Episode
The French Paradox
55:09
Published: Tue Sep 27 2022
Description
How an early-'90s newsmagazine show convinced a generation of Americans to start drinking red wine. For the antioxidants! Special thanks to Susanne Stolpe and Alexander H. Sandtorv for helping us fact-check this episode! Support us:Hear bonus episodes on PatreonDonate on PayPalGet Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and moreLinks!Diet and alcohol in heart disease risk: the French ParadoxAbsorption of three wine-related polyphenols in three different matrices by healthy subjectsFrom red wine to polyphenols and back: A journey through the history of the French ParadoxWine as a Biological Fluid: History, Production, and Role in Disease PreventionCardiovascular Risk Factors and Confounders Among Nondrinking and Moderate-Drinking U.S. AdultsAlcohol, Drinking Pattern, and Chronic DiseaseThe French paradox: lessons for other countriesMyocardial Infarction and Coronary Deaths in the World Health Organization MONICA ProjectCoronary heart disease in France and in Europe: Where are the facts?Wine And Juice Management And Marketing Decisions: The Case Of The French ParadoxDecline of coronary heart disease mortality is strongly effected by changing patterns of underlying causes of deathThe Medical Autopsy: Past, Present, and Dubious FutureNew dimensions in cause of death statisticsShould socioeconomic factors be considered as traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as confounders, or as risk modifiers?Wine, alcohol, platelets, and the French paradox for coronary heart diseaseAlcohol, Ischemic Heart Disease, and the French Paradox Death certificates are not reliable: revivification of the autopsy Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!Support the show
Chapters
Ancel Keys collected data that showed the French, who eat a lot of saturated fat and drink a lot of wine, have a low rate of heart attacks.
00:00 - 03:56 (03:56)
Summary
Ancel Keys collected data that showed the French, who eat a lot of saturated fat and drink a lot of wine, have a low rate of heart attacks. Despite this, the conventional wisdom for most of the second half of the 20th century was that saturated fat caused heart attacks.
EpisodeThe French Paradox
PodcastMaintenance Phase
The media often presents well-known facts about French cuisine as a secret to attract audience attention.
03:56 - 09:29 (05:33)
Summary
The media often presents well-known facts about French cuisine as a secret to attract audience attention. Presenters use terms like "you're the only one who knows this" to make the content more appealing to viewers.
EpisodeThe French Paradox
PodcastMaintenance Phase
Though drinking has historically been viewed as a vice, studies show that people who drink in moderation, one or two drinks a day, have the lowest mortality rates.
09:29 - 14:48 (05:19)
Summary
Though drinking has historically been viewed as a vice, studies show that people who drink in moderation, one or two drinks a day, have the lowest mortality rates. The French paradox and consistent research both suggest that smaller doses of alcohol aren't as harmful as once thought.
EpisodeThe French Paradox
PodcastMaintenance Phase
Resveratrol is a trace element found in wine grapes that acts as an antioxidant in the body, helping to balance free radicals and prevent damage to cells.
14:48 - 19:36 (04:47)
Summary
Resveratrol is a trace element found in wine grapes that acts as an antioxidant in the body, helping to balance free radicals and prevent damage to cells. It is available as a supplement and has been shown to have various health benefits.
EpisodeThe French Paradox
PodcastMaintenance Phase
The focus on micro-scale health hacks like consuming antioxidants or lowering cholesterol is not supported by research and can create undue stress about balancing every aspect of our health.
19:36 - 26:49 (07:12)
Summary
The focus on micro-scale health hacks like consuming antioxidants or lowering cholesterol is not supported by research and can create undue stress about balancing every aspect of our health.
EpisodeThe French Paradox
PodcastMaintenance Phase
The host discusses the authenticity of death statistics and if we can trust the trends like gunshot wounds and car accidents while highlighting the challenges and inconsistencies in data collection.
26:49 - 35:00 (08:11)
Summary
The host discusses the authenticity of death statistics and if we can trust the trends like gunshot wounds and car accidents while highlighting the challenges and inconsistencies in data collection. She expresses fear of creating QAnon anti-vaxxers by making people believe everything is fake.
EpisodeThe French Paradox
PodcastMaintenance Phase
The culture of drinking in the UK is different from that in the US, with weekly staff drinks being common in one and being a potential fireable offence in the other.
35:00 - 42:20 (07:19)
Summary
The culture of drinking in the UK is different from that in the US, with weekly staff drinks being common in one and being a potential fireable offence in the other. Studies comparing moderate drinkers to non-drinkers have not been accurate as non-drinkers include a disproportionate number of people with pre-existing conditions, poor people, ethnic minorities, unemployed people, and older people.
EpisodeThe French Paradox
PodcastMaintenance Phase
Resveratrol, the compound found in red wine, is not as beneficial to human health as previously believed, as it quickly leaves the system and is metabolized into other compounds.
42:20 - 49:08 (06:48)
Summary
Resveratrol, the compound found in red wine, is not as beneficial to human health as previously believed, as it quickly leaves the system and is metabolized into other compounds. The hype around it seems to only serve as a justification to drink red wine.
EpisodeThe French Paradox
PodcastMaintenance Phase
Access to medicines, surgical procedures, and ambulance response time are direct factors in heart disease deaths, in addition to sleep disorders and mental illness.
49:08 - 53:15 (04:07)
Summary
Access to medicines, surgical procedures, and ambulance response time are direct factors in heart disease deaths, in addition to sleep disorders and mental illness. Diet is also noted as a significant contributor to individual heart attack risk.
EpisodeThe French Paradox
PodcastMaintenance Phase
This podcast questions the validity of the "French Paradox" which states that despite eating a high-fat diet, the French population has a lower rate of heart disease due to their consumption of red wine.
53:15 - 54:40 (01:24)
Summary
This podcast questions the validity of the "French Paradox" which states that despite eating a high-fat diet, the French population has a lower rate of heart disease due to their consumption of red wine. The speaker argues that the paradox has been misinterpreted and that other countries, such as Japan, have healthier diets that should be emulated instead.