Health benefits Of Wine: - Red wine

If the health benefits of wine have been a consolation to your enjoying a glass or two then the good news is that you can now add 'keeping weight off' to the list.

Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston conducted a study comparing weight gain in women who drank soft drinks and those who drank red wine (in moderation) put on the least weight.

However, if you're watching your weight (or trying to lose weight), be alert to the empty calories of wine, even though its calorie count is less than most other alcoholic drinks and healthier than those in carbonated beverages like colas. Drink in moderation (one or two glasses daily), and you should be fine.

As Ernest Hemingway once put it, " Wine is the most civilised thing in the world." This may be true or not depending on you experiences, but wine is a reliable and rich source of biologically active phytochemicals which are beneficial to your health. Again it goes without saying that the health benefits of wine should be taken in moderation! Listed below are reasons to appease your conscience and enjoy a civilised glass of wine.

The skins of grapes contain polyphenols which are powerful anti-oxidant. Certain polyphenols are responsible for the deep purple colour of grapes used for red wine. These phytonutrients are what offer the health benefits of red wine.

Listed Health Benefits of Wine

• Moderate amounts of red wine can raise your 'good' cholesterol (HDL) and thins your blood.
• The non-alcoholic phytochemicals in wine, like flavanoids and resveratrol, act as antioxidants and prevents 'free radicals' from causing cellular damage to your body.
• Reserveratrol, found in grape skins and seeds, increases HDL cholesterol and prevents blood clotting.
• Flavonoids, on the other hand, have antioxidant properties helping prevent blood clots and plaque formation in the arteries. Therefore, it helps prevent atherosclerosis (which is the gradual build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries and is the leading contributor to coronary heart disease and fatal heart attacks).
• Resveratrol can also aid us in the prevention of age-related disorders, like neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
• Smoking significantly impairs vessels' natural ability to vasodilate. Red wine decreases the harmful effects of smoking on the endothelium (the layer of cells that provide a friction reducing lining in lymph vessels, blood vessels and the heart).
• Excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for hypertension. However, there is evidence of good effects of red wine on blood pressure. 2 glasses of red wine, taken with a meal, lowers post-meal pressure in hypertensive patients.
• According to a studies, red wine does not suppress the immune system like other alcoholic beverages.
• A glass of red wine can have a calming effect on the mind and body. It helps the body relax and unwind and can help the mental transition between work and relaxation.

Should Wine Be Part of My Detox?

Whether or not wine should be part of your detox depends on your individual goals and health needs. If you’re trying to detox from alcohol, it is best to avoid all alcoholic beverages, including wine. So, no, wine should not be part of a detox regimen. However, if you are simply looking for ways to improve your overall health and wellbeing, then moderate consumption of red wine may be beneficial as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Remember that alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on the liver, which is the organ responsible for removing toxins from the body. If you're doing a short term, detox program, it's better to avoid alcohol and opt for hydration with water or other non-alcoholic beverages.

Dangers and Warnings To Weigh Up Against The Health Benefits of Wine

The other side of the coin is that wine contains alcohol which is a potent natural chemical compound. It is well-known to be mood-altering, damaging to liver and is associated with oxidative damage. I know many a person who sincerely wishes their loved ones got their "health benefits" from some other source.

The influence of wine on health should not be seen in isolation, but as part of a healthy, enjoyable lifestyle. People should be constantly aware of the harm as well as the benefits of red wine. People prone to addiction are those at particular risk of alcohol abuse. As Paracelcus, the father of modern pharmacology, said in the 16th century:
'Whether wine is a nourishment, medicine or poison, is a matter of dosage'

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