Why Does America Care So Much About the Health Benefits of Wine?

Slate Magazine has hit upon something I've been wondering for months now - why does America care so much about if wine is good for you? Part of my self-imposed tasks for writing this blog involves searching the Internet every single day for what's going on in the world of wine. In my morning searches, you would be amazed, nay, astounded by the sheer number of stories running in newspapers across the country with headlines like - "Red Wine May Extend Life," or "White Wine Gives Women Cancer, Study Shows." These pieces are literally everywhere, and at least one of them goes to print somewhere every day of the year.

The Slate Magazine piece is a reaction to that phenomenon - starting with the question and then delving into why this very American-centric trend exists. In my opinion just about everything that comes out of Slate is worthwhile, but this article goes beyond that. If you've got any interest in wine, the medical profession or what makes the average American tick, it's a must read.

From Slate.com:

Obviously, scientists aren't investigating wine's physiological impact because they are shills for the wine industry and want to encourage Americans to imbibe; the research is being pursued and the results disseminated because it appears that there really is a link between red wine and well-being. (For their part, vintners are not allowed to publicize these findings; federal and state laws prohibit advertising that touts the health benefits of alcoholic beverages.) It is now widely recognized that moderate red wine consumption—generally defined as one or two 5-ounce glasses a day for women and two or three for men, drunk with food—boosts HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol that purges arteries of fatty deposits. In addition, scientists have determined that the flavonoids in red wine have an anticoagulant effect that can help prevent blood clots leading to heart attacks.