Red and white wines can help combat various forms of cancer, according to research conducted in Greece, scientists said yesterday in Thessaloniki. Greek experts have been conducting tests over the last few years on the positive effects that a few glasses of local wine can have on the drinker’s health.

According to research presented at the Detrop food and drink exhibition by Dimitris Kouretas, an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Thessaly, plant polyphenols that are found in grapes can have an effect on human cells, bacteria and enzymes, thereby preventing cancer – including breast, lung and gastric – from breaking out or can fight tumors.

It seems to get better and better for wine lovers everyday. Yet another study on red wine and its health benefits came out recently. This one suggests that red wine may be effective in slowing the human aging process. Spanish researchers believe that the high concentration of melatonin in the grape skin is responsible for the benefits. So if you happen to need an excuse to drink red wine, just say that you must to stay young!

According to the Harvard Gazette, Researchers at Harvard University have found that a molecule that is an active ingredient in red wine can slow the aging of human cells. Called resveratrol, the wonder substance seems to work in the same way as does drastic calorie cutting.

Physicians recommend a glass or two of red wine a day as part of a heart-healthy diet. Remember it is still important to drink wine in moderation and sensibly.

Health warnings on bottles of wine urging pregnant women not to drink alcohol are to be made compulsory in France according to Decanter magazine. All bottles imported and sold in France will need to display the warning. Producers can print the warning in writing or feature a government approved picture.

India should enact sensible health safety laws when it comes to alcohol. In the absence of laws like these, it is important for wine drinkers, producers, distributors, hoteliers and restaurateurs to constantly inform the general public not only about the health benefits but also about the risks of drinking wine.

So the next time you are attending a wine tasting whether it is being conducted by a Sommelier at a hotel or by a friend at a dinner party, please ask the speaker to talk about the health questions related to wine as well. It will help spread awareness about when to drink and when not to drink wine.

Maybe the medical field really likes wine. Every year or two a medical researcher discovers yet another health benefit in drinking wine. This time Jun Wang and other researchers at the New York’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered that red wine may help reduce alzheimer's disease. There is one caveat, this is based on a study conducted on mice. We are yet to see whether it applies to human beings as well.

Choosing to drink alcohol is always a personal choice and will always be. Governments rarely, if ever interfere when it comes to the drinking habits of their adult populations. However, it is important to understand the health benefits and risks if you do choose to drink.

There are few better authorities than the Mayo Foundation and their accompanying website, MayoClinic.com to advise you on the benefits and the risks of drinking. The key takeaway - drink in moderation which means no more than 2 drinks a day if you're a male adult under 65 or 1 drink a day if you're a female or a male over 65. Read Alcohol and your health - Weighing the pros and cons for more important information.

There is yet another excuse to enjoy a glass of red wine with your evening meal. Grape skins include melatonin, the hormone that keeps our body clocks in check and tells us when it is time to go to bed. Wines that are particularly rich in this compound include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chianti. Researchers from the University of Milan, said that the compound could help keep our circadian rhythms, or body clock, in check.

Studies have shown that chocolate, especially dark chocolate when taken in moderation can decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels. As we all know, red wine in a similar fashion is a popular cholesterol fighter. However, what happens if you don't enjoy drinking wine? Fortunately, as this article points out, there is always grape juice.

According to Reuters, dark soya sauce, widely used in east Asia, may prove to be more effective than red wine and vitamin C in combating human cell damage, researchers in Singapore said.

Scientists found that the sauce -- derived from fermented soya beans -- contains antioxidant properties about 10 times more effective than red wine and 150 times more potent than vitamin C, Singapore's Strait Times reported on Saturday. Antioxidants -- found in red wine, fruits and vegetables -- counter the effects of free radicals, unstable atoms which attack human cells and tissues.

If you were thinking about even sipping wine while being pregnant, then think again. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy, particularly during the first or second trimester can permanently harm the cognitive development, lowering IQ in the child, a new study found according to David Liu, Ph.D. at Foodconsumer.org. All it takes is 4 oz. of wine to cause damage.

Scientists now say wine may supply antioxidants that protect the delicate hairs of the inner ear that are essential for hearing. According to an article in New Scientist magazine by Andy Coghlan, oxygen free radicals produced over the course of a lifetime, or in response to loud noise or certain antibiotics, damage the inner ear hairs.

German scientists have produced a seaweed wine which will apparently help improve eczema. Seaweed is fat-free, low calorie and full of vital minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, iodine and sodium. Seaweed also removes radioactive strontium and other heavy metals from the body and improve eczema. We do not know how good the wine is but at least it is healthy.