Wine was originally developed as a substitute for undrinkable water and has been held in high regard throughout history for its medicinal qualities but its effects on the human body have often been questioned.
Now leading researcher and head of La Trobe University’s School of Psychological Science Dr. Anna Kokavec is casting her analytical eye over the health issues of having a liquid lunch.
So does a drink a day keep your appetite away?
‘Alcoholics often presents for treatment in a highly malnourished condition an issue that can lead to health problems like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (a condition that can lead to forms of amnesia and hallucinations) Dr. Kokavec says.
This malnourishment was often attributed to the ‘poor dietary habits’ of alcoholics but now Dr. Kokavec’s research has uncovered another reason to explain malnourishment in heavy drinkers and the results speak for themselves.
‘We confirmed that certain biochemical processes associated with appetite regulation do change when alcohol was consumed.’
What this means is that alcohol such as beer and white wine were found to be suppressants of hunger while red wine elevated one’s hunger but only after that hunger had been suppressed originally.
‘The research provides enough evidence to question whether malnutrition and poor dietary behaviour of alcoholics is the fault of the individual or whether it’s the consequences of alcohol and the role it plays in suppressing appetite’ Says Dr Kokavec.
Either stray it is the applicable nature of this research that is starting to turn heads; if the li
‘Knowing whether alcohol promotes inhibits or has no effect on appetite is of great importance to health professionals involved in the treatment of alcoholics. It is also important when considering the effect that alcohol has in the development of diseases in humans’ she adds.
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