In moderation, red wine benefits1 have long been related to a healthy heart. The alcohol and antioxidants included in red wine may help reduce coronary artery disease2, a condition that contributes to heart attacks. But is it how red wine benefits?
Many people believe that having a glass of wine every day is a good habit, while others argue that wine is overrated. Numerous studies have found that moderate red wine drinking appears to reduce the risk of several ailments, including heart disease. There is, however, a delicate line between moderate and excessive use.
This article delves into how red wine benefits health. Letโs one by one debunk the myths in the air and conclude on the Red wine benefits and risks one should be aware of.
1. Why is Red WineโฆRed?
Its hue may be obtained from a wide range of grape skin varieties, including reddish, deep purple, and even a lovely blue on the color scale. These grape skin produce wine with color descriptors such as garnet, practically black, dark red, bright red, ruby red, opaque purple, deep violet, maroon, and the list goes on.
The grape skins are responsible for the unique color range of red wine. During the fermenting process, the skins come in touch with the grape juice, allowing color and tannins to disperse. The specific red color of each wine is determined by the grape variety employed in the process and the amount of time the skinโs pigmentation is in contact with the juice. In todayโs global wine industry, there are around 50 main red wine varietals that constantly present themselves.
There are several sorts of red wine, each with its distinct flavor and color. Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel are popular varietals.
2. Red Wine Benefits vs. White Wine Benefits
If youโve ever wondered if red wine benefits more or the white one, look no further as there is not much difference other than the grape skins. The skins are removed from the mashed fruit and liquid before most white wines are fermented. The skins of red wine stay throughout the fermentation process. Red wine has more antioxidants than white wine because many of the antioxidants in grapes3 are found in the skin.
Antioxidants are essential for a healthy heart because they protect your cells from harm. Polyphenols4 found in plants act as antioxidants in wine. Some of these are also known as flavonoids. Scientists are more interested in resveratrol, but red wine includes other flavonoids.
3. An Overview of Red Wine
Red wine is popular all over the world and is helpful owing to the existence and quantity of its ingredients. Winemaking and wine drinking have been practicedย for many millennia. The ancient Romans recognizedย and promoted wineโs health advantages. Wine is the primary product of grapes. The bulk of wine is made up of water, carbohydrates, organic acids, minerals, alcohol, polyphenols, and aromatics. Wine includes chemicals that have been shown to have a major impact on cardiovascular disease5 and several chronic disorders.
Antioxidants are required for proper cardiovascular function. They may be found in a variety of plants, including fruits (and their derivative products, such as jams, juices, wine, and so on) and vegetables. Their presence in food and drink lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, some malignancies, and diabetes.
While the stimulating effects of wine are widely publicized, we have only lately begun to learn the numerous health advantages that moderate wine intake, particularly red wine, may provide.
4. Health Benefits of Red Wine Consumption:
4.1. Reduces The Possibility of Having High Blood Pressure
According to a study published in Circulation Research, dealcoholized red wine protects the body against damage to critical arteries, lowering diastolic blood pressure. Red wine also reduces blood pressure by decreasing stress. Keeping blood pressure at healthier levels lowers the chance of stroke, but itโs vital to remember that individuals must limit themselves to moderate red wine consumption, as anything more might elevate blood pressure, raising the risk of stroke.
Furthermore, alcohol-free red wine might increase the presence of nitric oxide in circulation. An increased blood content helps to relax and loosen the inner and outer surfaces of blood vessels, enabling improved function.
4.2. Red Wine Benefits Against The Risk of Dementia
A daily intake of 1โ3 glasses of wine has been associated with a lower incidence of dementia and Alzheimerโs disease.
One research found that light to moderate wine consumption might lessen the incidence of dementia, although no form of alcohol was more effective than others. According to several studies, little amounts of alcohol may be good for the heart and circulatory system.
4.3. Makes The Skin Seem Younger And Aids in Acne Treatment
The antioxidants in red wine have properties that make them particularly helpful in terms of skin aging, slowing the start of agingย by repairing the skinโs collagen and flexible fibers. In addition, red wine has additional rejuvenating components that cleanse skin pores, aiding in the battle against acne while minimizingย the chance of recurrence.
Red wine benefits as a skin toner; simply apply it to your face with the cotton gauze. Allow the wine to sink into your skin for around 15 minutes before rinsing with a light cleanser. Red wineโs components can also make skin seem more vibrant and refreshed.
