Well, we knew about the fun part

but how lovely to read that the health benefits of Champagne are so good.

Having developed increased intolerance to red wine, I'm so pleased to read that champagne has just as much beneficial effect on the heart and brain.

 "According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, champagne protects against brain injuries that occur during a stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses. In fact, in the study’s sample that contained the highest concentration of sparkling wine, brain-cell function was completely restored.

The sparkling wine’s high concentration of polyphenols — antioxidants that prevent cell death from oxidative stress, were again thought to be responsible. Though red wine does contain more polyphenols than sparkling wine, champagne contains certain types of beneficial phenolic compounds including tyrosol and caffeic acid.
These anti-inflammatory substances may help to regulate cells’ response to injury while helping to clean up and remove dangerous chemicals from your body, researchers said.

The polyphenols in sparkling wine are also able to cross the blood-brain barrier and may therefore confer benefits to the entire central nervous system."


Sure, tea contains antioxidents and is the daily drink of choice, but there's no getting away from the fun part of a glass or two of bubbly.

The larder is full to bursting with bottles acquired over the past year and now seems as good a time as any for cracking open one to mark the end of a particularly difficult year.