The French Paradox
The connection between heart disease and drinking alcohol, smoking and poor diet is undeniable. Yet the French generally consume more fat and smoke more than Americans, and they have only about one-third of the fatal heart attacks. This was the basis of the study, The French Paradox.
The Importance of The French Paradox Findings
There seems to be something under the surface, and it has come to be known as the French Paradox. In 1991, an episode of 60 Minutes aired that explained benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. This television program revealed the “French Paradox.”
Dr. Serge Renaud of the French National Institute of Health Research developed the study of the “French Paradox”. He has studied the link between wine and health benefits for over 3 decades.
Dr Renaud and his team of researchers discovered that the major difference was the higher rate of moderate wine consumption in France. “Moderate” is a relative term; to some, this means just one bottle. In the French Paradox study, it meant one or two glasses.
The results revealed that consuming 20 to 30 grams of alcohol a day has been proven to reduce heart disease by 40%. Additional studies have supported these initial findings.
The Coppenhagen Study pooled 13,000 Danish citizens, and is one of the most comprehensive ever conducted on the subject. One of its significant findings was that moderate wine consumption seemed to be more beneficial than drinking the same amount of alcohol in beer or spirits.
In addition to the Coppenhagen Study, there is evidence that binge drinking even occasionally may undo some of the benefits. Dr. Arthur Klatsky is the head of Cardiology at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland California. He has been analyzing this issue since 1974. His research has shown that red wine is more beneficial for the heart than other types of alcohol consumed in moderation.
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