Darn, I shouldn't have given up smoking!

A recent report in a UK newspaper had the emblazoned headline, Five glasses of wine a week 'could cut risk of developing arthritis by half'. I didn't believe it for one moment but read the article anyway. It starts like this ….

Scientists have found drinking five or more glasses of wine or beer a week can halve your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
About 400,000 Britons have rheumatoid arthritis - a degenerative inflammatory disorder in which the immune system attacks joint tissue, leading to swelling, tenderness and increasing disability.
For the research, participants were asked how much they smoked and drank. Blood tests were taken to establish genetic risks.
Among those who drank regularly, those with the highest consumption of more than five units a week were up to 50 per cent less likely to develop the disease.
The biggest benefit was seen among some smokers who had a genetic risk of developing the arthritis.

I gave up smoking in 1983. I started enjoying wine in 1988 but in 1990 I wrenched my knee in a skiing accident, which triggered off rheumatoid arthritis, which is not uncommon in our family, therefore I probably had a genetic risk. Two months ago, due to increasing disability, I had a full knee replacement, regarded as a 'last resort' fix for RA sufferers. So, if this research is to be believed, should I have never have given up smoking? But if I hadn't, would I have ever been able to appreciate all the intriguing and intricate nuances of wine?

Looks like I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue!

Seriously, I know you're joking, but increased risk of RA is one of the minor health reasons not to smoke. I also think that it would decrease your tasting/smelling abilities (and yes I know some of the big name critics are smokers).

I'd love to see how large their sample was. I notice the article didn't bother telling us.

If you'd kept right on smoking, Sue, you might have been one of the "lucky ones" and had all the fun of emphysema and/or lung cancer down the road. Everything in life is a matter of trade-offs.

Scientists have found drinking five or more glasses of wine or beer a week can halve your chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Maybe it has something to due with the traces of sulfur in the wine and beer. Foods that have traces of sulfur are required for healthy skin, nails, bone joints and it also helps maintain oxygen balance for proper brain function.

Salute

"and yes I know some of the big name critics are smokers"

Is that the reason for giving high points to 15% Pinot Noirs?

Seriously, I know you're joking, but increased risk of RA is one of the minor health reasons not to smoke. I also think that it would decrease your tasting/smelling abilities (and yes I know some of the big name critics are smokers).

There are always two sides to every story, unfortunately, and both sides are not always told.

So who are these big name critics who smoke?

Coates is a heavy cigarette smoker.
I'm not sure if Suckling smokes cigarettes, but he's a big cigar advocate (and I believe also a critic for Cigar Aficionado , which has same ownership as WS)

We all like to stress the virtues of moderate drinking (obviously, none of us ever do this other than moderately), but I would like to speak out in favor of moderate smoking.

I smoke, on average, 2 cigars a week, and never shortly before a wine tasting or dinner.
A health risk? Perhaps, but a minor one.
I know plenty of people who are "social smokers", who only have a limited number of cigarettes a couple of weekends a month.
Therefore, let us not paint all smokers with the same brush.

As for taste, I agree that a heavy smoker has a handicap, but I confirm that many people in the wine trade (anyone see Mondovino?) smoke.

It is therefore inaccurate, and perhaps wishful thinking to make the equation: smoking = palate numbness.

Best regards,
Alex R.