, eggs, meats and other foods not typically seen as cholesterol friendly. (My diet is like this, but with the addition of bacon and ice cream.)
Americans often label the French diet as risky or potentially harmful to the heart. However, the rate of heart disease among the French is much lower than that of people in the United States. Why?
Some medical studies credit the regular, moderate consumption of red wine, which may prevent coronary disease and some forms of cancer.
The chemical components thought to be responsible are catechins or flavonoids. Catechins function as antioxidants. Clinical and laboratory studies have shown that compounds found in grapes and wine may boost the immune system and even prolong life.
More evidence shows that wine dilates the small blood vessels and helps to prevent angina and clotting.
Wine is not a cure-all, however, and it should be noted again that these studies emphasized regular, moderate consumption – not overindulgence.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that for some people, drinking wine – particularly red wine – can cause severe or migraine headaches.
Many believe the culprit to be sulfites, or sulfur dioxide. All wine contains sulfites. Yeast naturally produces sulfites during fermentation, although today, almost all winemakers add sulfites to help preserve their wine. Many white wines contain more sulfites than red wines.
For the record, sulfites do not actually cause headaches. About 20 years ago, the Food and Drug Administration determined that about 1 percent of the population was allergic to sulfites.
The FDA required that wine containing certain levels of the compound include a label saying “contains sulfites.” This labeling is why the majority of people who suffer from headaches assume sulfites are to blame.
However, dried fruits such as apricots have significantly higher levels of sulfites than red wine, yet there is no evidence that people who eat dried fruit regularly experience headaches.
But there is some truth to the notion that drinking red wine can cause headaches. This syndrome has become known as “red-wine headache.”
Other schools of thought blame tannins, which are flavonoids that controlled studies have shown cause a release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter. High levels of serotonin can cause headaches, and that may happen in people who also suffer from migraines.
However, many people who do not have migraines do suffer from headaches associated with red wine.
Tannins are found in other foods, including chocolate, tea and soy. But there are rarely reports of headaches associated with eating these foods, so tannins probably aren’t to blame for red-wine headaches.
A final hypothesis connects the high levels of histamines in red wine to getting headaches. Typically, red wine has 20 to 200 percent higher levels of histamines than white wine.
Some experts believe that individuals who may be allergic to histamines are deficient in a certain enzyme that breaks down the histamines. That deficiency, combined with alcohol, can cause headaches.
One thing is certain: No definitive research, studies or solutions fully explain or deal with red-wine headache. So, how can you still enjoy drinking wine and avoid these headaches?
Aside from abstaining from drinking, one solution is to try many different types of wines and see which works best for you.
Sample wines from different countries and regions. If you keep getting headaches from a certain variety of wine, such as merlot, try drinking a pinot noir or grenache. Sip no more than half a glass.
If you’re prone to red-wine headache, the headache will come on within 15 minutes. If you can make it past that first stretch, you probably have found an ideal wine for you. Drinking plenty of water and eating food while drinking the wine also will reduce the chance of getting red-wine headache.
I certainly do not want anyone to suffer, so if certain red wines cause you grief, avoid the pain and send them over to my place!
Cheers!
BOTTLE OF THE WEEK
Fortino Winery, Gilroy
www.clos.com
Wine: Meritage Blend 35th Anniversary Wine
Price: $29.95
Grape: Blend of cabernet, merlot and charbono
Flavors: Dry red with hints of oak and berry.
Where: The wine can be purchased at the winery located at 425 Hecker Pass Highway in Gilroy and can be reached at (408) 842-3305. The tasting room is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from 11am to 5pm.
