Wine has been used as a leisure drink for thousands of years and the health benefits of wine have been proven since ancient times. Over the years, there are numerous scientific journals and research studies conducted by medical professionals in different parts of the world. Despite possible benefits that one can get out of drinking wine, health professionals recommend drinking it in moderation.
This article will explain wine nutrition and why drinking a glass every day can provide several benefits for health.
1. Antioxidant Content in Wine
There are myriad food and beverages that are rich in antioxidants and it is good to know that wine is one of them. Antioxidants are the best weapon to fight oxidative stress caused by the accumulation of too much free radical in the body. This oxidative stress affects the cells and can lead to chronic inflammation which is the common symptom of diseases.
Wines are made up of grapes which are known for their high level of polyphenols which is a type of powerful antioxidant. Red wine benefits are higher compared to white grapes because of their red pigment. This is the reason why drinking red wine can offer more antioxidants in comparison to white wine.
A study conducted in 40 adults that consumes 400 ml of red wine a day has increased antioxidant markers. Also, consuming red wine has been linked to a decreased risk of developing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Helps in Reducing Risk of Inflammation
Anti-inflammatory properties of foods are essential to overall human health and that makes a wine good for you. Having chronic inflammation can augment the risk of diseases like cancers, diabetes, heart diseases, and autoimmune disorders. There are many ways on how to avoid chronic inflammation through a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and reduced stress.
It is good to know that the earth is blessed with natural ways to combat inflammation by means of consuming foods with antioxidants. Several studies found that resveratrol in wine is effective in reducing inflammation. Another research proved the health benefits of wine in 4,461 adult participants by drinking in moderation may decrease the inflammatory response.
It is a self-reported study of their alcohol intake and they reported 40 grams of wine intake per day and it resulted in lesser inflammation compared to those who do not consume wine.
A larger study in 2,900 women resulted in reduced inflammation after consuming one glass of wine daily compared to women who avoid drinking alcohol. Most of these researchers have promising data on wine benefits however; further data are needed to deeply understand the relation of wine in reduced inflammation.
3. Helps in Protecting the Heart from Diseases
Polyphenols are also linked to heart health. There are studies link to reduce the rate of developing heart diseases to those people who consume wine in moderation. Some researches suggest that daily consumption of red wine can lower blood pressure and in effect reduce the risk of developing heart diseases. However, some studies also recorded no significant health benefits of wine to people with existing heart problems.
There is also a possibility of interaction with blood pressure medication that may interfere with the drug’s ability to lower down blood pressure. If you are a healthy individual with no pre-existing heart condition then that makes a wine good for you, but it may have a different negative effect on patients with a heart condition. Health professionals recommend a moderate intake of wine whether it is good for bad for heart health.
4. Other Potential Benefits of Wine
Consumption of wine in moderation can offer some wine nutrition for mental health. Some observational studies found out that drinking wine occasionally may prevent depression. However, excessive drinking of alcohol can lead to alcoholism giving the opposite effect. There is another similar study linked to wine in longevity and increase quality of life because of its antioxidant content from processed grapes.
The wine benefits the digestive system by promoting a healthy gut. Some recent studies linked red wine to the production of healthy bacteria in the gut that is known to reduce metabolic syndrome markers in obese individuals.
5. Potential Side Effects
Too much drinking of wine can lead to the development of several diseases such as diabetes, liver problems, cancers, heart diseases, and pancreatic diseases. Also, it is the leading cause of unintentional injuries or accidents.
