Real Health Benefits of Wine?

Every wine drinker wants to know: are there really any health benefits of wine drinking?

Well, there's an old German proverb that goes: “There are more old wine drinkers than old doctors.”

If you believe the wisdom of such an old adage - it must be true!

And what could be better news for us that love to kick back with our favorite jazz album and our wine glass filled up with a delicious Cabernet, Shiraz, Zinfandel, or Chianti?

Getting anti-aging benefits from drinking alcohol? Sounds scandalous!

But this is not anything new. The belief in the healing property of wine goes back centuries.

Actually, it goes back millennia!

Even the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato (429–347 B.C.E.), believed it to be true. He wrote,

"No thing more excellent nor more valuable than wine was ever granted mankind by God."

Click here for more great wine sayings!

Throughout history, wine has been credited with almost mystical healing powers.

It is only since the 1990s that research has actually provided evidence to back up these fantastically positive claims.

Medical research is increasingly becoming aware of the links between wine drinkers and physical well being.

So let's answer these questions:

• What are the health benefits of wine?
• Who benefits?
• What is the property of wine that allows this to happen?
• What limitations exist in the correlation between good health and wine drinking?

What Are The Specific Health Benefits of Wine?

Research clearly indicates that there is something present in red wine (and red grape juice) possessing medical properties.

Studies in Denmark and the United States have indicated that people who drink wine moderately are subject to fewer heart attacks.

Simply stated, drinking wine in moderation (1-2 glasses daily) results in cardiovascular health! Not only that - but new studies are digging deeper to see if the same health benefits from moderate wine drinking to the heart also holds true for the kidneys. So far, findings are positive! 

Wine is also perceived as good for the digestive system.

It acts as an aid for stomach issues. Also included among the health benefits for drinking wine are:

• Reduced hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Improved bone density
• Stronger immune system
• Relaxed sensations
  
• Reduced vision loss due to aging

Vinotherapy

Other health benefits of wine do not involve the actual drinking of the wine.

It involves cosmetic treatments, massages, soaks and wraps using grape-seed extracts.

This is called vinotherapy.

Invented in 1995, its founder, Mathilde Cathiard Thomas, felt the external application of grape seeds or a warm water soak using red wine, oils and herbs would prove to be effective for the skin.

Today you can find many types of creams, oils, and supplements that take advantage of red wines health benefits. 

What Produces These Health Benefits of Wine?

The reason for such positive effects lies in the composition of wine.

Red wine contains antioxidants.

These act to inhibit the amount of bad (LDL) cholesterol and increase the amount of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL or good cholesterol).

The intent is a balance or harmony.

Furthermore, specific phenolic or antioxidant compounds such as phytoestrogen, resveratrol, and quercitin act to prevent damage to vascular tissues and the heart.

For more information see our article on Resveratrol

Alcohol in many forms acts to aid in the prevention of red blood cells clotting.

Blood clots are a major cause of strokes and heart attacks.

Plus, moderate drinking of red wine has also been linked to a reduction in cancer.

Click here for an article on new research on how red wine reduces breast cancer....

What Limitations Exist?

Like just about everything else in life, the benefits of drinking wine do have limits.

While scientific research does highlight positive effects of wine consumption, there are many other factors that can affect wine's long term effectiveness on your health.

These relate to the average amount and frequency of wine consumption, general health condition, emotional stability, diet, lifestyle, and other factors.

Consider the following as representative of the provisos.

• The effects are limited to those who are moderate drinkers not heavy or light
• The impact depends on other factors such as general health and the medications an individual is on
• Drinking is counterproductive in pregnancy - in other words - do not drink during pregnancy!!
  
• Drinking red wine (excessively, that is) can increase weight, as calories per glass of wine can range from 90 to 135
• Those with allergies need watch what they drink. People can be allergic to wine. The result is a massive headache, upset or cramping stomach, or symptoms similar to those of a severe hangover.
• Excess and prolonged alcohol intake has been proven to decrease liver health and that of other internal organs.
  

Wine And Health

As we've just seen, research does indicate that wine provides health benefits.

In fact, the benefits of drinking red wine can range from improved cardiovascular health to a stronger immune system.

Yet, drinking wine is not an automatic pass to good health. There are certain stipulations consumers must follow.

If they do so, good health will be closely aligned to a good red wine!

Here's to your next glass of health-boosting red wine...cheers!

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