French Paradox...Confessions of my Boston (Not Frenchy)

Wine connoisseurs come in all shapes, sizes and species...for instance, my seven year old Boston Terrier, pictured above, affectionately nicknamed "Deets" is a lover of red wine. She knows nothing about the secret ingredient in Red Wine which is attributed to its health benefits...Resveratrol, she just loves to "get her drink on" and relax by the fire on cold wintry nights. Can we obtain the health benefits of this secret ingredient from any other foods, surely, but, it is more enjoyable to have a nice glass of red wine (or two) with dinner and have the added benefit of absorbing this polyphenolic compound. This compound is a natural element produced in some plants in order to provide protection against environmental stresses. The highest concentration can be found in Japanese Knotweed...I however, have no intention of replacing the red wine in my diet with a weed!  Resveratrol has been touted by the new Oprah, Dr. Oz, as the ingredient that is partly responsible for the "French Paradox"-a.k.a., the link between moderate wine drinking and longevity despite diets that are higher in saturated fat. Supposedly, the French are found to have significantly lower rates of coronary heart disease than Americans as a result of these dietary habits or indiscretions. Being the benefactor of such knowledge, I am ready for the American Paradox!  May I suggest revisiting the "box wine" to begin the experiment? A great pick would be the Bota Box in Old Vine Zinfandel, or Malbec. Box wine has come a long way from the 70's!  There have been many environmental and taste refinements since then in the box wine genre.  Enjoy, oh, and drink responsibly, like my Boston "Deets".