Reds for HDLs

[HoHoHo]

I know almost nothing about wines but my doctor recently told me to drink a glass of red wine every day to increase my good cholesterol (HDLs). I have been able to decrease my total and bad cholesterol by changing my diet but can't increase my HDLs. When buying wines the bottles don't always say red and this throws me. I think I have deduced that merlots, cabernets, and shirazes are red. Am I right? What other names/categories can I trust as being reds?

[Drew]

There's also syrah(same as shiraz), pinot noir, petit sirah, zinfandal, grenache, malbec, petit verdot, mourvedre, cinsault, corvina, gamay, tempranillo, and some italians, sangiovese, nebbiolo, barbera, and dolcetto, just to name a few.

Drew

[HoHoHo]

Thank you! Are Zinfandals really reds? I wondered the same thing about a Rose- it almost seems like they're hybrids. I like the taste better but I wonder if they'll give me the same HDL boost as what this novice can only describe as a dark red?

[Bucko]

Red wine does not raise HDL levels, alcohol does. It does not matter if it is beer, scotch, or WWs favorite, Green Lizard hair oil at 50 cents a pint.

Red wine does have some other positive benefits, but numerous research articles have shown that HDL is raised by the alcohol in a beverage.

[Thomas]

Thanks Bucko. I was trying to find a way to say that so that it made sense.

The reason some favor red wine over other alcohols is its many nutritional and possibly antioxidant qualities.

[joeyz6]

Yes, zinfandel can be a red ... but often it is made into a pink wine, then labeled as 'white zinfandel.' If it says that, you know it it's not red.

[winoweenie]

HO Ho Ho welcome to the board. Yes, Zinfandel is NOT a pink grape but a red the same as cabs, pinota, or merlots. Some producers make it into pinkie SW's. You'll get the same amount of HDLs' from the pinkies as the reds as Bucko said, and contrary to his uninformed opinion I'm paying 75 cents a quart for my fav concoction. WW

[ShortWiner]

An excellent overview of the research on the benefits of moderate drinking was in the NY Times a couple days ago. It can be found here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/31/health/31ALCO.html

Amazingly, some studies have found that a drink or two can be as good for the heart as an hour of exercise.

[Thomas]

...which is why I cut out that gym time...

[winoweenie]

I figure that the next time I'll have to exercise is Tuesday,16th of March, 2087. WW [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

[wondersofwine]

LOL.

[Kcwhippet]

WW, Would that be the exercise required to push up daisies?