Health Benefits of Wine

Over the years, wine has been one of the most preferred alcoholic beverages of many individuals. It has a distinct taste that stimulates the palate. In addition to this, the list of benefits is long and becomes more interesting as you read more about them. We are not going to be too technical and medical about them, but it is fantastic to know that wine is not just your average alcoholic drink. Read on to learn more about the health benefits of drinking wine and why more people prefer it over other alcoholic beverages.

Red wine can protect your heart

Red wine has several heart-protecting benefits. Studies have shown that drinking red wine is associated with a lower risk of developing heart disease. The high concentration of polyphenol antioxidants can help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and metabolic diseases. 

Drinking wine can fight inflammation

Red wine is rich in polyphenols, including resveratrol, anthocyanins, catechins, and tannins. As such, red wine show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These chemicals likewise reduce insulin resistance and decrease stress. Resveratrol can be found in foods like grapes, peanuts, chocolate, and berries. 

Improve mood

Many individuals have associated drinking alcohol with better mood. This has been supported by several studies in which people who had a glass of wine in an unpleasant environment, experienced mood improvement. The result is the same with people who are in a more pleasant environment. Moderate intake of wine may also reduce the risk of depression. So now we know.

Boost the immune system

Studies about wine have revealed that a glass of wine a day reduces the risk of infection by Helicobacter pylori. This is a bacteria that causes gastritis, ulcers, and stomach cancers. Half a glass of wine may also guard your intestines against food poisoning caused by bacteria. 

Build better bones

Women who drink moderately have been found to have higher bone mass as compared to those who do not drink wine at all. The alcohol content has estrogen boosting ability and this hormone can prevent or slow down the destruction of old bones. 

Prevent the increase in blood sugar

The study was conducted with premenopausal women who drink one to two glasses of wine per day. It has been concluded that these women will be less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. It was also observed that wine can reduce resistance to insulin in diabetic patients. 

Are we going to take that leap of faith?

Actually, it’s not a leap of faith anymore. There are a lot of studies that support the medical benefit of wine. The next question is, what type of wine to drink. Red wine likely offers more health benefits than white wine. Although, white wine still needs further studies to identify the benefits they give. 

Now we are aware of the health benefits that wine gives. It is great to know that excessive alcohol intake can be harmful. As much as we want to have those benefits, binge drinking may result in negative health outcomes. In fact, thousands of people die every year because of excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages. 

Health-related concerns about excessive alcohol drinking include increased risk of certain cancers, diabetes, heart problems, liver diseases, and pancreatic diseases. So how much is enough? Daily intake of wine with the associated health benefits are 1 glass of wine for women and 2 glasses for men.