Is Red Wine Good For You?

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Wouldn’t it be nice if that glass of red wine was actually good for you? Discover the health benefits of red wine. Cheers!

Is Red Wine Really Good For Your Health?

Is there anything more relaxing than a nice glass of red wine at the end of a long, stressful day? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that evening glass of red wine was beneficial for your health? As it turns out, there are quite a few health benefits associated with drinking red wine. So, grab a glass and let’s talk about a few of them here.

As you probably know red wine is made by crushing and fermenting whole dark-colored grapes. Some types of red wine that you may be familiar with are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Pinot Noir. Typically red wine has a 12 to 15 % alcohol content by volume. It is also full of antioxidants and that may play a large part in the health benefits of drinking this beautiful wine.

How Is Red Wine Good For You?

May Decrease the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

If you have wondered if red wine is good for your heart, you will be happy to read this. Drinking a small to moderate amount of red wine regularly can help to reduce your risks of heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. Red wine helps to dilate the arteries and increase blood flow which can reduce the risk of blood clots that can block the arteries and cause strokes and other heart damage. Be sure to not skim over the keywords here, small to moderate.

May Decrease Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Drinking red wine has also been found to decrease blood pressure and can help to reduce bad (LDL) cholesterol levels by as much as 50%. Red wine also helps to increase the levels of good cholesterol (HDL). It may also prevent bad cholesterol from damaging the lining of the arteries and allows the good cholesterol to move the bad cholesterol out of the bloodstream before it can cause problems.

May Reduce the Risk of Some Cancers

Multiple studies have indicated that drinking red wine may decrease the risk of certain cancers. These cancers include colon, ovarian, breast, liver, and prostate cancer. In some cases, cancer risks were reduced by over 50%. Remember to drink in moderation.

May Reduce Insulin Resistance & Type 2 Diabetes

Drinking a moderate amount of red wine has been proven to help even those already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes reduce their insulin resistance. It has been said that it can improve blood sugar following meals, and improved fasting blood sugars the following morning.

Decreases Acne

Drinking red wine can also be good for your skin. Studies have shown that the compound resveratrol found in red wine, inhibits bacterial growth on skin longer than benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide also works much better at preventing acne when it is combined with the resevratrol in red wine.

Boosts your Immune System

The flavonoids, a type of phytonutrient, found in red wine may help to boost the immune system and improve gut health. They have also been known to help ward off viral infections like the cold and flu.

As you can see there are many health benefits associated with the moderate consumption of red wine, and new studies are being conducted all of the time to find even more beneficial effects. However, overindulging in red wine can invalidate all of the beneficial health effects and may even cause health problems for some people. Just like with most things in life, moderation is the key. As long as you aren’t overdoing it though, you should sit back and enjoy that glass of wine, it’s for your health after all!