Menu
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result

Home > Nutrition > Health Benefits of Drinking Moderate Amount of Red Wine

Health Benefits of Drinking Moderate Amount of Red Wine

October 30, 2020 - Updated on August 11, 2021
6 min read
By Gina Signorelli, MS, RDN, CNSC, IBCLC | Registered Dietitian

In this article:

  • Potential Benefits of Red Wine Consumption
  • Consumption of Red Wine
  • Side Effects of Red Wine Consumption
  • Final Word

Red wine has been widely studied for its effects on health. However, a large fraction of these studies are animal-based, warranting further research.

red wine benefits and risks

Potential Benefits of Red Wine Consumption

The potential health benefits of red wine consumption include the following.

1. Antioxidant in nature

While ethanol has pro-oxidant effects, red wine contains flavonoids, anthocyanins, and catechins that act as antioxidants and help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. (1)

2. Can help prevent aging

red wine consumption may help prevent aging

Resveratrol, a polyphenol present in red wine, is a potential antiaging agent. Moreover, it may help in managing aging symptoms associated with frailty syndrome. (2)

Advertisements

Resveratrol functions by stimulating the longevity genes and restoring collagen. It can also help prevent the age-related decline of cardiovascular function to some extent. (3)

3. Acts as an anti-inflammatory agent

Resveratrol and the other polyphenols in wine can act against pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially in cardiovascular pathologies and cancer. (4)

4. Helps reduce the risk of heart disease

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenols in red wine are particularly cardiovascular-protective in nature. They also help improve lipid profile, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. (5)

Red wine is also found to increase the levels of good cholesterol. (6) However, the consumption of alcohol may increase your blood pressure.

5. Helps manage type 2 diabetes

Red wine has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and decrease insulin resistance, (5) enabling the cells to effectively use their insulin.

Therefore, red wine can help enhance glucose utilization under type 2 diabetic conditions. (7) Resveratrol found in red wine may decrease artery stiffness in diabetes as well. (8)

Advertisements

ALSO READ: Healthy and Harmful Foods for Diabetics

6. Manages neurological disorders

The polyphenol resveratrol found in red wine can easily pass the blood-brain barrier. It has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective behavior, including prevention of ammonia toxicity, improvement of cognitive function, and abrogation of depression. (9)

The flavonoids in red wine have been found effective in preventing neurodegenerative disorders. (5)(9)

7. Improves metabolic syndrome

Since red wine helps improve lipid profile and aids in the reduction of hypertension, abdominal obesity, and diabetes risk, it contributes to lowering the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. (10)(11)

8. Aids gut health

red wine can help promote a healthy gut microbiota

Recently, red wine was studied for its effects on gut health, finding a beneficial association with the gut microbiota. (12)

9. Improves skin health

Along with its anti-aging effects, red wine helps enhance skin protection with the help of its polyphenols. (13) However, further research is required to establish the dermal effects of red wine.

Advertisements

10. Helps reduce stress

Resveratrol has been found to have anti-stress effects that may help with anxiety and depression. (14) Moreover, it helps improve neuronal health, which is related to the development of stress and depression. However, more human-based studies are required to establish these effects.

11. May help prevent oral problems

The polyphenols found in red wine have been shown to help fight off harmful bacteria in the mouth. However, these claims are based on animal studies mostly. (15)(16)(17) Therefore, further research can help establish the potential role of red wine as an antibacterial agent.

Consumption of Red Wine

how much red wine is safe to consume?

Since wine helps improve your overall health when consumed in moderation, it can be included in a healthy diet. However, remember that just because you drink red wine doesn’t mean you can eat a high-fat diet.

Moderate drinking is generally safe when consuming up to one drink per day for women and two drinks for men. The amount for men is higher due to body weight differences, and the enzyme that breaks alcohol down differs based on sex. (18)

After the age of 65, the recommendation decreases to one drink daily. For healthy adults, one drink is considered as 5 ounces of wine. (19)

Avoid wine if you have the following conditions:

Advertisements
  • Pregnant
  • Alcoholism or a strong family history of it
  • Liver or pancreas disease related to alcohol
  • Heart failure
  • Nocturnal hypoglycemia

It is best to consult your doctor on the consumption of red wine as it may interact with certain medications.

Side Effects of Red Wine Consumption

The side effects of red wine consumption include:

  • Headaches
  • Increased appetite
  • Weight gain
  • Liver dysfunction
  • Increased estrogen levels
  • Sulfite allergic reaction
  • Addiction
  • Change in mood
  • Hypoglycemia
  • High blood pressure

Overconsumption of alcohol in general, can increase your risk of:

Advertisements
  • Heart failure
  • High blood pressure
  • Stroke
  • Cancer
  • Liver disease
  • Pancreas disease
  • Accidents
  • Behavioral disorders
  • Depression
  • Coordination issues
  • Disruption of sleep
  • Gastrointestinal concerns

While it is generally said that wine helps decrease the risk of cancer, there is not enough data to conclude so. Moderate alcohol consumption can actually increase the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. (20)

Final Word

It is not recommended to start drinking wine just for health protection. The ideal timing to consume the drink is right before or during a meal. Daily consumption of red wine in moderation has many potential health benefits, especially in people with type 2 diabetes.

