Active Ingredients: Why Wine is So Healthy

Red wine is created by fermenting crushed red grapes.  Those grapes are high in important compounds that protect your health.  It is widely known that grapes contain powerful antioxidants, and those antioxidants are essential for longevity and disease prevention.

Some of the antioxidant plant compounds include resveratrol, tannins, proanthocyanins, epicatechin and catechin.

Oxidation is a natural process that occurs in your body as you age.  Unfortunately this natural process produces free radicals, which are unstable rogue molecules that cause damage to your cells and accelerate aging.  But regular consumption of antioxidants are an effective way to combat free radicals and reduce cellular damage.  In fact, studies have shown that optimal antioxidant activity can actually protect you from serious, life-threatening health conditions.

Top 5 Health Benefits of Red Wine

Here are some of the specific health benefits that might be gained from drinking red wine:

1. Heart Health:  The antioxidants in red wine protect your heart in several ways.  Inflammation is reduced, cholesterol levels are balanced, and oxidative stress on the heart is decreased.  Researchers have found that resveratrol is helpful to reduce blood clots, which in turn reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.  It has been said that red wine actually mimics cardiovascular benefits for your heart.

2. Cancer Risk:  Additional research needs to be completed, but researchers have found that the antioxidant properties in grapes and red wine can be beneficial to reduce the risk of cancer.  Free radicals damage cells, which can potentially lead to cell mutation and cancerous growth.  The antioxidants in red wine reduce free radicals and limit cellular damage, which might help to reduce cancer risk.  Quercetin is a specific antioxidant in grapes listed by the American Cancer Society as an active antioxidant for reducing the risk of cancer.

3. Memory and Brain Function:  Drinking red wine on a regular basis might protect your brain and help you to avoid dementia and memory problems.  Researchers found that 1 to 3 glasses of red wine per day have been connected with a reduction in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

4. Diabetes and Insulin Resistance:  Several research studies have found a connection between red wine consumption and insulin activity within the body.  It is possible that red wine might reduce insulin resistance and also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

5. Weight Management:  One benefit of insulin balancing is that it is easier to manage body weight and prevent weight gain. Piceatonnol is a compound found in red wine that works in a similar way as resveratrol.  This compound helps with weight management by blocking cellular processes that lead to fat development and storage.

Moderation is Key

As you can see, there are a number of reasons why red wine might be beneficial for your health. But, just because red wine has health benefits, doesn’t mean that you should be drinking large amounts of wine on a daily basis.  It’s still alcohol and with any alcohol consumption, moderation is key… too much can cause other health problems.

How Much Wine Should You Drink?

Many of the research studies found that these health benefits were available from as little as 1 or 2 glasses of wine per day.  The best option is to talk with your doctor about recommended consumption based on your individual health situation.  In general, most reputable sources suggest that women should drink one glass a day and men should drink in two glasses of wine per day.

Boost Your Health with Red Wine

Drinking red wine on a regular basis is just one way that you can support your overall health goals.  If you want to reduce the risk of heart disease, support memory and brain function, reduce the risk of cancer, balance insulin levels and manage your weight, then a daily glass of red wine in the evening may be helpful.