4.4. Enhances The Cardiac Function
Red wine includes antioxidants that can increase the quantity of healthy cholesterol in the body. Good cholesterol increases blood circulation and eliminates low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol), lowering the chance of developing heart disease. Red wine polyphenols, notably resveratrol, aid to reinforce the outside of the heartโs blood arteries.
Resveratrol has been demonstrated to have a variety of beneficial properties, including lowering the chance of developing blood diseases and inhibiting the accumulation of undesirable fats in the body. According to another study, red wine helps decrease the normal decline of cardiac function that happens as the human body ages.
4.5. Lowers Cholesterol
According to tests done by experts from Kingโs College London, the resveratrol found in red wine has the power to lower the amount of bad cholesterol in the body as well as increase the amount of good cholesterol. According to studies, drinking a single glass of red wine every day for a month can increase the amount of good cholesterol in the body by more than 15% while decreasing the quantity of a glycoprotein complex known as fibrinogen by up to 15%.
4.6. Enhances Pulmonary Function
There is evidence that resveratrol may help lessen or prevent the inflammatory process associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CPOD). COPD is characterized by inflammation, and patients suffering from the condition have an increased amount of macrophages. These cells induce lung inflammation and release powerful chemicals called interleukins, which stimulate the reproduction of other cells that cause lung destruction.
In a study of smokers and COPD patients, it was observed that resveratrol lowered the proliferation of interleukins by more than 50%. Analysts have subsequently stated that resveratrol is so effective at decreasing inflammatory markers in lab testing that it may one day form the foundation of a breakthrough new therapy for COPD.
4.7. Diabetes Problems Are at Reduced Risk
According to the American Diabetes Association, a small amount of red wine can lower blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours, lowering the risk of heart disease in those with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, it was observed that people who drank wine a few times per week had a 30% lower chance of having the condition than those who drank less than once per week or no red wine at all.
According to research, the quick rise in blood sugar levels after eating is one of the primary causes of inflammation, which can contribute to the establishment of diabetes. Red wine benefits when savored at supper time and can lower blood sugar levels by up to 30%.
4.8. Cancer-Fighting Properties
According to research conducted by scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center, there is evidence to support the claim that the polyphenol resveratrol is not only capable of eliminating cancer cells in pancreatic cancer patients, but can also help to protect healthy cells from the damaging effects of chemotherapy. According to research, people who drink red wine once a week or more had a lower risk of acquiring bowel cancer than those who do not drink alcohol or drink other forms of alcohol.
Furthermore, it has been revealed that resveratrol can make malignant cells less robust by preventing the necessary proteins that typically operate as a protective shield for the cells against chemotherapy.
4.9. Can Aid in Sunburn Prevention
Researchers in Spain discovered that flavonoids, which are contained in grapes and red wine, can prevent chemical changes in the human body that are linked to skin damage. According to their findings, flavonoids inhibit the skinโs capacity to produce Reactive Oxygen Species or ROS. When these ROS are exposed to UV light, they destroy healthy cells and cause sunburn.
4.10. It Safeguards Your Teeth
According to American Chemical Society research, polyphenols found in red wine benefits can reduce the risk of harmful germs building on teeth. Plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease are caused by the accumulation of this bacterium. Polyphenols inhibited the production of infectious biofilms on teeth and gums, allowing hazardous germs to be readily wiped away. Following more testing, the researchers concluded that polyphenols plus oral probiotics may create an efficient therapy option for germ-caused tooth and gum problems.
4.11. Obesity Consequences are Reduced
According to studies from Oregon State University, resveratrol is capable of converting dangerous white fats into healthy beige fat that extinguishes lipids, stabilizes the body, and protects it from obesity and digestive disorders. While this is encouraging news for those looking to lose weight or avoid weight gain, it is important to note that not all red wines contain a sufficient amount of resveratrol to be beneficial, and it is best to find out directly from the wine company if you intend to supplement your dietary efforts with red wine.
5. Here Are Some of the Healthiest Red Wines to Indulge in:
Malbec
Malbec grapes are mostly cultivated in Argentina and have unusually thick skin, which means they are high in antioxidants. Malbec red wines have up to five times the antioxidant content of other types. This is said to be mostly attributable to the ideal climatic circumstances under which the grapes are grown.
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is one of the best red wines and is grown in almost every wine area on the planet. It includes a significant amount of beneficial antioxidants like resveratrol, and as an additional bonus, the fermentation process begins with relatively low sugar content. This results in a healthier finished product with less sugar than many other wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon
This is the most widely planted grape on the earth and, along with merlot, one of the most popular wine varietals in the United States. While cabernet sauvignon contains the same cardio benefits as other wines, it also promotes the growth of an essential protein known as an amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is thought to perform a variety of complex tasks such as synaptic formation and repair, somatic recombination, anterograde neuronal transport, and iron export, and hormonal regulation.
