Is Red Wine Actually Good For You?
People always say that a glass of red wine is good for you, but everything I’ve learned has led me to believe that alcohol is NOT good for you. So, is red wine actually good for you?
And what effects does it have on your health?
Let’s find out.
Is the Red Wine Actually Good for You – The Truth
Red wine is actually made from a variety of dark grapes; the color of a young wine is violet while a mature one is brick red. You can get any shade of color in between.
The theory that red wine is actually good for you originated in the 1980’s when the catchphrase “The French Paradox” first appeared.
It was an attempt to rationalize the fact that the French appeared to have low levels of coronary heart issues, despite having diets high in saturated fat and red wine.
People linked the low heart disease of the French with their high red wine intake.
Resveratrol – A Powerful Antioxidant (I Knew It!)
Red wine is full of a substance called resveratrol. Resveratrol is actually classed as a polyphenol, which is a powerful antioxidant.
The problem is that no one fully understands how this antioxidant benefits your health.
This is why there are conflicting opinions regarding red wine and health.
It is believed that resveratrol helps prevent damage to your blood vessels. This damage can be caused by shock or age-related degeneration.
Also, resveratrol helps reduce “bad” cholesterol (Low-Density Lipoproteins) in your body. At the same time, it can increase good cholesterol (High-Density Lipoproteins).
There are many different studies about whether or not the red wine is good for you, with conflicting results.
But, the overriding consensus is that red wine is good for you; provided you drink it in moderation.
Understanding Resveratrol
This valuable compound is actually present in the skin of grapes. This means it is possible for you to add resveratrol into your diet just by eating grapes.
While this will work, it will not add as concentrated a dose of this antioxidant.
Creating red wine requires the grapes to ferment for an extended period of time. It is this fermentation that allows the resveratrol to transfer into the grape juice, which becomes your delicious wine.
White wine does not ferment for as long so doesn’t have as much resveratrol.
You could try eating peanuts, blueberries or even cranberries to add resveratrol to your diet.
However, there is not yet any research that confirms these food sources are as rich in resveratrol or as effective.
Moderation!
A glass of your favorite red is beneficial; you don’t need to feel guilty. Constantly feeling guilty about your diet really doesn’t help.
But too much alcohol can lead to an addiction and excess stress on your body and liver.
Research shows drinking too much alcohol is directly linked with liver disease and some cancers.
Also, remember that the average glass of red wine has 85 calories.
I know it sounds like a low number, but a few glasses are enough to add extra calories that can cause you to gain weight, or prevent you from losing weight.
And, if you want to know your daily calorie intake and don’t know how, this blog post may help you.
So, feel good knowing that you can enjoy your glass of red wine, but remember to keep it in moderation.
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Rachael is an Australian born certified personal trainer and nutritionist who holds a Bachelor degree in Science.
After struggling for years to find an exercise and diet program that is tailored to women striving for lean and toned body with no bulk she designed her Lean Legs Program. This program is tailored to each body type and focused on helping women get toned but feminine bodies, without getting bulky.
Her mission is to empower women and help them stay in shape in a healthy and balanced way.