Why To Cook Beef With Wine
Wine is an awesome key ingredient in beef dinners. The alcohol content in wines helps to bring out flavor molecules in beef and other foods that are accompanied with the beef – such as garlic or onions. It also helps to break down and dissolve fats, which is great for those wanting to eat beef whilst on a diet.The alcohol must be cooked off when you add wine to a sauce to prevent the alcoholic taste. Remember – wine is meant to enhance the flavors of the food, not overpower them!We love to slow-cook red wine in a beef stew to allow sufficient time for the alcohol to burn off – plus it helps to break up cheap beef so its less chewy.The rule of thumb for cooking wine with beef is to pair flavors together. Rich meats should go with rich wines, and sweet meat-based meals should go with sweet wines.
Bolognese and other tomato-based meals, for example, benefit most from fruit wines as they complement tomatoes the best. Grilled beef should be paired with rich wines that are high in tannins such as Shiraz.Wine actually offers an array of health benefits. The occasional glass of red wine provides antioxidants that can protect the heart against inflammation and disease. Whilst some may have heard this about white wine, red wine holds more antioxidants. Red wine is also said to be a preventative against some cancers and has anti-aging properties. Great excuse to drink it – and the same goes for eating food that includes wine!
Select Wine From A Sunny And Humid Spot
When the aforementioned Dr. Creasy was evaluating red wines, he found that all the wine varieties from New Yorknot just pinot noirwere high in resveratrol. This is probably due to the states mostly sunny, humid climate in the summer. Grapes grown in regions far from the equator are exposed to more ultraviolet light and humidity, both of which help polyphenols multiply.
Red Wine Vs White Wine
First, the majority of wines beneficial properties originate in grape skins, meaning red wines are better for you than white wines. This is thanks in large part to the varied winemaking processes of each.
White wine is typically made by pressing grapes off their skins and fermenting only the juice. While red wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes with their skins. Then, alcohol and heat during red wine fermentation extract color, flavor, and tannins from the skins, as well as compounds beneficial to our health. These healthy compounds include antioxidants, anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and more.
More often than not, red wines are also fermented completely dry. Therefore, they typically contain less sugars than white wine.
So, if youre going to drink a glass of wine, reach for red. If you must have white wine, do your best to choose one with no residual sugar. For an alternative lighter option with some of red wines health benefits, enjoy a glass of rosé. Since rosé has spent some time on the skins to obtain that pink color, it will have similar, though significantly less, health benefits as red wine.
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Where To Find Healthy Red Wines
You dont need a massive budget or a private sommelier to hunt down the best red wines for you. When it comes to shopping for the healthiest red wines, all it takes is a little research and a lot of curiosity and taste-testing to find what works best for you.
- Dont be afraid to be adventurous: Step outside of recognized names and brands. Theres a reason for the dozens of red-grape varieties available on the market and the vineyards that tend to them, plus hundreds of years of history to back it all up. You dont have to trade habit for health when it comes to red wines.
- Choose smaller wine brands and companies: Smaller vineyards often dont have mass production facilities or practices, and some specialize in making sure their wines have all those complex and beneficial polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidants.
- Ask an expert: Youll have no trouble finding a wine expert at your local spirits store, someone who takes pride and interest in knowing the ins-and-outs of their products. Likewise, use opportunities at restaurants, wineries or even area tourist shops to inquire about the red wines on the menu or display. Its likely theyre there for a reason.
Why Pinot Noir May Be The Best Wine For Your Health
Glass of red wine and electrocardiogram
getty
The benefits of drinking red wine have long been debated. Numerous studies have suggested that there is a link between moderate red wine consumption and heart health, but the issue has yet to be definitively settled.
According to the Mayo Clinic:
Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy. The alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent coronary artery disease, the condition that leads to heart attacks. Any links between red wine and fewer heart attacks, aren’t completely understood.
The health benefits associated with drinking red wines are mainly associated with a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol. The Mayo Clinic has suggested that:
Resveratrol might help prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and prevent blood clots.
It also notes, however, that other studies found no benefits from resveratrol in preventing heart disease and that more research is needed.
Before you rush off to buy another bottle of your favorite red wine, however, you should note that the level of resveratrol in red wines can vary widely.
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Overconsumption Of Red Wine Is Hazardous
You can reap the above benefits of red wine, when taken in moderate amount. The generally accepted healthy dosage is 1 to 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women. One drink equals 118 ml of wine.
Researchers have found that people who drink approximately 150 ml of red wine a day may have about 32% lower risk of heart disease than non-drinkers. However, higher intake is known to increase the risk of heart disease dramatically. Excessive red wine consumption is also linked to liver damage, obesity, certain types of cancer, stroke, cardiomyopathy.