References
  1. Cordova AC, Sumpio BE. Polyphenols are medicine: Is it time to prescribe red wine for our patients? The International journal of angiology: official publication of the International College of Angiology, Inc. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2903024/. Published 2009.
  2. RabassaM; Zamora-RosR; Urpi-SardaM; Bandinelli S; Ferrucci L; Andres-LacuevaC; Cherubini A; Association of habitual dietary resveratrol exposure with the development of frailty in older age: the Invecchiare in Chianti study. The American journal of clinical nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26490492/. Published 2015.
  3. D; DDKMSR. Resveratrol and red wine, healthy heart and longevity. Heart failure reviews. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20238161/. Published 2010.
  4. Chalons P, Amor S, Courtaut F, et al. Study of Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Red Wine Extract and Resveratrol through a Modulation of Interleukin-1-Beta in Macrophages. Nutrients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316397/. Published December 1, 2018.
  5. Castaldo L, Narváez A, Izzo L, et al. Red Wine Consumption and Cardiovascular Health. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6804046/. Published October 8, 2019.
  6. Chiva-Blanch G; Urpi-SardaM; RosE; Valderas-Martinez P; Casas R; Arranz S; Guillén M; Lamuela-Raventós RM; Llorach R; Andres-Lacueva C; Estruch R; Effects of red wine polyphenols and alcohol on glucose metabolism and the lipid profile: a randomized clinical trial. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22999066/. Published 2013.
  7. Snopek L, Mlcek J, Sochorova L, et al. Contribution of Red Wine Consumption to Human Health Protection. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6099584/. Published July 11, 2018.
  8. VG. Athyros ENL, JW. Beulens YTS, O. Clerc DN, et al. Alcohol drinking patterns and risk of diabetes: a cohort study of 70,551 men and women from the general Danish population. Diabetologia. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00125-017-4359-3. Published January 1, 1970.
  9. Weiskirchen S, Weiskirchen R. Resveratrol: How Much Wine Do You Have to Drink to Stay Healthy? Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4942868/. Published July 15, 2016.
  10. Tresserra-Rimbau A; Medina-Remón A; Lamuela-Raventós RM; BullóM; Salas-Salvadó J; Corella D; Fitó M; Gea A; Gómez-Gracia E; Lapetra J; Arós F; Fiol M; RosE; Serra-Majem L; Pintó X; Muñoz MA; Estruch R; Moderate red wine consumption is associated with a lower prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the PREDIMED population. The British journal of nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26148915/. Published 2015.
  11. I; GRGYS. Wine and Health-New Evidence. European journal of clinical nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30487561/. Published 2019.
  12. Caroline I. Le Roy Philippa M. Wells Jiyeon Si JeroenRaesJordana T. Bell Tim D. Spector. Red Wine Consumption Associated With Increased Gut Microbiota α-Diversity in 3 Independent Cohorts. https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(19)41244-4/fulltext. Published 2019.
  13. Leonel E Rojo. Role of Anthocyanins in Skin Aging and UV Induced Skin Damage. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281031602. Published 2013.
  14. Zhu X; Li W; Li Y; Xu W; Yuan Y; Zheng V; Zhang H; O’Donnell JM; Xu Y; Yin X; The antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of resveratrol: Involvement of phosphodiesterase-4D inhibition. Neuropharmacology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31026437/. Published 2019.
  15. Wagner MC; CavagniJ; Gaio EJ; Brum VS; Jesus LH; Filho MS; Carrard VC; Dorneles GP; Peres A; Rösing CK; Effect of red wine and its major components on periodontitis and systemic inflammation in rats. Journal of the International Academy of Periodontology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31694984/. Published 2019.
  16. Esteban-Fernández A; Zorraquín-PeñaI; Ferrer MD; Mira A; Bartolomé B; González de Llano D; Moreno-Arribas MV; Inhibition of Oral Pathogens Adhesion to Human Gingival Fibroblasts by Wine Polyphenols Alone and in Combination with an Oral Probiotic. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29464948/. Published 2018.
  17. Sánchez MC; Ribeiro-Vidal H; Esteban-Fernández A; Bartolomé B; Figuero E; Moreno-Arribas MV; Sanz M; Herrera D; Antimicrobial activity of red wine and oenological extracts against periodontal pathogens in a validated oral biofilm model. BMC complementary and alternative medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31226983/. Published 2019.
  18. Parlesak A, Billinger MH-U, Bode C, Bode JC. GASTRIC ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN MAN: INFLUENCE OF GENDER, AGE, ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND SMOKING IN A CAUCASIAN POPULATION. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/37/4/388/161259. Published July 1, 2002.
  19. Health risks and benefits of alcohol consumption. Alcohol research & health: the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6713002/. Published 2000.
  20. Park SY; Kolonel LN; Lim U; White KK; Henderson BE; Wilkens LR; Alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk among women from five ethnic groups with light to moderate intakes: the Multiethnic Cohort Study. International journal of cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24037751/.
  • Was this article helpful?
  • YES, THANKS!NOT REALLY
Spread the Love❤️
Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements

Newsletter

Get our BEST updates delivered to your inbox:



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Categories

  • Nutrition
  • Wellness
  • Oral Care
  • Eye Care
  • Heart Health
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Women’s Health
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Respiratory Health

Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
eMediHealth

This site provides content for informational purposes only. The information provided is not intended for use as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In case of a medical concern or emergency, please consult your healthcare provider.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation.

Our Network: Little Extra

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Nutrition
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Yoga & Meditation
  • Women’s Health
  • Heart Health
  • Allergy & Immunology
  • Bones & Joints
  • Child Health
  • Digestive
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Eye Care
  • Glands & Hormones
  • Health News
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mental Health
  • Nervous System
  • Oral Care
  • Pain Management
  • Respiratory Health
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Urological Health

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.