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ARE YOU DRINKING ENOUGH CHAMPAGNE?
Greg McCluney • 6/28/14 
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NEW RESEARCH SAYS AT LEAST THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGE PER WEEK CAN IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY
Introduction
The article below was written by Contributing Editor, Greg McCluney. It speaks to research that Champagne not only tastes good, but that it is good for you. And, Champagne is especially good for us older folks. So that makes it official. Forget about special occasions. For my wife and I, nearly every day is a special occasion and one of the things that makes it special is our nightly regime of starting (and sometimes ending) our evening meal with Champagne! Cheers – John Tilson
Champagne has forever fought the stigma of celebration – or some call it the New Year’s Catch 22. Some think that you need to have something to celebrate before enjoying a glass of bubbly, be it Champagne or sparking wine.
For the record, Champagne comes only from France. Other sparklers include Cava from Spain and Prosecco from Italy. Some American producers use the designation “American Champagne” for their bubbly products, but it is sparkling wine not Champagne. Only the area of Champagne can produce Champagne.
There are still some wine drinkers who think that it doesn’t seem right to drink this celebration in a bottle sans same good news. But, an increasing number of people believe that just opening a bottle of Champagne IS good news! Well, a group of scientists at Reading University, United Kingdom, have given us all the good news we need to enjoy more great wines that sparkle.
According to a biochemistry professor at Reading, anyone over 40 would do well to drink at least three glasses of Champagne each week to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. And don’t expect to knock off your treatments soon, as the report notes that these disorders continue to accelerate well into one’s 80s. Our favorite professor goes on to point out the disease represents a gradual decline, so the earlier a person begins taking in these beneficial compounds, the better.
The anti-aging benefits come from phenolic acid, which is found in black grapes. Two of the primary grapes used to make Champagne, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, are black-skinned. Mice that were fed Champagne for six weeks did remarkably better in maze tests than those unfortunate rodents that received none. In fact, there was a 200 percent increase in the valuable proteins that increase memory function. But, since Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made from only light skinned grapes (most always Chardonnay) it seems those who want to enjoy these health benefits should be sure they are drinking Champagnes made with a blend of wine grapes, including (dark skinned) Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. And, just for the joy of it, mix in the Blanc de Blancs Champagnes!
Next, the school hopes to test 60 senior citizens who will be required to drink Champagne for three years as they are tested for memory function. A spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Society was encouraged, but cautioned that drinkers should not start celebrating just yet (here we go gain!). “A lot more research is needed,” he said. Indeed! Any one out there who wants to volunteer?
One might ask, can’t I just drink red wine on a regular basis and get the same benefits? Maybe. But then, that takes the fun out of the celebration. And, besides, Champagne is more refreshing!
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