Cultures have long promoted the consumption of wine as beneficial to the health. Greeks, Italians and French drink wine daily, and these cultures have the longest life spans in Europe. Recently, researchers have debated the benefits of moderate drinking, and whether the health benefits outweigh the risks involved with alcohol.
Recommendations
The American Heart Association recommends drinking in moderation, meaning on average one or two drinks per day that consist of no more than four oz. of wine per serving. The AHA warns that drinking more than two glasses of wine per day can increase health risks such as addiction to alcohol, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke and accidents. Men may benefit from one or two servings of wine, while women should only consume one serving, according to the Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Red Wine
Red wine contains anti-oxidants called flavonoids that may provide health benefits for the heart and blood vessels, says Healthassist.net. The natural chemical compound flavonoid is higher in red wine than in white wine, making red wine more heart-healthy than white wine. The anti-oxidants in red wine may help to prevent heart disease because they increase the body's "good" cholesterol and may protect against artery damage, according to the Mayoclinic.com.
Flavonoids
The anti-oxidant flavonoid found in the skin and seeds of red grapes may present a number of health benefits. According to the Yale-New Haven Hospital, flavonoids may decrease the risk of heart disease in three ways: reducing the production of "bad" cholesterol or low density lipoprotein, boosting "good" cholesterol or high density lipoprotein, and reducing blood clotting. The site also suggests that drinking two glasses of wine to accompany a meal may influence lipid or cholesterol profiles.
Weight Loss
Women who drink a glass or two glasses of wine a day may gain less weight than women who consume soft drinks, says the NY Daily News article, "A glass of wine may keep women from gaining weight, study says," published on March 9, 2010. Scientists suggest that women who drink regularly break down calories from alcohol into extra heat, not fat.
French Paradox
Drinking wine may also change the way you eat. The theory of the "French Paradox" suggests that despite the French population's high intake of saturated fats from pork, butter and cheese, they had fewer cases of heart attacks and strokes than people in the U.S. Articles suggest that there may be a correlation to wine consumption. However, wine drinkers tend to eat less processed foods, more vegetables and eat slower.
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