Is Drinking Red Wine Good for you?

Alcohol is the Goldilocks of the nutrition world - too much can be destructive to your health, and too little may hold you back from some of the benefits.

This sentiment from the Time article rightly describes how it is vital to consume just the right amount of alcohol. An excess can lead to raised blood pressure and increase your risk of developing several kinds of cancer. Too little of it can hold you back from enjoying the benefits moderate drinkers enjoy, like a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, mortality and type-2 diabetes.

It is the same with red wine, which is like any other form of alcohol and imbibing too much of it is not good for your health.

Is red wine good for you?

Yes, according to this study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. How much red wine is good for you, you ask? Well, the good news is that for the best results, you don’t have to drink much wine at all. In fact, a glass or two is more than enough to keep your heart happy.

Moderation is the key

It most certainly is. Wine, like all alcohol, is a mind-altering substance when abused. Be sure to keep tabs on your intake and adhere to the one or two glasses per day maximum.

What is red wine good for?

It’s long been believed that small amounts of red wine were good for your heart. This has now been proven. The alcohol content and the antioxidants in it can reduce your risk of coronary artery disease and, therefore, heart attacks.

Antioxidants increase your ‘good’ cholesterol levels (yes, there is such a thing) and impede the build-up of ‘bad’ cholesterol. And red wine antioxidants called polyphenols might well be the reason; or at least one polyphenol called resveratrol.

Find out what types of red wines are “good” for you in this article.

Resveratrol may be the key

Resveratrol – try saying that after a few glasses – is considered to be the critical red wine ingredient. Many experts believe resveratrol can help to minimise blood vessel damage, reduce blood clots and keep all that harmful LDL bad cholesterol at bay.

Others consider this to be complete nonsense. Yet, while more studies are required to completely uncork the truth, the general consensus seems to be in favour.

Can red wine help with diabetes?

Yes, quite possibly. While the jury is still out, evidence is accumulating to support this strange possibility. According to the American Diabetes Association, a small amount of red wine can actually lower your blood sugar levels for 24 hours.

This finding should still be viewed with caution. If you’re diabetic and intend to indulge, experts suggest you check your blood sugar before, during and after very moderate consumption.  

 How many calories are in a glass of red wine?

Red wine has calories, primarily in the form of alcohol. While the good news is that most red wines are low carb, the bad news is that drinking wine tricks your brain into thinking you are hungry.

If you are trying to stay slim, ensure you are monitoring your serving size. A regular glass of wine is about 5 ounces (about 148 ml) and contains different amounts of calories, depending on the wine type. According to this WebMD article about ‘How many calories are in your wine,’ a glass of pinot noir, adds up to 121 calories, while a Burgundy has 127 calories.

The key to drinking is, as previously mentioned, moderation. That said, if you currently don’t drink, don’t start; especially if there is a history of alcohol issues in your family. There are other ways to look after your heart and overall health.

Conscious about maintaining and promoting good health and nutrition options and finding out more about those other ways to look after your health? Our 10967NAT Diploma of Nutrition course could be perfect for you! Call us on 1300 616 180 and speak to one of our Careers Advisors for more information.