Is red wine good for you?

Answer 1

A glass of red wine a day increases good cholesterol and lowers levels of a blood-clotting chemical.

Research at the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Copenhagen, Denmark, shows that a daily glass of red wine for four weeks increases HDL or good cholesterol by up to 16%, and reduces the amount of the clotting compound fibrinogen by up to 15%.

And the research shows that it's the alcohol in the wine that provides the beneficial effects. No similar effects were found among people taking the same amount of red grape extract.

Although red wine has been linked to health benefits, it's not been known how the effects are achieved. Antioxidants and other non-alcoholic compounds have been suggested, but the new research points to alcohol.


"Moderate red wine consumption for four weeks is associated with desirable changes in HDL and fibrinogen compared with drinking water with or without red grape extract.

"The impact of wine on the cardiovascular risk factors thus seems primarily explained by an alcoholic effect," say the researchers.

Other research has shown that while red wine may be protective, other forms of alcohol are not.

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Drinking wine, but not beer or spirits, keeps women's hearts beating healthily, finds new research.

Writing in the March issue of Heart (91, pp314-318), Swedish researchers say that they may have found a possible explanation for the drink's benefits.

Much of the research on the potential health benefits of alcohol has been done on men, and it is still not clear exactly why moderate amounts of wine seems to be good for heart health.

The team from the Karolinska institute and other Stockholm-based centres studied 102 women under the age of 75, all of whom had survived a heart attack or heart surgery for blocked arteries. A year later, participants were asked to record their alcohol intake for one week.

After at least a year, a heart tracing (ECG) was taken over 24 hours during routine activities in all the participants, to test heart rate variability (HRV).

HRV measures the changes in time intervals between the beats of the heart. Decreased variability has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease and death.

HRV was highest in women who drank 5 or more grams of alcohol a day, equivalent to more than half a standard unit, and lowest in those who drank no alcohol at all.

But further analysis showed that the type of alcohol consumed was important.

HRV was highest among women who drank wine, even after taking account of other influential factors, such as age, weight, and smoking habit. Beer and spirits had little impact on HRV.

The favourable effects on HRV may be one of the reasons why wine protects heart health, suggest the authors.

Answer 2

Red Wine

Answer 3

Yes, because there's antioxidants in the skins, and during the wine making process for red wines, these goodies are extracted from the skins and the grape seeds as the large steel vats are rotated every once in a while (which ultimately forms the 'red' color.) Red wine also promotes blood flow so it does help with your cholesterol levels.

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Some good answers here - good point by Delora Gloria on not drinking alcohol while pregnant.. and Spaghetti MY's answer on moderation.

Some people on here are smarter than I think.. lol

Answer 4

Drinking wine for good health seems to be getting all the press instead of healthier alternatives, probably because it's an intoxicating beverage.

However, there have been studies supporting intake of nonalcoholic beverages such as grape juice, cranberry juice, or tea with lower incidence of cancer, heart disease, and other diseases.

Support for moderate consumption of wine, 1-2 glasses, and a decrease in coronary heart disease first came to public attention via the "60 Minutes" report on the "French Paradox" (www.cbsnews.com). The French had a lower incidence of coronary heart disease despite their diet high in fat. One possible reason given for the low rate of coronary heart disease in France was the French habit of drinking wine with meals. Antioxidants such as flavonoids or resveratrol are in grapes. Resveratrol lowers the "bad" LDL cholesterol, but elevates the "good" HDL cholesterol levels.

However, University of Pennsylvania researchers found smaller food portions may explain the 'French Paradox' of rich cuisine and slender population. The researchers noted that food portions are significantly smaller in French restaurants and supermarkets than in their American counterparts (see www.upenn.edu).

Beverages High in Resveratrol

Red wines have a higher level of resveratrol than white wines. In particular, the red wine, pinot noir, has about twice as much as other reds.

Answer 5

It really depends. Some people, such as those with cirhhosis of the liver, should never ever drink alcohol. Children and pregnant or nursing women should never drink alcohol.

Some studies have found that about two tablespoons of red wine daily has helped with certain health problems. The anti-oxidant effect is also found in broccolli, so you don't have to drink to get it.

I find it very nice in much larger amounts, but can find no health justification for it.

Answer 6

Any red wine is good for your health if you drink it in moderation.
Usually, about 2 med. glasses of red wine a day is sufficient.
It circulates your blood better and strengthens your heart and
also helps in the food digestion in your stomach. It has antioxidants properties which lowers the 'bad' LDL cholesterol
and increases the 'good' HDL cholesterol in your body.
So, cheers and let's drink up the good wine!

Answer 7

I met a young man and his wife who were, at the time, 101 and 98 years old, their children were in their 70's. He was on no medication and she had eye drops for glacoma, that was it. They went to the doctor once every 6 months because their kids made them go... :)

They both were Italian and drank one glass of red wine every day, no matter what, and both said it was the way to go, the secret to their success. How do you argue with someone who's that old and healthy, living at home, no medication, and perfectly mentally alert? Gotta be something to it!

(And it goes good with a steak.... :)

Answer 8

a little of what you like is always good for you :-) red wine is meant to be good for you, in moderation, because to make it red they use the skin of the grape as well as the flesh. the skin contains stuff that is meant to be good for your heart and blood presure.

Answer 9

I was told that red wine is good for people that has low blood & high bllod pressure.

Ps: it is extra tastey when you add cranberry juice in it

Answer 10

A glass or two with dinner aids the digestion and may be good in other ways as well... Ask a dietician or doctor... Or, just research it a bit...