People have been producing and drinking wine since antiquity, mainly to enjoy themselves and bond. The benefits of doing so have been well documented. Emerging research continues to suggest that drinking wine in moderation - about a glass per day - offers several benefits to our health.

 

• Vitamins – Minerals: Wine does not contain much in the way of vitamins. It contains small amounts of  Thiamin, Niacin, Riboflavin and  Vitamin K. Trace amounts of minerals are also found in wine such as Calcium, Copper,  Zinc, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese.

 

• Antioxidants: prevent cellular damage caused by inflammation and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a condition caused by an imbalance between antioxidants and unstable molecules called free radicals, which can damage your cells.

 

 

• Polyphenols: are antioxidants that can help prevent cancer, heart disease and assist in lowering cholesterol due to the fact that red wine raises the levels of HDL, or good cholesterol which helps protect your arteries.

 

 

• Resveratrol: is an antioxidant that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces “bad” cholesterol and prevents blood clots. It’s even thought that resveratrol might possibly reduce inflammation and blood clotting as well as provide benefits against type-2 diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

 

• Flavonoids: also known as bioflavonoids, are a natural chemical found in plants. Due to the fermentation process, select enzymes are created that help remove some carcinogens and possibly help inhibit the growth of tumors.

 

• Calories: An average glass of dry wine, depending on the degree of alcohol will vary from 100 calories up to 175 calories. Generally, white wine calories are slightly lower. There is no fat in wine.

 

The French paradox: It is based on the comparatively lower levels heart disease encountered in France, even though they enjoy high levels of saturated fats in their typical French diet. The thought is, it’s due to drinking red wine with meals. It would appear that red wine offers more potential health benefits, due to its naturally higher levels of polyphenols, resveratrol and antioxidants. Those compounds are found in the grape skins, which are more important to the production of red wine, than white wine.

 

Health benefits of wine

 

• May prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol and raising levels of omega 3 fatty acids

 

• May promote longevity. Studies have found that drinking moderate amounts of wine as part of a healthy diet may increase longevity thanks to wine’s high antioxidant content

 

 

• May prevent the onset of type -2 diabetes.

 

• May reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by lowering the oxidative stress.

 

• May promote healthy gut bacteria. Recent studies have even suggested that red wine may promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and help balance gut microbiome, which may improve metabolic syndrome markers in people with obesity

 

• May lower the risk of the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. A Swedish study reported on in 2012 found that properties in red wine can act against the development of rheumatoid arthritis by regulating autoimmune responses.

 

• May prevent cancer by helping inhibit the growth of tumors.

 

• May benefit mental health. An occasional glass of wine may reduce the risk of depression. However, excessive drinking can have the opposite effect.