Abstract
Alcohol, specifically red wine, has been suggested to play a key role in the prevention
of cardiovascular disease and other chronic pathologies, including cancer. Its regular
and moderate consumption has been found in numerous epidemiological studies to correlate
inversely with vascular disease and mortality, despite the presence of risk factors
such as high consumption of saturated fats, elevated smoking and low physical activity.
This phenomenon, known as the ‘French Paradox’, would be explained mainly by the high
levels of polyphenols present in red wine, making it more advantageous than beer,
spirits and even white wine. The habit of having one or two drinks of red wine every
day with meals may translate to a longer, healthier and better quality of life.