One glass of red wine has about 125 calories, 3.8 grams of carbohydrates but no cholesterol. Wines contain sugar too different types of red wine have different amount of sugar. For example, dry wine contains 4 grams of sugar per liter, medium dry wine contains 4 to 12 grams of sugar per liter and sweet wine 45 grams of sugar per liter. So, go for the dry variety, if possible.
The best wine for your heart could be Pinot Noir. The grapes grown for this type of red wine come from wet and cold environments. Therefore, the healthiest parts of the fruit remain intact.
Why Use Red Wine
There are a number of reasons to use red wine in your cooking. Its often great for making a glaze or a marinade, and it can be a good way to tenderise the meat. In a lot of dishes, the alcohol will evaporate when the red wine is cooked, so there wont be much of it left in the food.
At 172 degrees Fahrenheit, alcohol evaporates from the food, so boiling or even simmering your food will get rid of the alcohol content. You will just be left with the flavour of the red wine and not have to worry about the family getting drunk on the marinated beef tips.
Wine gives your food some acidity, and that helps with braising and other slow cooking methods so that your food doesnt lose moisture and stays tender. Some dishes will absorb the colour from the wine, creating a purple stain and giving the food a tangy note of flavour.
If you want your food to be more succulent and have a complex flavour profile, you might want to think about introducing some red wine into your cooking process. It can be added to sauces and even used in the place of oil in some kinds of cooking methods.
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Red Wine May Lower Your Risk Of Depression
While chronic heavy drinking has been linked to physical and mental health problems, drinking red wine in moderation may have the opposite effect.
A seven-year study of over 5,500 adults between the ages of 55-80, with no prior history of depression or alcohol abuse, found that moderate drinkers were less likely to suffer from depression than those who drank more or less than that amount.
How To Make Easy Red Berry Sangria
Sangria is super easy to make:
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Which Red Wine Is Best
While any type of red wine will contain antioxidants, some contain more than others. Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, has the highest level of flavonoids than any other wine, followed by pinot noir and Syrah.
When it comes to taste and aroma, quality certainly matters, too, according to Taub-Dix. However, as far as health benefits are concerned, a bottle of cheap red wine is going to reap you the same benefits as a pricier cab.
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What Makes Red Wine Good For The Body
Aside from the delicious flavors and earthy richness, what is it in red wine that is actually beneficial to our health? There are several chemicals and nutrients in red wine that benefit us in different ways, that are developed in the winemaking process, or come from the plants from which red wine originates. These plant-based compounds, or phytochemicals, can help our bodies to run better when consumed in red wine.
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Which Wine Antioxidants Are The Best
This week, we take a look at which wine antioxidants have been found to be the best for improving your health and preventing cancer.
So, which antioxidants are most likely to improve your health?
There are a number of ways to find out, but the best way is to read reviews and look at how many people say that theyve improved their health.
The red wine antioxidant grapecaprylyl-2-phosphate is thought to improve circulation, blood flow and blood sugar, and has also been shown to improve cognitive function, memory and mood.
GP2P is also found in blueberries, as well as many fruits and vegetables.
GP1 and GP2A are also found naturally in many fruits, and are found in black pepper and cinnamon.
GP2A is known to reduce oxidative stress and improve blood flow, but it also has a strong antioxidant effect, so you should always be looking for the GP2S-GP2C compounds in red wine.
Green tea extract is also known to improve blood circulation, and is also thought to have some anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
However, GW-3 also has anti-cancer properties, so its best to look for the GW-1 and GW-2A compounds in wine.
Green tea also has some antihistamine and antidiabetic properties, but its anti-oxidant properties are weak, so GW-6 is also a good choice for anti-histamine use.
There are other red wine-based antioxidants, but they all have the same effect, which is to help boost the bodys natural defenses against free radicals.
Its also very easy to drink in moderation .
Splurge: Willamette Valley Whole Cluster Pinot Noir 2017
If you’re able to spend a few extra dollars on a bottle of vino this week, look into Oregon’s own Willamette Valley Whole Cluster variety. Its deep red tint encompasses aromas of cherry, blackberry, and cocoa. It does cost a tiny bit more than $20, so it won’t necessarily break the bank. Serve this wine with a savory healthy homemade pizza to accentuate the wine’s sweetness.
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Which Wines Are The Best For Your Health And Why
Wine is delightful, but lets not get confused and think its a health drink. It can be part of a well-balanced diet and lifestyle. If youre relaxing in the backyard and sipping on a grown-up beverage, theres something to be gained from making it a glass of red wine.
Thats because wine has a handy little compound in it called Polyphenols. You wont get superpowers from them, but they can help out your heart and even help you live longer. And thats sort of super!
Why Is Wine Good For You
Drinking red wine in moderation is linked to lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, and early death. Additionally, research has shown moderate red wine consumption reduces your risk of cancer and dementia, lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol, and decreases your risk of depression. There are numerous naturally occurring compounds in wine that provide these benefits.
