The Health Benefits of Red Wine (Just in time for the Holidays!)

Red wine has been a staple food of humans for centuries.  In ancient Greece it was commonly recommended to help fight off infections.  It shows up in the Bible.  Its health giving properties are well documented throughout human history and modern research has continued to give us more reasons that moderate (1-2 glasses of red wine a day) consumption is good for human health.  While this is certainly good news for those of us who choose to enjoy a glass of red wine it is important to note the word moderation.  Drinking more than 1-2 glasses a day of any alcoholic beverage is likely to cause damage over the long run.  So, what is so great about red wine?

                                                                                                                                    

Red wine has been shown too…

-increase good cholesterol and decrease bad cholesterol, thereby decreasing the rates of heart disease

-Inhibit the development of fat cells

-decrease the rate of colds by 44% in a Spanish study

-has a protective effect on the liver

-protect against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

-prevent muscle wasting and improve recovery from strenuous physical activity

 

It appears that most of the benefits of red wine consumption come from its high levels of antioxidants, flavonoids and resveratrol.  These compounds found in the skins of the grapes used to make the wines have a protective effect on the body and help reduce inflammation and limit free radical damage to cells.  This might explain the numerous benefits listed above as well as the exploding body of research showing the health benefits of red wine. 

 

Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon tend to have the highest nutrient levels.  This is because the thin skins of these grapes react quickly when the grapes experience environmental stress such as invading fungi or other organisms that trigger the grapes to produce resveratrol and other compounds that act as nutrients in the human body.  Don’t worry the fungi and other organisms are killed before the wine is made!  While no single food or drink can replace the health benefits of daily exercise, a balanced diet and a generally healthy life style moderate red wine consumption can certainly be a positive addition to you diet if you consume alcoholic beverages.