Wine is one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in the world and is beloved by millions. From north to south, from east to west, we are growing and producing all kinds of wine. From sweet wine, white wine and sparkling wines to dark red wines and rosé. It seems like the world can't get a nought of this beloved beverage, but is wine good for us, and if so, why is it good for us?
Grapes have good health benefits
Grapes have high levels of polyphenols, which are antioxidants that have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Several studies have found evidence that drinking an occasional glass of wine is beneficial to your health, especially red wine.
Wine provides antioxidants
Wine may promote longevity
Wine can help protect against heart disease and harmful inflammation
Red wine’s high concentration of polyphenol antioxidants can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and metabolic diseases.
Harvard Medical School research study in 1992
As far back as 1992, a research team at Harvard Medical School launched a research study into whether daily consumption of a small amount of alcohol, in general, can prove to be good for your health. Among the various alcoholic beverages tested during the study, red wines were shown to be the most beneficial.
Harvard Medical School launched a research study that showed that small consumption of red wine could be considered one of eight things you can do to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Red wine has higher levels of antioxidants than white wine, which makes red wine more beneficial than white wine. What this study found was that the high levels of antioxidants in red wine, especially from the seeds and skins of the grapes used to make the wine, had a significant "cardioprotective" effect on those involved in the study.
What is it about red wine that is so good for you?
Researchers have found reason to believe that it is flavonoids in red wines that are responsible for lowering your risk of coronary heart disease. Another useful polyphenol found in wine is resveratrol. Reservatrol has approximately the same properties as procyanidin. Reservatrol and procyanidin help with blood sugar stabilization, cancer inhibition and reduced risk of cardiovascular problems.
Several studies show that flavonoids in red wine reduce the risk of heart disease.
Flavonoids in red wine are known to help reduce the levels of LDL or low-density lipoproteins or "bad" cholesterol in the body.
Flavonoids in red wine increase the production of HDL or high-density lipoprotein, or "good" cholesterol that the body needs to be healthy.
Flavonoids in red wine have been shown to reduce the risk of blood clots.
Which wine is best for your health?
Most red wines are packed with good flavonoids and are significantly better for your health even though white and other kinds of wine have the same properties, just in a lower amount.
But why is red wine so much better? It is quite simple. The largest proportion of flavonoids and other important antioxidants in wine is found in the seeds and skins of the grapes. When the grapes are pressed with the skins and seeds, all the good flavonoids and antioxidants stay in the wine. That's the reason red wine is better for you.
The darker the wine, the higher the amount of anthocyanin.
You should look for wines with high polyphenol levels. In particular, one type of polyphenol is procyanidin. The third type of polyphenol, so-called anthocyanin, is found in wines with a deep red colour.
During a research study conducted at the University of California at Davis, several different types of red wine were tried just to find out which of them had the highest levels of flavonoids. The study determined that the red wine with the highest level of flavonoids was a Cabernet Sauvignon. Next with an extremely small margin, was Petit Syrah and then Pinot Noir.
Don't overdo it!
Keep in mind that wine should be consumed in moderation to be good for your health. You should always consult your doctor before starting to drink wine to improve your health and not all health recommendations apply to every single individual.
The conclusion is that wine is good for you
Now you know, it is not a myth that wine is good for you. Among the various wines tested, red wines were shown to be the most beneficial, with lots of good properties for your heart and cholesterol. Now you can enjoy a nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah, Pinot Noir or any other preferred red wine at lunch or dinner without feeling bad about it.