| There are several aspects to any health benefits | | | | fluctuations common in spirit aging environments, |
| of oak aged wines and spirits. The first | | | | the liquid penetrates the wood barrel and comes |
| component is the wine or spirit itself. It has been | | | | out again, many times over, thus infusing the liquid |
| thought for a long time, and recent research | | | | with plenty of ellagic acid from the oak. This |
| seems to back it up, that moderate consumption | | | | would happen with any oak aged liquid, most |
| of 1 or two alcoholic drinks per day can increase | | | | commonly aged wines, cognac, brandies, bourbon |
| the average lifespan of an otherwise healthy | | | | & scotch whiskies, and even some aged |
| person. It has been shown to raise the good HDL | | | | rums. All of these alcoholic beverages contain |
| cholesterol, prevent blood platelet clumping and | | | | hefty amounts of ellagic acid, as well as the many |
| sticking which cause deadly blood clots that lead | | | | other substances that are inherent in the drinks |
| to heart attack and stroke, and also to combat | | | | themselves before the aging process. |
| prevent the taking on of parasites in regions | | | | Ellagic acid has been shown to cause cell death in |
| where safe drinking water is not the norm. Wine | | | | cancer cells. It is also thought that it prevents |
| and grape spirits contain many healthy polyphenol | | | | carcinogens from binding to DNA. As we all know, |
| antioxidants, resveratrol, and gallic acid, which all | | | | DNA damage passed on through replication can |
| combat cell damage which can lead to cancer. The | | | | result in cancerous mutations. It also strengthens |
| action of antioxidants has long been known to | | | | connective tissue resulting in the prevention of the |
| give anticancer benefits, and the potent | | | | cancer from spreading. Ellagic acid also reduces |
| antioxidants in red wine, wine, and grape spirits, | | | | heart disease, liver fibrosis, birth defects, and it |
| are no exception. Red wine has even more since | | | | promotes wound healing. It has also been shown |
| the dark red pigment from the grape skins | | | | to prevent tumor growth, bladder cancer, breast |
| contains the most antioxidant content. Flavonoids | | | | cancer, esophageal cancer, leukemia, and prostate |
| and resveratrol go further by preventing the | | | | cancer. It is also antimicrobial. |
| platelet stickiness that leads to deadly blood clots | | | | Oak aged wines and spirits contain many health |
| which result in heart attack and stroke. | | | | promoting compounds, as well as ellagic acid from |
| The second aspect of oak aged spirits is a | | | | grapes (in grape spirits and wine) as well as from |
| particularly potent antioxidant found in the oak | | | | the oak barrels which they are aged in. |
| barrels. It is the same antioxidant which is found in | | | | Remember that the key to integrating these |
| many fruits and vegetable matter, such as | | | | drinks into a healthy diet is moderation. In the |
| grapes, strawberries, walnuts, pecans, raspberries, | | | | case of alcoholic beverages, more is not better, |
| pomegranates, and other natural produce. It is | | | | and you should stick to the one or two drink per |
| called ellagic acid, and it is highly concentrated in | | | | day limit or risk turning a health benefit into a |
| the oak wood that the aging barrels are made of. | | | | liability. Enjoy responsibly and you can have a |
| This chemical is leeched into the aging spirit during | | | | longer and tastier life. |
| the lengthy oak aging. During the temperature | | | | |