Isn’t it great when something you like is good for you for a change? Read on for some of the health benefits of wine drinking.
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While excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to health problems, more and more possible health benefits of moderate wine consumption have been coming to the light. In fact, it has been suggested that regular moderate consumption of wine can have amazing health benefits over time.
Here are just some of the health benefits that have been found through studies of wine consumption:
- Improved heart health including stroke prevention by keeping blood vessels clearer,
- Lower risk of heart attacks,
- Cancer prevention,
- Slower progression of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Red or White?
There has been some debate about the health benefits of red wine versus white wine. It seems that both types of wine can be equally beneficial to your health.
Both red and white wines contain phytochemicals, plant based chemical compounds. Phytochemicals act as antioxidants, keeping free radicals from causing cellular damage. Red and white wines have different types of phytochemicals that may have different health benefits for consumers.
Resveratol
Resveratol is a phytochemical found in both red and white wines, but has a higher concentration in red wines. There are many studies currently testing this antioxidant to determine its exact health benefits. It is believed that resveratrol has many cardiovascular health benefits and may be a possible cancer preventative. There are many other benefits that resveratrol is thought to help with and studies are on-going to find out all that we can about its potential.
To get the maximum benefits of resveratrol, you can also try a dietary supplement as the amount of resveratrol in red wine is significant, but not quite enough to get the most out of the phytochemical’s healing qualities. It’s also helpful to take a supplement if you don’t love the taste of wine or prefer not to get tipsy too often (and / or are concerned about the calories in wine) but want the resveratrol benefits.
Consume Carefully
Alcohol consumption is not a replacement for medical advice, of course, and many women are concerned about the caloric value of regular wine drinking. For those that like to enjoy the occasional glass, it is helpful to know that there are benefits, though, isn’t it?
