this reduction in heart disease risk results in a reduced mortality in middle-age and older adults who consume moderate amounts of alcohol.However,at high levels of consumption,the mortality from heart disease and other alcohol-related problems is increased.Wine consumption has been suggested as a reason for the lower incidence of heart disease in certain cultures.The Mediterranean diet,which has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease,includes daily consumption of wine in moderation(see Chapter 1,Science Applied:How Epidemiology led to Dietary Recommendations for Heart Disease).And one explanation for the French paradox-the fact that the French eat a diet that is as high or higher in saturated fat that the American diet but suffer from far less heart disease-is the glass of wine they drink with meals.The particular benefit of red wine is likely due not only to the alcohol but also to the phyto-chemicals (phenols) it contains(see Figure F1.5).