Dr. Mercola July 10 2004 1,287 views
A study conducted by a group of Italian doctors has found evidence moderate alcohol consumption can improve the body's resistance to insulin, the key marker of type 2 diabetes.
Researchers studied insulin sensitivity on 16 patients--half of whom suffered from type 2 diabetes and the rest who were healthy--while they drank the equivalent amount of alcohol (40 grams) in vodka found in three drinks. Although both groups were affected, alcohol consumption directly improved the resistance to insulin in the diabetic patients tested without affecting the production of beta cells in the pancreas that manufacture insulin.
U.S. researchers have found consistent evidence in larger studies, mirroring the Italian research, that moderate alcohol consumption beneficially reduces insulin resistance by as much as 40 percent, just as it does in heart disease.
What do researchers consider "moderate" drinking?
No more than two drinks a day for men and one for women. In terms of consumption, a "standard drink" contains from 11 to 14 grams of alcohol that can be found in these beverages:
However, some doctors warn alcohol consumption can be problematic, particularly with type 2 diabetes sufferers who are overweight.
Diabetes Care June 2004,27(6):1369-74
Although wine is a reasonably safe option, of course, in moderation, you'll still need to take a few precautions with regard to red wine, or any alcohol, consumption.
Drinking about one glass of red wine each day may yield some benefit, but two or more glasses of wine or any alcoholic beverage may offset the benefit and increase your risk of certain cancers.
When drinking red wine, you also need to check on the growing conditions of the grapes and how the wine is made. If the wine isn't made with organic grapes, it may contain no resveratrol at all. Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in a number of plants (including grape skins, raspberries, mulberries and peanuts), provides a number of health benefits, including fighting cancer
You also need to be aware that consuming large amounts of wine or grapes, which have a lower concentration of antioxidants than wine, will increase insulin levels and eventually have a negative impact on your health.
It may be beneficial to consume whole grape skins and pass up the meat of the grape, which has no resveratrol but a load of extra fructose.
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