Boomer women should drink more wine for good health

 We all wanted a reason to drink more wine, and now, latest research shows we should as we head toward seniorhood.  Cheers!

According to market research group Wine Intelligence, there are nearly 11 million wine drinkers in Australia, which is the 11^th largest wine market in the world.[1] Nearly 70% of Australian adults drink wine at least once a month.

What’s particularly interesting is that the average age of Australian wine drinkers is 50 and older[2]. Baby Boomers are switching from beer to wine and an increasing number of them are women.

According to Roy Morgan Research, women over 50 are 26% more likely to have drunk wine in the last month than Generations X and Y[3]. They drink more wine than their male partners, and are more likely to choose the wine at a restaurant and drink it at home.

Wine has never been more accessible or affordable. Since the 1960s the industry has increasingly produced clean, light, crisp whites which are especially palatable to women. Not only also has it become socially acceptable for women to drink, but recent medical studies have also shown the health benefits associated with wine drinking.

Scientists believe the polyphenols found in red grapes’ skin are cardioprotective. The Copenhagen City Heart Study tracked more than 13,000 people over 12 years and found those who drank 3-5 glasses of wine a day had half the risk of dying from coronary heart disease or stroke as those who never drank. Cabernet Sauvignon seems to be the wine of choice for protecting against heart disease.[4]

New studies have also shown that for menopausal women, moderate alcohol consumption – one or two drinks per day- also helps prevent bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis.   The 2012 Framingham Heart Study[5] showed that moderate female wine drinkers had a higher bone mineral density compared to those who didn’t drink alcohol at all. In this study, there appears to be no difference between white or red wine.

Of course responsible drinking is a message that needs to be disseminated whatever the age group. Older drinkers are just as likely to drink to excess as their younger counterparts, and this is part of a world-wide trend[6].

However, it’s heartening to note that while you’re enjoying a little tipple, it can actually do you good.