8.19.2010

Too much wine...too little time

DRINK UP! Here is a very interesting article from the local Dallas CBS affiliate:

Study Says Wine Can Make Women Smarter Than Men

Aug 19, 2010 8:00 am
Carol Cavazos GRAPEVINE (CBS 11 / TXA 21)

Women looking for more 'mental muscle' may only need to lift a glass of wine. According to a recent study out of Norway, wine can give women a bit of an intellectual edge over men.

The so-called 'Tromso Study' tested more than 5,000 middle-aged men and women over seven years, and found that women who drank four or more times over a two week period scored better on cognitive tests than those who only drank once during the same time frame.

Julia Sizemore, who was sizing up the rental hall at Grapevine's Delaney Vineyards for a company event, said that she drinks a glass of wine almost every night. "I guess if I had not experienced it firsthand, I'd say I don't know about that," Sizemore said. "But wine just gives you a little bit of a nice edge."

One reason for the added benefit could be polyphenols, or antioxidants, found in the wine. Another reason could be the alcohol itself, which can improve blood circulation. "It's a lot of things synergistically working together," said TCU nutrition professor Anne Vanbeber.

The TCU professor also emphasized that moderation is key. For women, that amounts to one glass of wine each day. But she knows that everyone cannot do that. "If you can not drink, maybe try some grape juice, Vanbeber said. "Eat grapes."

Delaney Vineyards already sees a lot of traffic from women. But French studies have also shown that wine is good for heart health. All of these medical benefits give women multiple reasons to visit the Grapevine vineyard. "To me, obviously as a vintner, it makes sense," said Delaney Vineyards manager Leslie Hill. "I see it as a help to our industry."

Men who participated in the Norwegian study did not fare quite as well as women, but any complaints from them would just be sour grapes.

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