Health Benefits of Red Wine

We all know alcohol consumption is not good for health, but when it comes to drinking red wine, it is the other way around. Recent studies have concluded that one can reap the health benefits of red wine, if it is consumed in moderate amount.

What makes Red Wine Beneficial to Health?

The important constituents of red wine are polyphenols, flavonoids and resveratrol that contribute immensely in making the red wine useful for health. Flavonoids have antioxidant properties that prevent formation of plaques in arteries. All these constituents are chemical compounds that function like antioxidants and protect your body from diseases.

Red wine is indeed valuable and it is wiser to drink red wine than a glass of beer. Moderate consumption of red wine is an excellent way to stay away from heart disease. Scientific evidence has shown that red wine affects blood pressure and cholesterol levels in a positive way.

Heart Health Benefits of Red Wine

There are no negative effects on the body, if red wine is not consumed excessively. In order to get the health benefits of red wine, ensure that you consume it moderately. Certain compounds in red wine can play a very important role in protecting the heart. Red wine is rich in antioxidants that prevent artery damage. It is a heart-healthy drink that can be enjoyed during evening meals. Red wine can help the heart in the following ways:

• It reduces the "bad" cholesterol (low density lipoprotein).
• Red wine boosts production of high density lipoprotein, also called "good" cholesterol.
• It decreases blood clotting. Doctors often recommend that red wine taken along with dinner is good for heart health.

Other Health Benefits of Red Wine

If you think that red wine is only good for the heart, then you are wrong. In spite of its alcohol content, red wine offers other health benefits, provided you consume it responsibly. Studies have revealed that the substance resveratrol found in the skin of red grapes, can restrict tumor development in cancer patients.

Moderate red wine drinkers have a lower risk of colorectal cancer. Red wine stops abnormal growth of cancerous cells. Melatonin, an important chemical substance contained in red wine, can delay the aging process. People, who regularly drink wine in moderate amounts, also reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Recent findings show that red wine, high in procyanidin content, helps in preventing blood vessels from getting damaged during metabolic processes. Unlike other alcoholic drinks, red wine does not harm the immune system.

However, the ideal consumption is not 7 to 8 glasses of red wine. Scientific studies on the potential benefits of red wine recommend that women should not have more than one drink per day; whereas men can have 2 drinks per day. The word "moderate" is the key to maximize health benefits of red wine. It won't be wrong to conclude that a glass of red wine a day will keep the doctor away. So, if anyone says that red wine isn't good for health, he/she should do a rethink.