Check out 8 Amazing Napa Wineries to Visit in the Napa Valley.
Petite Syrah
The tannins produced by the grapes used in this wine are responsible for the robust and unique taste of petite syrah. Tannins also serve as antioxidants, shielding wines from the damaging effects of air exposure. Petite syrah wine, which contains a variety of polyphenols such as resveratrol and other important components, provides all of the medical advantages you would expect from a high-quality red wine mix.
6. Risks of Red Wine Consumption:
6.1. You May Experience Cardiac Difficulties
Moderate Red wine consumption has long been thought to be beneficial to oneโs heart health, particularly in terms of decreasing blood pressure and the chance of having a heart attack. However, specialists warn that too much alcohol or wine consumption may cause major cardiac problems, such as atrial fibrillation, a kind of fast, sometimes erratic, pulse.
6.2. Cirrhosis Might Emerge
Long-term alcohol usage, even wine, can result in significant liver health problems, including cirrhosis. According to the European Association for the Study of the Liver research, increasing alcohol use over the โmoderateโ thresholdโup to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for menโcan raise the prevalence of alcohol-induced cirrhosis by 11.13 percent. And if you want to safeguard your liver, you can start by avoiding certain drinking habits that cause liver damage, according to science.
6. 3. Youโll Sleep Less Soundly
A glass of wine in the evening may make you drowsy, but thereโs another unintended consequence of drinking wine: youโll sleep worse after ingesting it.
Drinking alcohol affects Rapid Eye Movement sleep, which is an important phase of the sleep cycle linked to physical and mental health. Even if you slept well, youโll feel exhausted when you get up.
6.4. You Might Develop Rosacea
Would you like to maintain your skin clear and healthy? You may want to forego that glass of wine.
Studies have shown that wine drinkers have an increase in the number of blood vessels in the cheeks,ย explains Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Zelen Life Dermatology.ย Only visible blood vessels are significantly enlarged in heavy vs moderate wine drinkersโthis supports the concept that wine is linked to rosacea.
6.5. Your PMS May Worsen
Consider a glass of wine to assist alleviate your PMS symptoms.
According to certain studies, one of the lesser-known adverse effects of wine is worsened symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, as well as probable cycle disruptions.
This may be related to hormonal changes from intestinal inflammation caused by direct alcohol intake, but it might also be owing to the impacts of chemicals from alcohol metabolism.
6.6. Concerns About Pregnancy
Pregnant women should not consume alcohol. This precaution applies to both people who are hoping to get pregnant and those who are breastfeeding. All alcoholic beverages, especially red wine, should be avoided.
Final Say
While obviously red wine benefits your health in numerous ways but excessive use of any form of alcohol can increase health concerns.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on the health effects of excessive alcohol use.
According to the analysis, excessive alcohol usage caused about 88,000 fatalities in the United States between 2006 and 2010, reducing the lives of those who died by an average of 30 years.
Furthermore, they claim that one in every ten fatalities among persons aged 20โ64 was caused by excessive drinking.
So basically, red wine benefits outweigh its risk but in moderation as too much of anything is not advised to be good. There are multiple positive effects such as betterment of cardiovascular health, protection against chronic diseases, and so on but one can never eliminate the risks of alcohol consumption.
Alcoholic beverages do more harm than good and are often related to heart disease, weight gain, blood clots, and cancer risk.
One should be cautious while indulging in alcohol consumption and have a proper understanding of its future side effects.
- German, J. Bruce, and Rosemary L. Walzem. โThe health benefits of wine.โย Annual review of nutritionย 20.1 (2000): 561-593. โฉ๏ธ
- Libby, Peter, and Pierre Theroux. โPathophysiology of coronary artery disease.โย Circulationย 111.25 (2005): 3481-3488. โฉ๏ธ
- Kanner, Joseph, et al. โNatural antioxidants in grapes and wines.โย Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistryย 42.1 (1994): 64-69. โฉ๏ธ
- Abbas, Munawar, et al. โNatural polyphenols: An overview.โย International Journal of Food Propertiesย 20.8 (2017): 1689-1699. โฉ๏ธ
- Anderson, Keaven M., et al. โCardiovascular disease risk profiles.โย American heart journalย 121.1 (1991): 293-298. โฉ๏ธ
Last Updated on by NamitaSoren
