Red Wine- GOOD OR BAD?

For some time, the health advantages of red wine have been studied and debated as well. While some people still believe that one glass of wine each day is an important factor for a healthy diet, others think wine is just overrated. Many studies have reported that moderate red wine consumption can lower the risk of numerous diseases such as heart disease. But, what one should always keep in mind is that there is a fine line between moderate & excessive intake. Christmas is round the corner and I know that you all are eagerly waiting for those tasty plum cakes as well as “lots & lots of red wine”. So, for a healthy Christmas, continue reading to know everything about red wine & also its health effects.

Do you Know How Red Wine is Made?

Red wine is basically made by crushing & fermenting whole grapes that are dark in color. You can find many types of red wine– in different tastes as well as color. Some of the common varieties that you may know are Zinfandel, Pinot noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Merlot. The alcohol content in these wines normally ranges from 12 to 15 percent. Well, drinking a moderate amount of red wine has been reported to have certain health benefits due to the high content of powerful antioxidants.

What is Wine Good for?

We all are aware that grapes are rich in numerous antioxidants, including proanthocyanidins, epicatechin, resveratrol, and catechin All of these antioxidants, particularly resveratrol & proanthocyanidins promotes many health benefits for our body. Proanthocyanidins can cut down oxidative damage in our body and also help to prevent cancer and even heart disease. Resveratrol is also present in grape skin, which also has many health benefits, such as fighting inflammation, blood clotting and cutting down the risk of heart disease as well as cancer. Plus, resveratrol can also help test animals live longer.

But, the resveratrol content of red wine is lower. One would have to drink several bottles a day to imbibe the resveratrol benefits. And if you want to drink wine just to have resveratrol benefits, then you should acquire it from a supplement. A better idea, isn’t it? It is always recommended to consume a small amount of red wine to get more health benefits. People who consume around 150 ml (5 oz) of red wine per day would have about a 32 percent lower risk compared to non-drinkers, whereas, higher intake dramatically boosts the risk of heart disease.

So try to drink a small amount of red wine this Christmas, which will help you to reduce the risk of heart disease. Not only this, but you can also reduce oxidative damage & the oxidation of the “bad” LDL cholesterol by up to 50 percent. There are already many studies that indicate that the population is at a high risk of heart disease, especially the elderly. Furthermore, consuming 1 to 3 glasses of red wine a day and 3 to 4 days of the week can reduce the risk of stroke for middle-aged men.

Why Should You Consume a Moderate Amount of Wine?

The truth seems bitter but you have to understand that red wine has also been linked with numerous other health risks. While consuming a moderate amount of red wine can provide you several health benefits, drinking too much wine can cause harmful health effects.

Red Wine

The devastating effects of wine include:

Alcohol reliance– Drinking wine on a regular basis can become out of control & lead you into alcoholism
Liver cirrhosis- If more than 30 grams of alcohol (about 2 to 3 glasses of wine) is consumed daily, then it increases the risk of liver disease. The end-stage liver disease is called cirrhosis, which is life-threatening my friend!
Increased risk of depression- Most of the heavy drinkers are believed to be at a much higher risk of depression than non-drinkers or moderate
Weight gain- Twice the amount of calories as beer & sugary soft drinks are present in red wine. Excessive drinking can contribute to high-calorie intake as well as result in weight gain.
Increased risk of disease & death- Consuming excessive wine, even only 1 to 3 days a week, can increase the risk of diabetes. High wine consumption has also been linked with an increased risk of premature death.

Despite red wine is linked with several health benefits, but none of them are worthy enough to encourage its consumption. There are many other effective alternatives to enhance your health that do not require you to drink anything that can be harmful!!!