is there an obsession with anti-drinking?

wine in moderation :)

Over the last few months I have come across of reports and "guidelines" suggesting that alcohol is not good and we need to keep dry.

As a middle aged person (48), I do not buy these "advices" at all.

I prefer to follow the guidelines of the Med diet (that suggests moderate alcohol consumption daily!)
and I do enjoy a glass of Syrah, Merlor or my Greek favourite Agiorgitiko every evening.

The scientific advice we need to advocate is this: fermented alcoholic drinks are healthy (e.g. beer, wine) but distillates (e.g. gin, vodka, whiskey) are not.
Simple and clear!

Why can't relevant authorities issue clear guidelines?

Further read:
Believe grape expectations

Ioannis Zabetakis


 

Pneumonia and UHL

Two weeks ago (27th June), my younger son (T), was referred to A&E in UHL with suspected pneumonia. The doctors said that X-ray and all tests were clear, T came home.
5 days later, Monday 2nd July, we were contacted by UHL and asked to take T back, the 27th June X-ray was not clear...So, Thiseas had a second X-ray on Monday 2nd July (worse than the 1st one) and he was hospitalised for 5 days till Sat 7th July.
This morning the bill (5days x 80 euros /day =400 euros) arrived home.
These are the facts...

Conclusions:
1. nobody knows why they messed up with the initial reading of the 1st x-ray; nobody explained to us why it took them 5 days (from Wed 27th June to Mon 2nd July) to let us know about their mistake...
2. they are very quick in chasing the money.
3. this is our first experience of Irish HSE...NOT a good one, Mr Harris.
4. Some investigation on point 1 would be useful so future Xray in A&E in UHL (U stands for University, ironically) diagnosis is correct and quick, not like T's...

Dr Ioannis Zabetakis
UL

Believe grape expectations

(letter to the Editor - Sunday Times Ireland - 18th February 2018)

With reference to your article 

“Sour grapes from vineyards over Ireland’s cancer labels”

 I must point out that according to the Mediterranean diet pyramid, the moderate consumption of red wine (1-2 glasses per day) is recommended. Blue-zone people - those in longevity hotspots, where people reach the age of 100, actually do consume wine and beer.

.       From a food chemistry and nutritional point of view, all fermented alcoholic drinks have positive health impact when consumed in moderation. The French Paradox (where people in France, despite the high dietary intake of fats, have low incidence of heart diseases) explains this phenomenon due to nutritional value of red wine. On the other hand, distilled alcoholic drinks have no nutritional value whatsoever. This is a crucial point that needs to be highlighted: fermentation has a positive nutritional impact whereas distillation has only negative ones. 

   So,on what basis, does the Health Minister ignore all this strong scientific evidence and propose a cancer-related labelling on wines?

   Dr Ioannis Zabetakis

Further reading sources

Med. Diet pyramid

Blue zones

Sour grapes from Health Minister in Ireland

the news : 

Sour grapes from vineyards over Ireland’s cancer labels

Simon Harris, the health minister, is planning to make it an offence to import alcohol for sale without the label. He has accepted an opposition amendment to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill to have labels that inform the public of a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers.

According though to the latest Academic evidence, moderate wine consumption is Beneficial for chronic diseases.

 I copy from here

Respecting religious and social beliefs, a moderate consumption of wine and other fermented beverages (1 glass per day for women and 2 glasses per day for men, as a generic reference) during meals is recommended.

 

I am either reading the wrong Science papers or Mr Harris got wrong advice... 

Ioannis Zabetakis