Silky, robust, powerful, and well-rounded. These are common descriptors that illustrate red wine’s unending expansion of flavors. However, the word healthy is an indefinite adjective on the list of descriptive words dedicated to vin rouge.
In the Middle Ages, the longevity of monks was attributed to the regular (albeit moderate) red wine consumption. For years, multiple theories have been supported in medical studies, highlighting red wine’s health benefits.
Before we discuss the perks of red wine consumption, let’s observe the factors that have eliminated white wine from this equation.
Red Versus White
When people talk about health benefits and wine, they often focus on reds, which contain high levels of antioxidants. White wines lose a lot of their antioxidant properties when the skins and seeds of their grapes fall off before the fermentation process begins.
Drinking copious amounts of chardonnay, for instance, may cause ‘flu-like’ symptoms due to sulfites that keep the wine from spoiling. While most organic options do not contain any sulfites, it’s widely known that the acidity levels of white grape varieties often have some effect on gastro-esophageal reflux that leads to indigestion.
Why Does Red Wine Improve Your Health?
A polyphenol that is known to inhibit cholesterol plaque in blood vessels, otherwise known as tannin, is beneficial to heart health and monk-like longevity.
If you’re still not entirely convinced that the moderate consumption of red wine presents a variety of health benefits, allow the wonders of science to help you out.
- Red Wine Protects Your Heart: Studies have shown that drinking red wine lowers the risk of developing heart disease with the help of a natural antioxidant called resveratrol
- Better Mood, Better Mind: The flavonoids found in red wine protect the cells responsible for guarding your healthy blood vessels. If the blood flow to your brain can be improved, age-related memory decline can be avoided
- Long Live The Wine Drinker: Maybe it’s because you’re chilled out, but moderate servings of red wine are linked to a longer life. Test the theory, but work in a nutrient-dense diet packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals
How Is Red Wine Red Wine Supportive Of Heart Health?
The antioxidants found in wine may help prevent coronary artery disease, a serious condition that could lead to heart attacks. Studies have also shown that red wine may increase our levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is essential in the prevention of ‘bad’ cholesterol buildup. If your cholesterol is top-notch, your heart will thank you for it.
If you like to enjoy a glass of wine with your dinner, go for it, especially since it’s the key to a healthy heart and a relaxed mindset.
Is Red Wine Good For Your Gut?
The National Library Of Medicine kicked things up a notch when they reported that polyphenols found in red wine grapes could improve gut health.
The NLM found that red wine compounds also serve as a prebiotic, a very helpful tool in boosting healthy gut bacteria. The study also found that people who drank red wine had increased gut microbiota diversity, a sign of impressive gut health.
Can Red Wine Reduce Blood Pressure?
If the blood vessels in our bodies are healthy, we can expect reduced blood pressure and an increase in levels of HDL (good cholesterol).
The compound in red wine called procyanidin is what keeps the blood vessels in shape. A study conducted by the American Heart Association suggested that resveratrol might also be beneficial in protection against artery damage.
How Will Red Wine Affect Diabetics?
In 2015, the American College of Physicians interestingly noted in their studies that a glass of red wine at dinner “modestly decreases cardiometabolic risk” in individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of type-2 diabetes.
When this risk is reduced, the risks of heart disease in people with well-controlled type-2 diabetes is lessened exponentially.
What Other Health Benefits Does Red Wine Have?
Resveratrol’s glucoside is a key player in preventing vision loss by reducing inflammation, as well as oxidative stress.
Moreover, the BMJ (a leading general medical journal) found that moderate red wine consumption might be good for the brain too. The study mostly focused on the elderly and reviewed cases that would suggest an increased risk of dementia in people who abstained from drinking wine thanks to a very interesting neuroprotective effect of polyphenols.
Bottom Line
Not only is a nice bottle of red packed with health benefits, but it’s also brimming with history and fascinating flavors. Quite humorously, it was Professor Janne Tolstrup, from the National Institute of Public Health of the University of Southern Denmark who suggested, “It’s better to drink wine in four portions rather than all at once.”
Besides the health benefits, drinking red wine is fun. If you want to enjoy more from red wine you should join to a wine club, for more information about the best wine club click here, for more information about the best red wine club click here.