The buzz is out. Red wine has numerous health benefits if consumed in moderation, meaning one to two glasses per day. Not only is it the perfect accompaniment for dinner, parties, and relaxing, it is also beneficial to your heart, immune system, bones, and many other body processes.
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Evidence proves that red wine was first produced using a recipe of grapes with fermented rice and honey by China 9,000 years ago. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s when the health benefits of red wine were recognized. Since then, many research studies were conducted to prove red wine’s health benefits. Beyond a doubt, red wine can improve your health.
What Makes Red Wine Beneficial to Your Health?
Red wine is rich in several antioxidants, including catechins, resveratrol, epicatechin, and proanthocyanidins.
Resveratrol is an antioxidant that comes from grape skins. Its health benefits include anti-aging and heart-healthy properties.
Flavonoids, especially the anthocyanins, give the wine its deep red color. They help improve your overall health.
Proanthocyanidins help to decrease heart disease risk. These antioxidants can also help fight free radical damage.
Finally, red wine contains sugar. The amount is as follows:
- Dry wine – 4 grams of sugar per liter
- Medium dry wine – 4 to 12 grams of sugar per liter (0.5 to 2 grams per glass)
- Sweet wine – 45 grams of sugar per liter (6 grams per glass)
Red wine comes in all of these types of wine, but it’s best to stick with dry wine because of its low sugar level.
The 7 Most Remarkable Health Benefits of Red Wine:
While wine is fun to drink, it’s also a great way to stay healthy. However, only if it’s consumed in moderation. Meaning, one glass with dinner. That’s it. If you consume more than that, you’ll be at risk for a variety of health conditions. Small amounts of red wine will benefit you in tremendous ways. Here’s how.
Keeps the Heart Healthy
Packed with polyphenol antioxidants, which are naturally occurring chemicals that work to fight oxidative stress in the body, red wine protects the heart and arteries from the build-up of saturated fats. This protection helps prevent cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. The primary antioxidant found in red wine is resveratrol, which also prevents blood clots from forming, thus reducing the chance of blood clot-related stroke.
The American Heart Association reviewed the literature regarding red wine’s healthy heart benefits and determined that moderate consumption of red wine, one to two glasses per day, can decrease your risk of a heart attack by about 20 percent. The beverage reduces LDL, the bad cholesterol, and increases HDL, the good cholesterol.
Helps with Weight Loss
If you’re dieting, you’ve probably heard that you should avoid alcohol. However, red wine is different from other types of alcoholic beverages. In a 2015 study by Oregon State University, it was indicated that drinking red grape juice or wine in moderation can help overweight people by burning fat more efficiently. The results propose that consuming dark-colored grapes, even in the form of red wine, could help obese people manage their weight and associated metabolic disorders, such as a fatty liver.
Weight loss occurs due to a chemical found in dark grapes called ellagic acid, which helps to significantly slow down the growth of existing fat cells, and boost metabolism to burn off fatty acids in the liver.
Protects Against Alzheimer’s Disease
The antioxidant resveratrol found in red grapes that helps your heart also works to help your brain by protecting it against age-related mental decline, such as memory loss and poor mood. In 2014, a study proved that red wine influences improved cognition in older people. Red wine can also be used as a preventative measure for Alzheimer’s Disease as well as stopping it from progressing further in people who already have it.
Enhances Your Immune System
Research suggests that the antioxidant resveratrol found in red wine can help promote a better immune system. This finding comes after a 2019 trial that proved resveratrol regulates immunity by inhibiting immune cell regulation, proinflammatory cytokines’ synthesis, and gene expression. Because of this, resveratrol helps your body fight bacterial infections, such as food poisoning and salmonella.
Helps Fight Cancer
Research indicates that the antioxidants and phytoestrogens found in red wine, such as catechins and resveratrol, have anti-cancer properties. These antioxidants and phytoestrogens work to protect cells from oxidative damage due to free radicals, which can help stop the development of certain types of cancer.
Builds Up Bone Mass
A moderate amount of red wine helps to prevent osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis by strengthening the bones. Red wine does this by boosting bone density with the production of estrogen, which can hinder the destruction of old bone, and keep healthy bones strong. According to a study published by the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, red wine can improve bone mineral density (BMD) in men aged 50-80.
Prevents Type 2 Diabetes
Because red wine can help you lose weight, the risk for Type 2 Diabetes decreases. There’s also evidence that red wine reduces insulin resistance and enhances glucose regulation, thus it can help the body build up a defense system to protect it against Type 2 diabetes.
Drinking red wine can be beneficial to your health in many ways, not only with those mentioned above but also for your appearance, specifically hair and nails. Its antioxidants and phytoestrogens help the body fight and prevent disease. However, you don’t have to consume red wine to get all of its health benefits. Here’s how.
Can You Get the Benefits of Red Wine without the Alcohol?
If you want the health benefits of red wine without the effects of alcohol, there’s a pill that can do that. It’s known as the red wine pill or red wine extract. The red wine pill gives you the benefits of resveratrol without having to drink alcohol. Furthermore, it doesn’t have the empty calories and sugars that red wine contains. You can find the red wine pill at any nutritional supplements store.
With all of the evidence proving that red wine is beneficial to your health, how can you not consume it as a supplement to your diet? However, before you begin a red wine regime, talk to your doctor. Consulting with your doctor is crucial because you may not be able to consume alcohol due to a health condition or medication. Your doctor will know what the best options are for you.
What are the Types of Red Wine that have Health Benefits?
Before you run out and buy a bottle of red wine, be sure you’re getting the right kind. There are only four types of wine that will work to give you health benefits. They are, in order of efficiency, the following:
- Pinot noir
- Merlot
- Cabernet
- Rosé
Choose your favorite and get started on a healthy journey of living and living happily. Adopting a red wine regime will help you get in optimal health and feel good. Being able to prevent disease with a glass of wine is something that was never heard of before, but now is becoming a thing that most doctors can agree is great for you.
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