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Choose A Natural Wine
A natural wine only contains one ingredient: grapes . This is different from many commercial wines, which can have over 70 extra ingredients added to improve taste, body, and color.
Because natural wines dont have any added sugar, there is less alcohol produced during the fermentation process. This means that many natural wines can be lower in alcohol. Some natural wine vendors like Dry Farm Wine test the alcohol levels of their wines, so you can be confident that they are low-alcohol.
Best Australian Red: Penfolds 2017 Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz
Region: South Australia, Australia | ABV: 14.5% | Tasting Notes: Black cherries, Cassis, New leather, Fruit cake
Penfolds, unquestionably the greatest winemaking estate in Australia, is best known for its iconic wine, Penfolds Grange. Chief winemaker Peter Gago made it his mission to produce well-structured wines with deep flavors and, as he puts it, a propensity to age.
While Grange is primarily shiraz, with a splash of cabernet sauvignon sourced from specific sites in South Australia, Penfolds’ Bin 389 combines 54% cabernet sauvignon with 46% shiraz and is often referred to as Baby Grange. Plus, this wine comes at a more approachable price tag than the Grange.
Region: Mendoza, Argentina | ABV: 14.5% | Tasting Notes: Cherry compote, Salty dark chocolate, Cedar spice
Achaval-Ferrer’s Quimera blend is a wine of remarkable precision: Co-founder Santiago Achaval, one of the most respected winemakers in Argentina, and winemaker Roberto Cipresso comb the vineyards, tasting grapes and hand-selecting vines specifically for this blend. In 2014, they conceived a dynamic and complex blend of 50% malbec, 24% cabernet franc, 18% merlot and 8% cabernet sauvignon.
Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain | ABV: 14% | Tasting Notes: Spiced plums, Forest underbrush, Cigar box
Good to Know:
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Reduces Risk Of Cancer
Moderate wine consumption can also help lower your risk of several cancers, including colon, basal cell, ovary and prostate cancers. A study by the University of Rochester Medical Center revealed that resveratrol in red wine can destroy pancreatic cancer cells. Another study says that individuals who take at least a glass of red wine a week are less likely to suffer from bowel cancer than non-drinkers. According to a Chinese study, polyphenols in red wine can inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells.
Healthy Reasons To Drink Red Wine Every Single Night
It seems like no one can get enough of red wine, scientists included. Every day there is another study touting the amazing benefits of the plum-colored beverage.
But is red wine good for you? If so, why?
Lucky for us, the proof is in the long-stemmed glass . Because as it turns out, drinking red wine every night can actually be good for your health mentally and physically.
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Potential Health Risks Of Red Wine
While studies have shown some health benefits of drinking red wine, individuals should weigh the benefits against the risks and keep in mind the dangers of alcohol abuse.
Drinking red wine presents some potential health risks:
Wine Allergies
About 10% of the population is at risk of an allergic reaction to wine. Many components of wine can trigger a reaction, including yeast, molds, and sulfites. Even the flavonoids that make red wine healthy can be troublesome. Red wine is the form of alcohol most likely to cause a reaction in people with asthma.
Excessive Drinking
Many people have a problem with overconsuming alcohol. The U.S. government includes alcohol guidelines in its Healthy People Initiatives, but many individuals do not follow them. Many consumers, especially heavy drinkers, underreport their alcohol consumption, so the problem is likely worse than reports indicate.
Pregnancy Concerns
Those who are pregnant should not drink alcohol. This precaution extends to those planning to get pregnant and to those who are breastfeeding. All alcohol should be avoided, including red wine.
Continued
Alcohol and Gout
People who suffer from gout should not drink at all. Consumption of alcohol, including wine, can worsen gout symptoms.
Liver Damage
Drinking too much alcohol of any kind can damage the liver, leading to conditions such as cirrhosis. Alcohol can even worsen conditions caused by a virus, like hepatitis C.
Red Wine Contains Powerful Plant Compounds And Antioxidants Including Resveratrol
Grapes are rich in many antioxidants. These include resveratrol, catechin, epicatechin and proanthocyanidins .
These antioxidants, especially resveratrol and proanthocyanidins, are believed to be responsible for the health benefits of red wine.
Proanthocyanidins may reduce oxidative damage in the body. They may also help prevent heart disease and cancer (
- 11.5 glasses a day for women.
- 12 glasses a day for men.
Some sources also recommend having 1-2 alcohol-free days each week.
Keep in mind that this refers to total alcohol intake. Drinking this amount of red wine in addition to other alcoholic beverages could easily put you in the range of excessive consumption.
If you have a history of substance abuse, then you should probably avoid wine and any other alcoholic beverage completely. Also be very careful if you have a family history of alcoholism.
Bottom Line:
Moderate intake of red wine is defined as 1-2 glasses per day. It is also recommended that you have at least 12 days a week without alcohol.
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