The Science Is Settled: Drink Early and Often

I know that the health benefits of wine drinking—especially red wine—is not a new story here or elsewhere, but there’s a new research finding that is worth a special note: Drinking Red Wine Is the Same as Getting An Hour of Exercise.

Dear red wine drinkers: I have wonderful news. A new study says that drinking a glass of wine can equate to an hour of exercise. I repeat: Drinking a glass of freaking merlot could be just as good for you as an hour of working out at the gym. Feel free to commence rejoicing at this time.

The researchers responsible for the glorious study — which was published in Journal of Physiology in May — discovered that resveratrol, a “natural compound” found in certain fruits, nuts, and (you guessed it) red wine, could actually “enhance exercise training and performance.” But there’s more. Jason Dyck, the principal investigator for the study, tells Science Daily that resveratrol can also offer the same benefits working out does:

“I think resveratrol could help patient populations who want to exercise but are physically incapable. Resveratrol could mimic exercise for them or improve the benefits of the modest amount of exercise that they can do.” 

My new exercise regimen.

My new exercise regimen.

So I say why take chances: I’m going to have three glasses, and call it three hours of exercise. (But I’ll drink something better than merlot, I can tell you that.)  And just in time for election night!  Oh, wait:

The only bad news? Not-red wines don’t count (sorry, Chardonnay-lovers), and it only works with one glass — so chugging a bottle a week doesn’t equate to four to six gym sessions.

I say the science is not settled, and that we need more field studies. And I’m volunteering for further human trials.

JOHN adds: This is indeed great news, but I must dissent on one point: drinking a mere one bottle of wine per week is hardly “chugging”!

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