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A glass of wine could help keep that sore throat away
I’m not a big drinker. But when I do indulge, it’s normally with a glass of cold, crisp white wine.
After reading about some recent research, I’m wondering if that’s the reason I haven’t had a sore throat, or a dental cavity, in years.
How about you? Is wine your drink of preference? Red, or white?
Either way, as winter comes on, there’s good news for those of us who enjoy the occasional glass of wine, or even a nightly drink before dinner!
Apparently, both white and red wine are powerful antibacterial agents. So, if you feel that sore throat coming on, a glass of wine may be just what you need.
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Wine is a germ-killer
A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry determined that compounds found in wine kill 99.9% of germs that cause sore throats.
That nasty streptococcal bacteria, the one that causes anything from a mild sore throat to strep throat, may have met its match in a glass of wine.
The study was conducted by a group of scientists from the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Pavia in Italy.
An earlier study, back in 1988, found that the acid and the alcohol content in wine were what killed the bacteria. The present study has found something different. It’s the organic compounds found in both white and red wine that do the trick.
In order to be sure of this, the scientists “de-alcoholized,” the wine used, or basically removed the alcohol and left the various compounds intact, and found that both types of wine were effective against streptococcal bacteria, preventing sore throats.
Streptococci cause cavities, too
When I think of streptococci, I think of strep throat, probably because I spent most of the first grade in bed with strep. I still remember it well! But did you know that those very same streptococcal bacteria are responsible for dental cavities? This was news to me!
Streptococcus mutans is the strain of strep bacteria that destroys teeth and causes cavities. The Italian study found that the compounds in wine were effective antimicrobial agents that could kill this strain of strep bacteria.
Also, the present study confirms other recent research that points to the fact that red wine may be better than mouthwash at preventing cavities and gum disease. And gum disease is an “open door” to cancer, diabetes and more.
And, as we already know, the occasional glass of red wine has other health benefits, as well…
Red wine, and the grapes it is made from, is rich in resveratrol, an antioxidant that can slow the aging process and help prevent cancer and heart disease.
Resveratrol is also found in dark chocolate, berries, and nuts, as well as in supplement form). But if you want to douse the sore throat- and cavity-causing germs, you may have to enjoy at least a glass of red wine a day.
Sources:
- New study finds that wine prevents sore throats and dental plaque — Metro News
- Antibacterial Activity of Red and White Wine against Oral Streptococci — Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry
- Survival of enteric pathogens in common beverages: an in vitro study — The American Journal of Gastroenterology
- Can a Glass of Wine Benefit Your Health? — Healthline
- Chapter 99: Microbiology of Dental Decay and Periodontal Disease — Medical Microbiology. 4th edition
By Joyce Hollman
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