Tokyo: a city tasting tour with chef Fantin
Wine ‘Apparently Safe’ for Type 2 Diabetics: New Report (Wine Spectator)
Though numerous studies have shown the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, most researchers are hesitant to recommend that someone who doesn’t drink should start for their health. Many scientific reports do just the opposite, cautioning readers that, just because wine was shown to have a certain health benefit in a particular study, doesn’t mean nondrinkers should suddenly begin enjoying a daily glass.
But now a recent report from a study on wine and type 2 diabetes suggests that those with the disease might experience benefits if they switch from abstention to moderate drinking, with evidence to back up the claim.
The paper, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is a summary of findings from the CASCADE (CArdiovaSCulAr Diabetes and Ethanol) trial, in which 224 participants with type 2 diabetes who previously abstained from alcohol were instructed to drink a glass of either red wine, white wine, or water each day, and follow a Mediterranean diet. The researchers, a team from Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, have previously published papers on specific aspects of the trial, but the new report rounds up the major findings.
“Although several … studies demonstrated protective associations between moderate drinking and cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, neurological disorders and metabolic syndrome, no conclusive recommendations exist regarding moderate wine consumption,” state the authors. “Here, we … suggest that initiating moderate alcohol consumption among well controlled persons with type 2 diabetes is apparently safe.”
They point to two key substudies of the trial that illustrate this conclusion. One substudy, as previously reported, reveals that wine was shown to slow the progression of atherosclerosis in diabetics.
The second substudy focused on heart rate variability (HRV), or the variation in the time interval between heartbeats. (Poor HRV is common in type 2 diabetics, and is a predictor of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality.)
To determine whether moderate, regular wine consumption had an effect on HRV in type 2 diabetics, the researchers selected 45 of the trial’s participants—22 of whom were assigned to drink red wine and 23 of whom were assigned to drink water—to participate in 24-hour electrocardiogram tests, both at the beginning of the trial and after two years. They found no significant changes, meaning that while there wasn’t necessarily a positive long-term impact on HRV for abstainers who began drinking, there wasn’t any apparent danger, either. Coupled with the atherosclerosis findings, this suggests wine is a healthy option.
The study also found differences between men and women: Women who drank red wine had significantly increased HDL (known as “the good cholesterol”) levels compared to those who drank white wine or water; the men’s groups saw no such differences in these levels. This finding, along with other differential effects of alcohol between men and women, should be taken into consideration when thinking about drinking and your health, the researchers say.
It’s worth noting that the study used funding from the Mediterranean Diet Foundation, a Barcelona-based nonprofit that promotes research on the Mediterranean diet, of which moderate wine consumption is a traditional part; the researchers declare that they have no conflict of interest in regard to this study.
Of course, any study on wine and health—whether it’s good news or bad—does not replace medical advice from a professional. Individuals, regardless of whether they have diabetes, or any other disease for that matter, should check with their doctor before making decisions about drinking for their health.
As the study’s text notes: “Although both the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association discuss moderate alcohol consumption in their guidelines, a conclusive recommendation is not given, [nor is] a recommendation to initiate moderate intake.” This research might help change that.
Want to learn more about how wine can be part of a healthy lifestyle? Sign up for Wine Spectator‘s free Wine & Healthy Living e-mail newsletter and get the latest health news, feel-good recipes, wellness tips and more delivered straight to your inbox every other week!
World’s Top Chefs Come Together at Astrid & Gaston’s 25th Anniversary Dinner
9 Iconic Dishes From Laurent Petit of Clos des Sens
Eleven Madison Park Team Opening In London
5 Ways To Make Pork Chops in the Crock Pot
Jeong Kwan: Why Korean Temple Food Is the Perfect Epitome of Slow Food
Thai Basil Chicken Bowls
A 30-minute meal with less than 400 calories per serving? YES AND YES!!! It’s so quick to whip up, budget-friendly, and SO GOOD!
Guys, I get to share yet another cookbook recipe today!
Now this is just 1 of 115 recipes included in my meal prep cookbook, available February 5th! And yes, nutritional information is available for all 115 recipes!
But more importantly, this is hands-down my absolute favorite recipe in the entire book.
I’m not really sure why. I love all the recipes in the book – I do – but I make this at least once a week!
It doesn’t require too many ingredients and I can whip this up as quickly as 10 minutes on some nights. I cheat and use the Trader Joe’s 3-minute microwave jasmine rice on those days – but hey, we all got those shortcuts in the freezer, right?
Oh and guys, here’s the kicker. It’s meal-prep friendly and it’s less than 400 calories a serving. Boom.
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / Indiebound
Thai Basil Chicken Bowls
A 30-minute meal with less than 400 calories per serving? YES AND YES!!! It’s so quick to whip up, budget-friendly, and SO GOOD!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 red Thai chili pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 1/4 pounds ground chicken breast
- 1 1/2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
Directions:
- Cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together chicken stock, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar and vinegar; set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, shallots and chili pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add ground chicken and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the chicken as it cooks; drain excess fat.
