Much has been made recently about pro basketballer Amar’e Stoudemire’s “vinotherapy” rehab program, which involves soaking in red wine
baths. I tried it myself a few years ago at the Caudalie spa in Bordeaux, and
while it was a fabulous experience I would put it more into the pampering
category than physical rehab. But the practice does raise a lot of questions,
and as with so many issues about wine and health there is a kernel of truth
shrouded by a layer of hype.
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| Dr. Richard Baxter and Mathilde Thomas |
For deep healing to happen, something would have to be
absorbed from the wine in significant enough amounts to have an effect, and
there is scant evidence that this occurs. A more realistic concept is
rejuvenation of the skin, which can absorb certain compounds found in wine.
Resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant, has received much attention both as a
supplement and a skin care product. But just as there is not enough resveratrol
in wine to explain wine’s health benefits alone, there isn’t enough in baths
either.
Credit goes to Mathilde Thomas, founder of Caudalie, for
connecting skin care to resveratrol. Science has backed this up too;
resveratrol can be absorbed into the skin, where it provides an array of
anti-aging benefits. Several large brands have now jumped on the resveratrol
bandwagon, including SkinCeuticals.
The hype of the story stems from the increasingly common
mistake of equating red wine’s benefits to resveratrol. (For examples, see my recent posts here.) The
reasoning goes like this: The French Paradox or some other study associates red
wine with longevity, or lower rates of heart disease, or diabetes, or something
else; resveratrol has been shown in lab studies to provide an explanation for
these benefits; but in order to achieve levels of resveratrol high enough for the same effect, one would
have to consume dozens of bottles; so red wine must not be good for you after
all. The correct interpretation of course is that it must be something other
than resveratrol, or in addition to it.
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| Three amigos: Me, Professor Joseph Vercauteren, and David Sinclair |
It’s partly my fault. In my book I set out to identify a
plausible cause-and-effect relationship for each of the known benefits of
moderate wine consumption, and resveratrol fits the bill. But I also emphasized
that it is only one of many antioxidant polyphenols compounds in wine, and that
they often work synergistically. I also pointed out the relationship of red
wine consumption in moderation as a marker for many other healthy lifestyle
habits. The ability to relax is probably one of those, and if soaking in a tub
of wine helps, I am all for it.
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