GIMME ALL THE WINE!!! Yes I know it’s Friday, but you can’t honestly think I’d write this while drinking….ha…(I so would)…but ok let’s start this off correctly: if you are here for some delicious recommendations scroll to the bottom; if you are here for a little bit of science, keep reading. Sadly alcohol seems like one of those taboo topics. I see people abusing it, over-complicating it, or not drinking it. My job in coaching and counseling is to give you the science behind alcohol and help you navigate what that means to you and your overall health and wellbeing. The research recommends right now that if you’re not a drinker, don’t start drinking “for the health benefits” because it doesn’t benefit you. You can get the polyphenols and resveratrol somewhere else (ex: nuts, seeds, berries, etc.). If you are a drinker, then drinking recommended amounts on a regular schedule can potentially bring some benefits. Research has shown that drinking in moderation may:

• • reduce damage to blood vessels
  • reduce LDL cholesterol
  • help prevent blood clots
  • decrease risk of CVD, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer
  • reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes
  • increase bone mineral density

Now, keep in mind that there are sooooo many other factors going on with individuals in these studies that research can’t control. What we can look at though is the association between intake and ‘fill in the blank with one of the above bullet points‘, because again, correlation is not causation. Some things to think about when including alcohol in your lifestyle:

• • how does it make you feel in the moment
  • how does it make you feel the next day
  • what’s the point of drinking at that time

A lifestyle that showcases these habits are the ‘Mediterranean Diet’ and ‘Blue Zones’. For the sake of time we won’t drive into that now, I’ll make sure we touch on it another day! So current general recommendations around alcohol servings per day are: 1 drink if you are female and 2 if you are male. So what’s a serving size you may wonder?:

• • 1.5 oz liquor
  • 5 oz wine
  • 12 oz beer

Ok, enough of all the science. Let’s get to the good stuff! I love wine (obvi beer and liquor as well, but wine is my main squeeze), and I have all the spring vibes right now so you can catch me drinking a few whites, mostly rose with a few occasional reds. I love all wine and don’t necessarily have a go to so here are my top 10 picks at the moment:

• • 2017 Picton Bay Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2016 Gilles Morat Terroirs de Vergisson Pouilly-Fuisse
  • 2014 Domane Krems Gruner Veltliner
  • 2015 The Prisoner Blindfold
  • 2016 Gerard Bertrand Cote des Roses Rose
  • 2017 Fleurs de Prarie Cotes de Provence
  • 2016 Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rose
  • 2017 Vinogallia Edizione Privata
  • 2015 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir
  • 2015 Blue Rock Baby Blue Red