Kicking back with a glass of wine after a long day is a fabulous way to de-stress. So a glass of red wine a day could actually keep the doctor away. And there are so many ways you could enjoy it – stir up sangrias or cook up a storm. Here are ten health benefits of red wine that will make you pour a glass –
Red wine
1. Boosts Heart
The levels of good cholesterol can be increased by the antioxidants in red wine. This prevents cholesterol build-up, preventing heart disease. The polyphenols in red wine, especially resveratrol, can protect the linings of the blood vessels in your heart. Resveratrol has been found to reduce blood clots.
2. Helps Fight Diabetes
Drinking red wine can lower your blood sugar for up to 24 hours. But that aside, there is some research that shows how red wine can help diabetics.
As per a recent study, moderate red wine consumption can reduce the risk of heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. But apart from moderation, what diabetics (the ones on medication, especially) must also consider is the time of day when they consume the wine.
3. Prevents Obesity
Research says that resveratrol in red wine can convert the bad fat into calorie-burning brown fat. And diets containing the antioxidant can help combat obesity. Resveratrol enhances the oxidation of dietary fats and prevents the body from getting overloaded. It converts white fat into brown fat (also called beige fat) that burns off as heat – thereby preventing obesity and metabolic dysfunction.
4. Prevents High Blood Pressure And Stroke
The wine protects against artery damage, consequently lowering blood pressure. Also, consuming non-alcoholic red wine can elevate nitric oxide levels in your blood. This is good news as nitric oxide relaxes the walls of the blood vessels, encouraging better blood flow. However, regular exercise and a proper diet are the best options on any given day.
5. Reduces Stress
The compound in red wine stimulates a particular protein that activates certain genes that repair DNA, suppresses the tumor genes, and promotes longevity genes. Basically, what we mean to say is a glass of red wine a day can help you stress less. The best way to achieve this is to have a glass of wine along with your dinner, and not right before sleep – this can have a calming effect on you without disturbing your sleep cycle.
But the stress-relieving effects of red wine are not applicable to pregnant women. Women who are expecting do undergo a lot of stress – and drinking red wine is not the best option to combat it. Alcohol, in any form, can be detrimental to the baby
6. Improves Bone Strength
One or two glasses of wine can work as good as drugs to protect older women from thinning bones. Moderate alcohol intake post menopause was found to maintain bone strength in the later years. More interestingly, the imbalance between the dissolving of an old bone and production of a new bone is what causes osteoporosis in older women – and alcohol, when consumed in moderation, remedies this imbalance.
7. May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s
Resveratrol in red wine was found to repair the leaky blood-brain barriers, allowing the blood from the body to enter the brain. This repair slows down the advancement of cognitive issues in Alzheimer’s patients.
Alzheimer’s patients face further problems by nervous tissue inflammation, which is often caused by the secretion of harmful immune molecules from the body into the brain. Resveratrol shuts out these immune molecules, which would otherwise cause inflammation and destroy neurons.
8. Improves Sleep
The grapes red wine is made of are rich in melatonin, the very same compound that induces sleep in humans. This hormone is produced in our brain by the pineal gland. And almost grapes used to produce red wine contain more melatonin than our blood. According to scientists, the melatonin content in red wine could be high enough to help us sleep.
9. Prevents Tooth Decay
Studies have revealed that red wine can protect your teeth by preventing cavities. The wine can help remove bacteria from the teeth, which otherwise produce acid that damages the teeth over time.
But this could be a trade-off between the pros and cons – a lowered risk of cavities vs. stained teeth and the extra calories from alcohol. In moderation, however, you can enjoy the benefits.
The bacteria red wine removes is streptococcus, which is routinely found in dental cavities. The polyphenols in red wine can help remove these bacteria.
10. Promotes Thick Hair
Drinking red wine is believed to improve circulation, ensuring adequate blood circulation to the scalp. This can reduce hair loss.
You can also rinse your hair with red wine. Post shampooing and using a conditioner and washing your hair, you can rinse with red wine.
Resveratrol in red wine is also believed to reduce inflammation and the formation of dead cells on your scalp, thereby promoting hair growth and making it thicker.
Red wine is great and offers superb benefits. But only if you take it in moderation. Keep that in mind, and you will be happy. Also, tell us how this post has helped you. Do comment below.