Are There Health Benefits in Wine?
It’s often said that we should always be concerned regarding our health. Exercise and healthy eating should always be on our minds. It’s also been said that drinking wine can be healthy for many people. Who knew! However, there are a few things we should know before we overindulge in multiple glasses of wine.
Although we may have heard that wine is good for you, you may also have heard that you shouldn’t be drinking too much. If science says we should open up a bottle of red, who are we to argue with science? With that in mind, here are some of the reasons you may want to pick up a glass or a bottle to enjoy.
The health benefits of red wine have been debated for a number of years. Many people believe that a glass of red wine a day is a beneficial part of a healthy diet, while other people may think wine is somewhat overrated with regard to its health benefits. Studies have repeatedly shown that drinking red wine moderately seems to lower the risk of several diseases, including heart disease. However, there sometimes seems to be a discretion between moderate and excessive intake.
There has been quite a number of studies that have shown that moderate amounts of all types of alcohol can benefit the heart, not just the alcohol found in red wine. However, for a number of years, drinking red wine in moderation has been considered as heart-healthy. The alcohol and certain ingredients in red wine, called antioxidants, are considered a positive way to help prevent coronary artery disease, which is the condition that leads to heart attacks.
Any relation between red wine and having fewer heart attacks cannot be confirmed, but some benefit may be that antioxidants in red wine tend to increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is considered the “good” cholesterol and therefore can protect against cholesterol buildup.
The antioxidants in red wine are called polyphenols and these may also help protect the lining of blood vessels within the heart. A polyphenol antioxidant called resveratrol is one ingredient in red wine which has received some notice for its health benefits.
Resveratrol in red wine originates from the skin of grapes used to make wine. Since red wine is fermented with grape skins longer than the fermentation of white wine, red wine tends to contain more resveratrol. However, eating grapes or drinking grape juice may be a way to get resveratrol without drinking alcohol, but where’s the fun in that?
Regardless of the health benefits, red wine may have for our hearts and health, it’s important to drink it in moderation. Sometimes we do get carried away with the amount we drink, so if you have to travel after consuming alcohol, it’s good to know our friends at Not Your Child Corp have your backs.
They offer breathalyzers, including handheld and single-use, which are simple to use and can easily be taken with you wherever you go. It’s good to enjoy the wine, just ensure you’re safe and legal to drive afterward. And as they say at Not Your Child Corp; “When you feel different, you drive different. Drive Sober”.
Scott Marshall has spent over 30 years promoting road safety in many jurisdictions. He has been a road safety journalist since 2005. Scott was also an on-air judge on the Discovery Network’s Canada’s Worst Driver during their first 3 seasons on the air. Not YourChildCorp. is proud to have Scott @Safedriver as a frequent contributor, his insights are irreplaceable.