- Stir in stock mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in basil until just wilted, about 30 seconds.
- Divide rice into bowls. Top with chicken mixture.*
- Serve immediately.
Notes:
*Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. The bowls can be reheated in the microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through.
Did you Make This Recipe?
Tag @damn_delicious on Instagram and hashtag it #damndelicious.
Calories from Fat 90
15%
10%
18%
48%
13%
0%
42%
The post Thai Basil Chicken Bowls appeared first on Damn Delicious.
Your Rosé May Be Late this Year: Wine and the Government Shutdown (Wine Spectator)
Benovia winery in the Russian River Valley was planning to label and release its first Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine this spring, but the partial government shutdown has put those plans on hold. Due to the lapse in funding, the government agency responsible for approving Benovia‘s wine labels, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), has shut its doors and suspended its approval process for new alcoholic beverages, leaving the winery in a bind.
“Until you have label approval they won’t let you label and ship the wine,” Benovia co-owner and winemaker Mike Sullivan told Wine Spectator. “It’s sort of in limbo until the government opens up.”
Similar stories are playing out across the country as wineries and breweries feel the sting of the shutdown. Without label approval, some winemakers may have to wait to bottle their wines currently sitting in tanks and barrels. Those delays could eventually mean financial consequences for winemakers and fewer choices for consumers on store shelves.
Spring releases are in limbo
During the shutdown, wineries may continue to send their labels to the TTB, but the labels won’t be approved, a process that normally takes up to 36 days. That’s creating headaches for winemakers since they are required to submit new labels, as well as existing labels that have been changed, to the TTB for a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA), in order to sell their wines.
Last year the TTB, which enforces laws regulating alcohol production, importation and distribution, processed more than 192,000 labels.
The good news for wine lovers is that the shutdown will only impact wines that require approval. Winemakers can change the vintage and other exempted information on a previously approved wine label without obtaining a COLA. That means many wineries such as Benovia will still be able to bottle and release the majority of their wines without any delays.
“For any wine that requires a COLA for a new label, it’s extremely problematic,” said Kent Humphrey of Eric Kent in Sonoma, who is awaiting approval on several labels. Like many wineries, Eric Kent releases some of its wines, including its rosé, in the spring, with a second set of releases in the fall. Humphrey didn’t need a new COLA for his blush wine but he says one of the wineries he consults for is still waiting for its new rosé to be approved.
As the shutdown drags into its fifth week, winemakers are now facing a dilemma. Do they attempt to bottle and label the wines without approval and risk the TTB rejecting them? Or do they wait to bottle the wine and release them late, potentially impacting deals with restaurants and retail shops?
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the largest wine company in Washington State, hasn’t seen any significant delays, according to Ryan Pennington, senior director of communications. But Pennington acknowledges that the shutdown could become a serious issue if it continues, ultimately affecting some of Ste. Michelle’s planned new product launches.
But the greatest impact will be felt by small wineries; especially those that use custom-crush facilities and mobile bottling lines. It can cost more than $2 to bottle and label a case of wine. And wineries will have to find space to store the wine if they can’t legally sell it. Bottling without approval or labels comes with risks. “If you are a small winery and you have a decent-sized lot [of wine] and have to label it a second time, you could be out $20,000,” said Adam Lee, who makes the wines at Siduri, as well as his new Pinot Noir label, Clarice.
The shutdown will also affect imported wines. Imported wine labels have to be approved by the TTB before they can reach the market in the U.S. “We have 20 to 30 [labels] at the TTB that haven’t been approved yet,” said Gavin Speight, vice president of Old Bridge Cellars, which imports wines from Australia, France, Italy and New Zealand. “It’s going to put us back a month or so on shipping.”
Label approval is not the only issue facing winemakers. The shutdown could also delay new wineries from opening their doors since they require a permit from the TTB to operate their business.
How bad is it? That depends on how long it lasts.
How big of a financial impact the shutdown will have on the industry is still undetermined. “It’s hard to quantify,” said Michael Kaiser, vice president of WineAmerica. The trade association, which represents 600 wine producers around the country, is conducting an industry-wide survey on the shutdown and its impacts on wineries. Kaiser says that over 70 percent of respondents so far have indicated that they are waiting on label approval.
Wine, beer and spirits groups are now taking their case to Capitol Hill. Kaiser is meeting with members of Congress to voice the association’s concerns. “This is getting some notice,” he said.
Even after the shutdown ends, winemakers will have to wait for the TTB to work through its backlog of labels. That could delay approval by months. “We need to get past this,” said Lee. “It is hurting business in ways that’s not currently being thought of.”
With no end to the government shutdown in sight, winemakers will have to decide what their next steps will be. Some winemakers are already devising strategies for potential future shutdowns. For some that would mean submitting their labels months in advance of bottling. “It will make me think about label approval in a different way,” said Sullivan.
Stay on top of important wine stories with Wine Spectator’s free Breaking News Alerts.