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The benefits of drinking wine have been well-documented for thousands of years.
According to emerging research, drinking wine in moderation – about a glass daily – has several health benefits.
In this article, we explain the health benefits of wine, which type is healthiest, and its potential downsides.
Is A Glass Of Wine A Day Actually Healthy?
Drinking wine has been linked with potential health benefits for centuries. More recently, science has begun to back up these claims.
Studies have shown that moderate wine consumption can help improve cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and blood sugar control.Of course, these potential benefits come with a few caveats.
First, it is important to drink in moderation. Too much alcohol can have negative effects on your health.
Second, not all wines are created equal. Some types of wine may be better for you than others. For example, red wine generally contains more antioxidants than white wine.
If you’re looking to incorporate wine into your diet for potential health benefits, speak with your doctor or a registered dietitian to find out what type of wine is right for you and how much you should drink each week. Cheers!
Rich In Antioxidants
Wine is one of many foods and beverages that are rich in antioxidants. It is known that antioxidants prevent cellular damage due to inflammation and oxidative stress.
A free radical is an unstable molecule in your body that can damage your cells, which is the cause of oxidative stress.
Polyphenols in grapes have been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
Since red wine grapes contain more antioxidants than white wine grapes, drinking red wine may increase your blood antioxidant levels more than drinking white.
Taking 13.5 ounces (400 ml) of red wine daily increased antioxidant status in 40 adults in a 2-week study.
A lower risk of disease is associated with higher antioxidant status. Red wine consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of oxidative stress-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
May Help Combat Inflammation
Anti-inflammatory compounds are found in wine. Chronic inflammation can cause heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and certain types of cancer, so it is best to prevent this type of inflammation whenever possible.
Diet, stress reduction and exercise can reduce chronic inflammation. Wine is believed to be one of many foods that reduce inflammation.
Wine is rich in a compound called resveratrol, which has anti-inflammatory properties. A study of 4,461 adults found that moderate consumption of wine reduced inflammation.
In this study, participants self-reported their alcohol consumption. A person who consumed 1.4 ounces (40 grams) of alcohol daily had less inflammation than those who didn’t.
Further, in a study involving 2,900 women, consuming a glass of wine daily significantly reduced inflammatory markers compared with abstaining from alcohol.
The effects of red wine, however, have been found to be less dramatic in other studies.
According to a study of 87 adults aged 50 and above, drinking 5 ounces (150 ml) of red wine daily reduced inflammatory markers only slightly compared to abstaining from alcohol.
To better understand wine’s anti-inflammatory properties, more research is needed.
Help Combat Inflammation May Be Improved By This Supplement
Several studies have found that moderate consumption of wine reduces the risk of heart disease.
Red wine contains high levels of polyphenol antioxidants, which may reduce your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and metabolic diseases.
Drinking red wine may lower high blood pressure, which may reduce the probability of heart disease for people with high blood pressure.
It has been demonstrated that drinking red wine daily does not lower blood pressure in healthy people or people with heart disease.
Additionally, wine may interact with blood pressure-lowering medications. Moreover, excessive alcohol consumption may increase blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease.
Research into this area continues to debate whether moderate wine consumption is beneficial to heart health.
Other Benefits Of Wine
Moderate consumption of wine may also have the following benefits:
Drinking wine occasionally may reduce depression risk. However, excessive drinking may have the opposite effect, increasing your risk.
As part of a healthy diet, moderate amounts of wine may increase longevity due to its high antioxidant content.
In obese individuals, red wine may improve metabolic syndrome markers due to its ability to promote beneficial gut bacteria growth.
Wine consumption in moderation is proven to improve gut bacteria, improve heart health, and boost lifespan, although most research has focused on red wine.
What Type Of Wine Is Most Beneficial?
It is common for people to wonder what makes red wine different from white wine.
There is a need for more research on white wine, since most studies analyzing the benefits of drinking wine have focused on red wine.
Grape skins contain resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in red wine. As a matter of fact, red wine contains ten times as much resveratrol as white wine.
Although more research is needed, particularly on white wine, red wine may have more health benefits.
Potential Downsides Of Wine
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is associated with negative health outcomes. An average of 87, 798 Americans die each year from excessive alcohol consumption.
This accounts for one in ten deaths approximately for adults between the ages of 20-64. There are several health risks associated with heavy alcohol consumption, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, liver and pancreatic diseases, and unintentional injuries.
In a recent analysis of studies, it was found that the optimal daily intake of wine should be one glass (150 ml) for women and two glasses (300 ml) for men.
If you drink this amount of wine moderately, you will benefit from its health benefits, but if you drink more than that, you will negatively impact your well-being.
US government guidelines recommend moderate drinking, which means 1 drink daily for women plus 2 drinks every day for men.
Several health benefits can be gained from moderate wine consumption, but you should consider your overall diet quality as well. Drinking wine regularly can be counterproductive if you have an unhealthy diet.
Additionally, minors, pregnant women, and individuals taking certain medications should abstain from alcohol.
A moderate amount of wine consumption may be beneficial to health, but excessive alcohol consumption may have negative effects. Some individuals and populations should abstain from alcohol consumption.
Is It Ok To Drink Wine Everyday?
Drinking moderate amounts of wine along with fruit and vegetable-rich diets can benefit your health.
According to research, women should drink 1 glass (150 ml) and men should drink 2 glasses (300 ml). The Mediterranean diet includes this regimen, which contributes to a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention.
Drinking wine may have several potential health benefits, but a healthy diet can also offer them.
You don’t have to start drinking wine simply because of its health benefits if you didn’t before.
The consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, legumes, fish, and nuts provides high amounts of antioxidants and helps prevent heart disease (32Trusted Source).
Consuming fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods can yield the same health benefits as a daily glass of wine.
How Much Wine Is Too Much?
Men should not drink more than two 5 oz glasses of wine every week, and women should not drink more than one 5 oz glass a week.
Women should not consume more than 3 glasses of wine per day, and men should not consume more than 4 glasses of wine per day.
People younger than 21 or pregnant women who drink excessively include binge drinkers, heavy drinkers, and people under 21 who consume alcohol excessively.
Drinking wine in moderation won’t cause belly fat any more than eating or drinking anything else. It may even help reduce weight gain, according to research. The opposite is true, however, if you drink too much wine.
The Difference Between Red Wine And White Wine
White wine is predominantly made with white grapes; the skins are removed from the juice prior to fermentation.
Red wine is prepared with darker red or black grapes, and the skins are retained on the grapes during the fermentation process.
There are many antioxidants in the skin of grapes, which may make red wine the healthier option.
Ultimately, wine preference is based on personal choice. And those who prefer to consume any alcoholic beverage, whether for health or leisure, should only do so in moderation.
Bottom Line
A glass of red wine every now and then may be beneficial to your health. In addition to providing antioxidants, it may promote longevity and prevent heart disease and harmful inflammation.
Interestingly, red wine has higher levels of antioxidants than white wine. However, more research is required to determine which types of wine are most beneficial.
It’s important to remember that wine is not healthy for everyone, nor is it necessary. A healthy diet can provide the same benefits.
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It’s great that you mentioned how wine is one of the many foods and beverages that are rich in antioxidants. We just found out that wine is actually good for the body, so I think my wife and I should start drinking wine. So to get started, we should probably go on a wine tour this month.
Thank you so much for the feedback. I’m glad you enjoyed it.