The health benefits and risks of red wine have been contested for quite some time. Some people believe that drinking a glass of red wine a day is very valuable in a healthy diet. Other people believe that the value of red wine is overestimated.
Studies currently show that the moderate consumption of red wine has an effect in reducing the risk of some illnesses, including some heart ailments. Conversely, there’s a clear difference between excessive and moderate intake and consumption of red wine.
If you want to know more about the health benefits and risks of red wine, read on.
What is Red Wine?
Red wine is extracted from whole, dark-colored grapes and is done by fermenting and crushing them. There are various types of this wine, and these may vary in color and in taste. Common varieties consist of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, and Merlot.
Red wine usually contains approximately 12-15% of alcohol. By consuming a moderate amount of the beverage, you may get significant health benefits for your body. This is due to the rich concentration of antioxidants found in the wine.
The Powerful Contents of Red Wine
Grapes are a very good source of antioxidants. These antioxidants include catechin, resveratrol, proanthocyanidins, and epicatechin. All of these, especially the proanthocyanidins and resveratrol, are responsible for the amazing health benefits of red wine.
The proanthocyanidins may help in reducing oxidative harm in the body. Moreover, it may also help in preventing the risk of cancer and heart disease.
Resveratrol, on the other hand, is commonly found in the skin of the grapes. Some plants also contain this ingredient which helps them repair any injury or damage. This powerful antioxidant has several health benefits including combating inflammation and averting blood clots. It also helps in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.
However, the content of resveratrol in red wine is very low. You would have to drink more than a few bottle of red wine a day to get the amount that the body needs to reap any benefits. For obvious reasons, professionals do not recommend this. If you are drinking red wine for the purpose of getting enough resveratrol, then taking it in supplement form would be a better idea.
Health Benefits and Risks of Red Wine
Health Benefits of Red Wine
Consuming a small or moderate amount of red wine may provide various health benefits over any other alcoholic beverages. Individuals that drink about 150 ml of red wine per day have about a 32% lower risk of heart disease than those who don’t drink. However, if you consume more than the recommended amount of alcohol in a day, you might be more at risk of heart disease.
A small amount of red wine may help reduce the risk of heart disease by helping the blood retain good cholesterol. Furthermore, the oxidation of bad cholesterol might also be impacted. In fact, studies show that drinking red wine can lead to a 50% reduction of the bad LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.
Here are some additional health benefits of drinking red wine:
Helps reduce the risk of diabetes (type 2). Moderate consumption of red wine may help in reducing the development of diabetes in women.
It helps reduce the risk of dementia. Consuming or drinking a glass or two of red wine may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Helps reduce the risk of depression. A study shows that drinking 2-7 glasses of red wine per week may reduce the possibility of having depression.
It helps reduce the risk of cancer. Moderate consumption of red wine may also help reduce the risk of some types of cancer including ovary, prostate, and colon cancer.
Help reduce insulin resistance. If you drink 2 glasses of red wine a day, within 4 weeks you may reduce your insulin resistance.
Health Risks of Drinking Red Wine
The health benefits and risks of red wine are inseparable. As indicated earlier, the consumption of red wine should be in moderation only. You should not consume excessive amounts. However, some people are heavy drinkers and tend to overindulge. Here are some of the health risks which may occur when drinking excessive amounts of red wine:
Increase in weight. Red wine has twice the amount of calories than those found in beers and soft drinks. If you excessively drink red wine, you may end up gaining weight.
Increase in the depression risk. Those who are heavy drinkers are more at risk of depression than those who are moderate to non-drinkers.
Alcohol Dependence. Regular intake of alcohol may lead to alcohol dependence.
Increase in the risk of death and diseases. There’s a high tendency that you will have a premature death if you consume more than the advisable amount of red wine or alcohol intake.
Conclusion
You should not put your health at risk. There are health benefits and risks to drinking red wine that you must always keep in mind. If you want to reap the benefits of drinking red wine, drink it in moderation.
