The Health Benefits Of Drinking Red Wine

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The Italians have a saying: “One barrel of wine can work more miracles than a church full of saints.” While this statement may be difficult to prove, studies suggest it could possibly be true. For a number of years, scientists have been paying a lot of attention to the health benefits of drinking red wine. What are some of the potential secrets to red wine’s miracle cure?

Many people have heard that a Mediterranean influenced diet is beneficial to your health. Why? The theory is that the high antioxidant levels contained in a diet full of fruit and vegetables extinguishes the free radicals and other oxidants which damage your cells and tissues. Similarly, red wine contains antioxidant chemicals that have also been credited with a lowered risk of heart disease. Antioxidants act as a biological “army” to protect the lining of your blood vessels from developing the dangerous fatty plaque that causes atherosclerosis. This plaque is developed from damaged (oxidized) fat molecules that begin collecting within the lining of the blood vessels. Antioxidants sacrifice themselves by taking the place of the tissue and cells so that they are not damaged and can thus continue with their regular metabolism.

Red wine is rich in a class of compounds known as polyphenols, which can also be found in teas, chocolate, and fruit. These compounds are involved in the quality of the wine because they influence the color, bitterness, astringency, and chemical stability. Polyphenols have been associated with numerous cardiovascular benefits: they reduce blood clots, relax blood vessels and promote healthy cholesterol metabolism.

In one clinical study, volunteers were asked to drink 12 ounces of red wine daily for two weeks. At the end of the study, researchers concluded that a moderate daily intake of red wine was associated with a slight increase in HDL cholesterol levels as well as an increase in chemicals that act as antioxidants in the blood. Another research study determined that moderate wine drinkers have lower incident of hypertension related mortality.

In a third notable study, researchers took all of the information above one step further and recruited 15 volunteers with coronary artery disease. They asked volunteers to drink 8.5 ounces of red wine everyday for the first two weeks, and then switch to 8.5 ounces of non-alcoholic wine for the next two weeks. Results of the study showed improved blood vessel functioning after the two weeks of drinking the alcoholic red wine.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis tested a variety of wines to determine which ones had the highest amount of polyphenolic compounds. Results of the tests indicated that Cabernet Sauvignon was at the top of the list, with Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir following closely behind.

So how much wine do you need to drink before you can reap these benefits? If a 4-ounce glass is equal to 1 serving of red wine, men should drink 2 servings per day, while women only need 1.

There are strong efforts in the scientific community to demonstrate that a moderate intake of red wine is beneficial to your health. So in staying with the Italian tradition, raise your glass and “Salute a cent’anno” (Health for 100 years)!