Is Wine Good for Your Health?
As a certified wine lover, you may have heard that wine is the healthiest alcohol you could consume. Does the research support the health benefits of wine? How much wine can you drink for maximum benefit? The wine experts at Yalla, or winesperts for short, have collated all you need to know about the health benefits of your favorite beverage.
Is Wine Good for Your Health?
Yep, it sure is, but before you go out to buy Pinot Grigio by the case, remember these health benefits are specifically attributed to red wine. Your classy drink of choice is fermented with grape skins for longer than its white counterpart. Since grape skin is full of resveratrol, red wine has plenty of this magical antioxidant.
Remember: the health benefits of wine are fantastic for those of us who already enjoy an evening glass with our meals. If you do not regularly drink wine, do not tale up an alcohol habit for the health benefits. You can get similar benefits from eating grapes or drinking grape juice.
Additionally, overconsuming wine leads to the negative side-effects of alcohol to outweigh the benefits.
Why Is Wine Good for Your Health?
Red wine is an antioxidant-rich beverage, specifically the previously mentioned polyphenol called resveratrol. Try to say that eight times fast after a glass of your favorite Malbec! The winner buys the next round.
These antioxidants increase blood antioxidant levels, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in our bodies. This longitudinal study pointedly looked at how wine consumption over the space of 7 years affected inflammatory markers in women. The outcome? Those who consumed a glass of red wine daily had reduced inflammatory markers compared to those who did not drink wine.
5 Specific Health Benefits of Wine
We've already looked at how drinking red wine has a significant antioxidant effect, but what specific benefits come from that daily evening glass of vino?
#1 Lowers (bad) LDL Cholesterol and Improves Heart Health
Additionally, red wine heightens HDL cholesterol. That's the good kind!
#2 Regulates Blood Sugar
Resveratrol, our antioxidant friend from earlier, controls blood sugar levels in those with diabetes. Those with diabetes aren't the only ones who benefit from stable blood sugar levels, though.
#3 Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Scientists have looked at how resveratrol affects human cancer cells and have found it to inhibit the metabolic activation of carcinogens.
#4 Prevents Cognitive Decline
A study has found that a daily glass of red inhibits the plaque located on the brains of those who have Alzheimer's. The conclusions of the study found a similarly positive effect of eating cheese. Time to couple that lovely wine with a cheese plate?
#5 Positive Digestive Effects
Those who drink red wine have a greater diversity of good bacteria in their digestive tracts, and this is an excellent marker of good gastrointestinal health. These positive effects haven't been discovered in the gut microbiome of any other alcohol consumption. Cheers, Sláinte, and L'Chaim to you!